Robynne Wood

I offer counselling and creative talking therapies to people of all ages. I work with primary school aged children and upwards using art/play-based therapy. My work with older children and adults usually involves talking-based therapy with creative elements as needed. 

I work using the Person-Centred (or Humanistic) approach, which is often referred to as the "how does that make you feel?" style of therapy. However, a more accurate description would be I focus on building a supportive relationship where we can view the world from your perspective, and we work together to make changes that you want. I believe that you are the expert in your own life and have the ability to solve your own problems but recognise that sometimes an "outsiders" support and perspective can be helpful. I aim to create a non-judgmental safe space to explore your world using empathy, honesty and unconditional positive regard helping us to work through the thoughts, feelings and issues that are impacting you. 

If you would like in person counselling then I have availability locally to the Walkden/Worsley (M28) and Bolton (BL4) areas.  This area is easily accessible off the East Lancs (A580) meaning I'm accessible to people living in the Wigan, Bolton, Salford and Greater Manchester areas.  However, I am available for video and telephone counselling sessions throughout the UK. 

I have particular experiences in counselling adults (talking therapy context) , children (play and art mediums), working with neurodiversity and domestic abuse. I am happy to work with a wide range of issues including anxiety, depression, loss/grief,  experience of relationships (in childhood and adult), impact of medical diagnoses, sudden life changes, uncertainty around futures and self-esteem related issues. 

Please feel free to contact me to discuss whether we could work together on the areas that you wish for support in addressing. If I'm not able to accommodate then I'm more than happy to offer suggestions or signpost you towards more appropriate help.

Concession rates are available upon discussion and dependent on individual circumstances.  

Please feel free to contact me to discuss any particular preferences or requirements that you may have. If I'm unable to accommodate then I may be able to suggest other options.

It's not uncommon for people to retrain in counselling later in their careers and in my case I was a secondary school teacher. I taught Geography for 13yrs at schools across Lancashire and Greater Manchester. My last post was teaching A-level at a sixth form college in Wigan and it was here that my journey into counselling began. 

My eureka moment came when I offered the services of my Bearded Collie Mink to work as a stress therapy dog. She was perfect for the job as a retired show-dog who loved everyone and a regular ambassador of the breed at events. Mink came to college once a week to co-teach my lessons, run library drop in sessions and booked classroom visits. The visible impact on student and staff well-being was instant and I could see that people were talking to me through Mink. I did an introduction to counselling course so I could be confident of not doing harm. However, I realised that counselling gave me the opportunity to connect with and support people in the ways that I'd hope to do in teaching. 

I followed my heart and left teaching to complete my counselling training but my experiences continue to enrich my practice. I'll always be thankful to Mink, and her successor Evie, for starting me on this path and I'm hoping to reintroduce my dogs into my work in the future.