Sharon Poole

About Me

Hello, I’m Sharon, a BACP registered integrative counsellor based in Backwell, near Bristol, offering in-person and online counselling for women across the UK.

I support women experiencing anxiety, overthinking, overwhelm, burnout, low self-worth, relationship difficulties, trauma, people-pleasing and major life changes.

I also have a particular interest in working with highly sensitive and neurodivergent women, including those exploring ADHD, autism, masking and identity.

 I particularly enjoy working with students and understand that university life can bring its own pressures, academic pressure, stress, anxiety, relationships, identity, confidence, loneliness, uncertainty and the challenge of balancing many demands.

You may have found your way here because life feels emotionally heavy right now or you just don't quite feel like yourself.

Perhaps you spend a lot of time overthinking, putting other people first, struggling to switch off or feeling responsible for everyone around you. You may appear to be coping on the outside while feeling exhausted, anxious or disconnected underneath.

Maybe you find it difficult to rest, feel guilty when you are not being productive or always need to keep busy. You might notice yourself overworking, people-pleasing, ignoring your own needs or abandoning yourself in order to keep the peace, avoid conflict or feel accepted.

You may be struggling with confidence, trust, communication in relationships, separation, divorce or the ending of an important relationship. Past experiences may also still be affecting how safe you feel with others, how you see yourself or what you believe you deserve.

Therapy can offer you a space to slow down, breathe and make sense of what is happening.

I offer a calm, compassionate and non-judgmental space where you can feel heard, explore what is troubling you and begin to understand yourself more deeply.

You do not need to arrive knowing exactly what is wrong or what you want to talk about. We can begin with whatever feels most important to you and gently work from there.

My Approach

I work integratively, drawing from person-centred, psychodynamic, relational and CBT approaches. This means I can adapt the way we work according to you, rather than expecting you to fit into one particular style of therapy.

My approach is warm, grounded, emotionally attuned and collaborative.

I believe the relationship between counsellor and client is an important part of therapy. Feeling genuinely seen, heard and accepted can be especially meaningful if you have spent much of your life feeling misunderstood, responsible for others or unable to express what you really need.

Together, we may explore:

• Anxiety, overthinking, social anxiety and emotional overwhelm
• Burnout, overworking, difficulty slowing down and always needing to stay busy
• Confidence, self-esteem, self-doubt and low self-worth
• People-pleasing, self-abandonment, difficulty saying no and struggling to prioritise your own needs
• Perfectionism, the inner critic and feeling that you are never quite doing enough
• Relationship difficulties, communication problems and trust issues
• Separation, divorce and relationship break-ups
• Unhealthy or toxic relationship dynamics, attachment patterns and relationship anxiety
• Trauma, PTSD and the impact of difficult past experiences
• Rape, sexual assault, sexual abuse and sexual trauma
• Childhood trauma, emotional neglect and experiences that continue to affect you in adulthood
• ADHD, autism, masking and neurodivergent identity
• Feeling disconnected from yourself, unsure who you are or as though you have lost yourself
• Depression, low mood and feeling emotionally stuck
• Grief, loss and complex grief
• Work stress, pressure and difficulty balancing responsibilities
• Life transitions, change and uncertainty
• Body image and difficulties with self-acceptance
• Student life and emotional pressure for adults aged 18+

Sometimes there is no single reason for seeking counselling. You may simply know that something does not feel right anymore.

Perhaps you feel overwhelmed, exhausted, disconnected or stuck in patterns that you no longer want to repeat.

You may recognise that you keep putting yourself last, staying in situations that hurt, struggling to trust your own feelings or finding it hard to know what you actually want or need.

Therapy can give you the opportunity to understand these patterns with greater compassion, rather than judging yourself for them.

You do not need to have the right words or all the answers. We can gently explore what is happening and help you find a way forward that feels more like your own.

Practicalities

I offer in-person counselling in Backwell, near Bristol, as well as online counselling across the UK using Zoom, FaceTime or telephone.

Sessions can be weekly or fortnightly depending on your circumstances and what feels most supportive for you.

I also offer a free introductory telephone call so that you can ask any questions, tell me a little about what has brought you to counselling and get a sense of whether working together feels right.

You do not need to have everything figured out before beginning therapy. We can simply start with where you are now.

I look forward to connecting with you.

With warmth,

Sharon

Fees are £55 per session.

Student Sessions are £40

I also offer a free introductory telephone call before your first counselling session. This gives you the opportunity to ask any questions, tell me a little about what has brought you to counselling and see whether working together feels right for you.

If you are a student, work shifts, have caring responsibilities or simply need an appointment that fits around a busy schedule, please do ask about current availability as I can sometimes be flexible with appointment times.

When you feel ready, you’re welcome to reach out for a connection call or simply send me an email, whatever feels most comfortable for you.

There is no commitment to book. We can simply talk about how it feels to consider therapy, what you might be hoping for, and what you need from the process.

Together, we can explore what kind of support feels right for you. This might be a block of sessions or ongoing support, with weekly or fortnightly appointments, either online or face-to-face.

This first conversation is an opportunity to get a sense of whether counselling feels right for you, to explore your readiness, and to see whether we feel like a good fit to work together.

You’ll be met with warmth, care and without pressure.

I know that taking the first step can feel daunting. You don’t need to have all the answers or know exactly what to say. You can simply come as you are, and we can begin from there.

Whenever you’re ready, you’re welcome to get in touch.