Valerie Hutchinson

"Something just feels off.”
That’s how a lot of people I work with describe things. Not necessarily a crisis or a clear problem – just this quiet sense that they’re not really in their life. Maybe you feel flat, disconnected, or like you're going through the motions. Or perhaps the opposite – everything feels a bit too much, and you're exhausted from trying to hold it all together.

You might not even know what you need, but you know you’re tired of feeling like this.

Feeling stuck, anxious, or overwhelmed?
Reaching out for help can be really tough, and I get that—I've been through my own therapy journey, and I know how important it is to feel comfortable and understood. If you are struggling with things like anxiety, feeling numb, or not experiencing the joy you once did or feel you should, I would like to support you. I offer a free 15-30 minute consultation (online or phone) so we can talk about what’s going on for you and see if we’re a good fit to work together. There’s no pressure to commit—just a chance to connect.

What can you expect from working with me?

I offer a space where there’s no pressure to be anything other than how you are. You do not need to have the right words, a clear reason for coming, or a big “story” to tell. We’ll just start where you are. My approach is calm, steady, and real – not overly clinical, and never distant.

People often come to me when they’ve been carrying things alone for a long time. Whether it’s low mood, anxiety, people-pleasing, feeling emotionally disconnected or not good enough, we can gently make sense of it together.

I believe in taking things one step at a time and in a way that works best for you. Whether it's figuring out why you're feeling the way you are or learning how to handle stress and anxiety, we’ll work through it together. I’ll help you look at any patterns in your thinking or behavior that may not be serving you anymore, and we’ll work to change them. This is all about helping you feel like yourself again—more balanced, more confident, and more connected.

Ever wondered about your attachment style?
It’s something we can explore together. Your attachment style (basically, the way you connect with others emotionally) is shaped by your past experiences and can affect how you react to relationships, whether with family, friends, or a partner. Understanding your attachment style can give you powerful insights into why you do the things you do and how you can improve how you connect with people moving forward.

For couples, I can help you build a stronger connection and communicate better.
If you're having trouble talking about issues or if you just don’t feel like you're being heard, we’ll work on ways to communicate that make both of you feel understood. I’ll support you in understanding why certain behaviors keep repeating in your relationship and how to change them so you can argue less, connect more, and feel safe with each other.

Parents—Do you want to be a better parent?
If you're looking to build a stronger bond with your child or work through emotional challenges you’re facing as a parent, we can talk about how your own attachment style might be impacting your relationship with your child. Understanding yourself better can make all the difference in how you connect with your kids and how you respond to their needs.

Grief and loss can feel like an impossible weight to carry, but you don’t have to go through it alone. Losing a loved one, a job, or any big change can leave you feeling lost, but together, we can find ways to help you live with your grief. It's not about “getting over it”—it's about figuring out how to move forward while honoring what you've lost.

Students, I offer concessionary rates to help make therapy more affordable during this intense time. 

If you are ready to explore how I can help, please don’t hesitate to schedule a free consultation or email me. Let’s see if we’re a good fit, and if so, we can take it from there. I’d love to support you on this journey!

 Warm regards

Valerie 

Childhood emotional neglect happens when a child’s emotional needs are consistently overlooked or dismissed, leaving them feeling invisible or unimportant. This lack of emotional support can carry over into adulthood, manifesting as difficulty in forming healthy relationships, struggles with self-worth, and challenges managing emotions. Adults who experienced emotional neglect may find it hard to trust others, express their feelings, or even understand what they need emotionally, leading to feelings of emptiness, anxiety, or depression. It can also show up as a tendency to suppress emotions, lack of self-compassion, or an inability to identify and communicate needs within relationships.

Breaking the cycle of emotional neglect is crucial because it allows us to heal and stop repeating the same harmful patterns. When we work through these issues, we can build healthier, more meaningful relationships, develop a stronger sense of self, and create a life where we feel emotionally supported. Addressing the impact of emotional neglect helps ensure we don’t carry those struggles forward or unintentionally pass them onto future generations.

I offer a free 15 minute zoom/phone consultation to see if we feel a good fit and I am the right person to support you.  

For an initial couples session the fee differs as this will be a 90 minute session, priced at £20 more than the rates listed below.   Subsequent sessions are 60 minutes. 

Couples Therapy fees (60 minutes):

£60 for online daytime sessions
£75 for in-person daytime sessions (includes room hire)
£70 for online evening sessions
£85 for in-person evening sessions (includes room hire)
 

Individual Therapy fees (60 minutes):

£45 online sessions daytime
£55 in-person daytime
£55 online evening 
£65 in-person evening 

Concessions available depending on circumstances and available times.

For individual counselling we can meet once a week, a fortnight, monthly whatever you budget and time restrains allow.

For couples counselling, meeting at least fortnightly is recommended, with weekly sessions being optimal. Meeting every three weeks is also an option. The more regularly you meet and engage with the work between sessions, the better the results—it takes commitment to achieve the relationship you desire!

Therapy can be for a limited number of sessions or open ended depending on your needs.

I no longer offer weekends. 

I am available Monday to Friday

Therapy is not about fixing what's broken, but about discovering and nurturing the parts of you that have been waiting to heal.

The relationship we had with our parents has a profound influence upon the relationship dynamics we seek as adults.

We don't respond to what happens, we respond to our perception of what happened...and of all the possible interpretations we choose the worse one.

In Plato's eyes, love is in essence a kind of education: you couldn't really love someone if you didn't want to be improved by them. Love should be two people trying to grow together – and helping each other to do so.