Counsellor Rosie Driffill, Harrogate

About me

Many people consider counselling, but are not sure what to expect. It can sometimes feel very hard to take that initial step and seek help, and to talk through things that you may never have shared with anyone before. My aim is to create a comfortable and relaxed environment to enable you to explore what has brought you to therapy, and to earn your trust. I have been in therapy myself, and I remember how important it was to have a trusting, respectful and non-judgmental relationship with my counsellor. This can take time to develop, and my aim is to keep an open dialogue with you about how I can help you to feel safe and supported as we work together; this can look and feel different to everyone, and you are the expert on you and your needs.

Counsellors work in all sorts of different ways; I work from an integrative perspective, which means that while I believe we all have the resources within us to enable us to achieve our full potential, there is no one-size-fits-all way of supporting someone to do that. Some people want to explore the root of any relational or personal struggles they are experiencing; others want to set goals, and have their sessions take a more structured approach. Either way, I see counselling as deep, meaningful and transformative work, which will naturally feel challenging at times, but the way we see the world, think, feel and act is never random; exploring where this may have come from can give us the depth of understanding that leads to greater choice.

I have worked with people who bring a lot of different issues to counselling, from depression to bereavement; relationship difficulties to social anxiety. Some people I have worked with want to reflect on their lives and work on their personal development; there really is no 'right reason to seek therapy. In terms of my specific areas of interest, I have experience of working therapeutically with people with eating disorders, and their families, and have run workshops and self-help groups for families affected by eating disorders based on the Maudsley Method on behalf of charities Beat, Student Minds and the Retreat hospital in York. I also run staff development courses for therapists working with people with chronic illnesses, and have a lot of experience of working with clients with long-term illnesses; I know from personal experience what a uniquely lonely place this can be, at times.

I am currently offering counselling via Zoom and Skype, and in person at the Oakdale Centre in Harrogate. Please contact me for information on fees.

Training, qualifications & experience

I have a post-graduate diploma in counselling and psychotherapy and am a registered member of the BACP. As well as being in private practice, I also volunteer for mental health charity Student Minds, working in an advisory role to help develop and maintain student-led support groups. Previously, I worked on the counselling team at Talking Spaces in Harrogate, where I worked therapeutically with adults with depression, anxiety, bereavement, eating disorders, autism and work-related stress. I have a lot of experience in developing and running support groups for people with eating disorders and their families, as well as running Empowering Families workshops as developed by Professor Janet Treasure of the Maudsley Hospital in London.