Sophie Graves

I work intuitively as an Integrative counsellor, providing a kind, compassionate safe space for you to be truly heard, a space for you to express yourself without any barriers or judgement. A space for you to bring the real you, the one we hide behind a veneer of “I am fine” when someone asks how you are.

Getting started with counselling

Please call me for an informal chat and we can set up an initial free 20 minute consultation to see if I am right for you. For me it is about you being comfortable to work with me and being the right fit for you. This can be done on the phone or online. At this session we can discuss what you want to get out of counselling, see if we click and if you want to go ahead we can set up your first counselling session on a weekly/fortnightly basis to suit you.

My Background

Working as a complementary therapist for over 30 years, has allowed me the privilege of working with so many different people facing different challenges in their lives. It is profound the effect that our emotions have on our physical bodies and I work with this mind body connection in my approach. In my work as a counsellor I am intuitively aware of the bodies reaction to what is being said and not said and I work in an holistic way, looking at mind, body and soul.

My inspiration

For me counselling is about Life Supervision, something we all need at different times of our lives to work through the sticky bits of life. A counsellor is a guide, who enables you to find your own way home. To feel truly heard without adaptation by someone else’s own experience seems such a rare and extraordinary thing– it should be so simple but it happens rarely in day to day life with friends and family.

For me as a counsellor it is about stepping aside from your own experiences and judgements to allow another’s words and feelings to be shared in all their entirety as if experiencing alongside them. My journey to becoming a counsellor has been full of pockets of counselling, supporting me at times I really needed to be heard. This has allowed me to understand the importance of having someone there on your side, having your back and allowing you to refocus yourself and find a way back to you.

How I work

Integrative counselling allows me to work with whatever comes up for you as it sees people as unique individuals; this allows me to tailor my approach to work with your particular needs and personal circumstances. It is an holistic perspective and addresses all the factors of what it is to be human, including personality, behaviour, physical and emotional life, how we think, as well as the spiritual and social aspects of life. This is important to me as all aspects of our lives - health, environment, social - everything has an impact on us as individuals. The integrative approach is instrumental to all aspects of growth, development and holistic wellbeing - mind, body, spirit, emotions and relationship

How we can work together

Our minds can become overwhelmed and caught up with negative thought patterns so here I would look at using mindfulness and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).

Our bodies are very good at processing our thoughts and emotions without us realising and can cause physical illness and anxiety and depression as well as just not feeling right. Here the approach could be Gestalt and body process, working with our feelings in our bodies.

Our spirit is about nurturing who you truly are - aspirations, existential and when we are out of balance with our emotions and overwhelmed, we cannot clearly see a way forward, so here I use a philosophical approach - including transpersonal, mindfulness, Gestalt, visualisations and affirmations.

Our emotions can truly overwhelm us and we can get lost and anxious. Emotions are all about the Gestalt approach as well, working in the here and now.

Our relationships can rule our lives and we maybe denying who we truly are and trying to be who we think we should be, trying to please everyone. Here we would discover the person centred approach and use transactional analysis, seeing how we relate to others in our life.

I feel integrative counselling is about being human, about our hopes and dreams as well as our sense of self and who we are in the world and how we react to life.

One to one in person counselling 1 hour £40 to £55, other concessions maybe be available. Please ask.

One to one online or telephone counselling session 1 hour to suit your needs, £35 to £45, other concessions maybe available. Please ask.