About me
Hello! I'm Samantha. Scrolling can leave you wondering- how do I choose the right counsellor though? It's not easy to get a sense of the real person behind words on a page. So I'm hoping that what I've written below will help you work out if I sound like someone you could connect with- could see yourself talking to. This is usually a good starting point for choosing a counsellor to work with. So here’s a little about me, how I work, and what I might be able to help you with. If this resonates with you, feel free to get in touch.
I'm an experienced therapist in private practice, based in Newton Abbot. I offer face-to-face and online therapy to adults in the TQ postcode areas and beyond. I work with a diverse range of people, from different ages, backgrounds and life experiences - my practice is a welcoming and inclusive space where you can show up as you are. I've experience in working with people who, for many different reasons, are carrying a weight, a feeling, a problem, a story that needs somewhere to be set down for a while, and given the space to explore. Some of the range of issues and experiences that my clients bring include:
+ feeling on edge, anxious, overwhelmed, worried about what might happen
+ carrying the pain of traumatic experiences, a difficult childhood, feeling uneasy within yourself and in the world;
+ feeling generally low, flat, like life has lost its colour;
+ feeling under-confident, people pleasing, not 'good enough';
+ grieving a loss - whether that's the loss or a person, or the loss of something important in your life, a job, a family role, your health
+feeling unheard, unseen, misunderstood -tired of conflict with family, a partner, friend or work relationship.
+ questioning who you are now, sometimes after a significant change in your life, where this leaves you
+ feeling pulled in many different directions, feeling stressed, or comparing youself to others who seem to 'cope' better than you
+ feeling stuck in a situation that you can't see a way out of
Maybe some of this resonates with you? Sometimes people recognise what they are feeling and experiencing and can name it: anxiety, trauma, grief for example. But for others, there's just the feeling that something isn't right, that life is harder than it should be and that a sense of well being feels out of reach at the moment. You don't need to have anything figured out before you come to counselling. I can help to bring some clarity to what you experience, provide a space to start to recognise the thoughts, feelings, patterns or behaviours that lie behind what's troubling you, and then start to look at ways to work with these.
My approach is integrative, meaning I don't work from a single model, and because this approach is flexible , I can adapt the way we work to what's best for you. I'm guided by person-centred principles, so the development of our therapeutic relationship as central to the counselling process, and is the foundation of the work we do together. I'll meet you with openness, honesty and without judgement- I'll work to truly see and hear you, so that you feel understood and supported, whilst we explore what you need to feel more fulfilled and contented. It’s a collaborative approach, rooted in empathy, curiosity and respect for what you've been through.
I'm professional but human, gentle but honest and most importantly, hold a profound belief in the power of counselling as a way to help heal what’s been painful, and develop the awareness, skills and confidence to reach for the life you want to live.
Training, qualifications & experience
I trained and qualified at Heartwood Counselling and Psychotherapy College Devon. I work in person in my Newton Abbot office or online with 18+ clients. I have experience in supporting people with a wide range of concerns, some of which include:
- Anxiety and Depression
- Trauma and PTSD
- Childhood neglect and abuse
- Anger
- Work-related stress
- Domestic violence and coercive control
- Self-confidence
- Long-term and chronic illness
- Grief and loss
- Adult Stages of Life transitions
- Romantic and Family Relationship Difficulties
- LGBTQ+ and identity
- I also have experience and training in working in affirmative ways with autistic people and people who have ADHD.
- I'm an associate and course assessor at the Devon Counselling College
Qualifications:
NCFE CACHE Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills
Level 4 Advanced Diploma in counselling (NCPS Accred).
Some of the Additional Training and CPD I've completed:
Neurodiversity
· Neurodiversity Affirming Therapy with Autism and ADHD clients
· Counselling ADHD
Trauma
· Putting Polyvagal Theory Into Practice: Creating Safety and Connection with Trauma Clients
· Working with Relational Trauma: disorganised attachment
· Attachment: development of identity in childhood
· Impact of Anxious Attachment
· Avoiding Secondary Trauma
· Using Trauma-Informed Grounding Techniques
Grief
· Talking with Bereaved People
· Applying Theories of Grief to Practice
· How Adverse Circumstances Can Complicated Grief
Domestic Abuse
· Level 3 Domestic Violence Awareness
· Domestic Abuse Awareness
· Working with Survivors of Domestic Abuse and Violence
· Creative Ways of Healing Trauma of Domestic Abuse and Violence
· Working with Eating Disorders
Other
Certificate in Online and Telephone Counselling
Access to Therapy for Older Adults
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
The National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society This Not For Profit association of counsellors and psychotherapists aim to support the counselling profession, members and training organisations. In 2013 the NCS register was accredited by the Professional Standards Authority under the Accredited Voluntary Register Scheme. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred). Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision. Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training. All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Photos & videos
Fees
£50.00 per session
