Veronica Prasad-Woodcock

I am a BACP accredited Counsellor and qualified Supervisor based in Reading. I offer counselling to adults 18+ who are experiencing difficulties in their lives such as stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, bereavement, depression, sadness, discrimination, cultural or identity issues or other. Whether you are considering counselling because you are struggling now or maybe trying to better understand something in particular in the past or present, talking to a counsellor can be a very helpful space. My aim is to provide a supportive, nurturing, safe and non-judgemental space where you can explore at your own pace but also be challenged to look at different perspectives if needs be. Student counsellors are very welcome.

We are all unique and counselling needs to be reflective of this. Working together on what you feel is relative and most important to you will always be at the core of our sessions. My flexible approach means we can cover deep exploratory work, which may take more time; or we can focus on the here and now which may be more short term. Gaining an insight of how habitual thought patterns may influence behaviour, mood and physical symptoms can lead to better self-awareness and understanding. Alongside this comes empowerment, through embracing your vulnerabilities and accessing your inner resilience.

Over the years I have been fortunate to work and live within a diverse range of communities.  The knowledge and experience gained from people coming from all walks of life has given me a deeper understanding of myself and others. I can draw on these insights and my studies to empower my clients to help themselves. I strive to offer a warm and empathetic practice.

My hope is that an authentic, meaningful, trusting and caring relationship will be developed with my clients which will set the foundation for fresh insights, changes and choices.

WHAT TO EXPECT 

I work in a person-centred way which means I am led by what is important to you. The therapeutic relationship is a very crucial aspect of counselling and my belief and experience have shown that if this is established in a boundaried setting clients are likely to feel that they can safely explore and express their concerns which will encourage transformation and new or different choices. I will listen sincerely with empathy and with genuine interest and curiosity to you without judgement. If needs be I sometimes draw on tools and techniques from other modalities such as CBT or mindfulness to facilitate understanding and awareness as it is important to have a flexible approach so that the uniqueness of each client is acknowledged and facilitated.

Cultural identity and cross-cultural issues including feelings of displacement.

I work with adults aged 18 and up.

Menopause and impact on mental health. 

A keen interest in existentialism and Philosophy. 

The prospect of attending counselling may feel daunting for many reasons. Finding the right Counsellor is a very important first step. I offer as an option, an initial consultation via phone or ZOOM free for up to 30 minutes aimed at those clients that are feeling a bit uncertain about engaging in therapy either with a new Counsellor or for the first time. This session will give you the opportunity to ask questions and to tell me a bit about why you are seeking counselling . I will also be interested to learn a bit about you so I too will ask a few questions. There will be no obligation to commit at this point.

If you decide to pursue Counselling with me, we will agree a suitable day and time. Sessions will be for 50 minutes and will be charged at £55, although some concessions are available.

Please feel free to contact me if you need any further information.

Acceptable forms of payment are cash, or BACS.

I practice within easy reach of Reading Station. Parking is available in the nearby Oracle Shopping Centre, on London Street and Saxon Court. There are a number of buses that serve the area.