Wendy Waterworth

Even as a child, I was somebody that others would turn to when they needed to talk about a problem. I recall a classroom exercise in secondary school when we had to write a positive comment about each member of the class. Lots of the comments I received related to me being a good listener. In 2006, after 6 years of studying at The University of Sheffield and 8 years working for South Yorkshire Police, I decided to train as a counsellor and put my listening skills to good use.

I am an open, down-to-earth, compassionate and caring counsellor and I am genuinely interested in the individuals that I work with. My counselling approach is relational, in other words, I greatly value the importance of the client-counsellor relationship, and integrative, which means that I incorporate different therapeutic approaches to offer counselling that is tailor-made to each individual client. I am particularly interested in working with clients to increase their awareness of the body-mind connection. The body and the mind are not totally separate entities, what affects one, affects the other, and techniques like relaxation training, mindfulness and guided imagery can be integrated to improve overall wellbeing.

I love being a counsellor and I feel incredibly grateful to the clients that I have worked with over the years, for trusting me with their inner-most fears and for teaching me so much about how to be a responsive counsellor. From personal experience as a counsellor and as a client, I can say that counselling can be life-changing.

Choosing a counsellor to work with is not easy and can cause a lot of anxiety. I’d like to suggest that you trust your instincts and choose the one you are drawn to. If you think you might be interested in us working together, please get in touch by email, text or phone and we can arrange a free consultation phone call before you commit to attending an initial session. We can discuss what you hope to get from counselling and I can let you know if I think I might be able to help. I will do my best to answer any questions and address any concerns that you may have, and if you then decide you want to go ahead with an initial session, I will send you a comprehensive set of documents that will hopefully give you all the information you will need.

When we meet in person, we can decide on an initial number of sessions and discuss how we are going to work together. I see my counselling role as being a facilitator of change, working with individuals to help them to think, feel or behave differently. Counselling could help you to find a way forward if you are feeling stuck; help you understand your relationships better and improve the quality of these; help you grow in confidence and self-esteem; or help you overcome traumatic life experiences. Whatever your reason for seeking counselling, I will not tell you what to do, but will work with you, to help you make sense of your difficulties and help you develop new strategies for managing better in the future. At times you may find the sessions challenging as you are likely to encounter thoughts and feelings that you have tried to avoid, in order to cope with life’s day-to-day demands. I will support you to express these thoughts and feelings in a safe and confidential space.

‘If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got’… What I offer as a counsellor, is a relationship in which you can try doing something new, with the hope of getting something new (and hopefully better) from it.

Non-epileptic attack disorder (NEAD)

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

I currently charge £55 per session (each session lasts up to 60 minutes).

I offer short, medium and longer term counselling to adult individuals. The number of sessions we have is your decision but I will be able to help you think about what might be an appropriate number for the difficulties you are wanting to address. The sessions are usually weekly and I currently have availability on Wednesdays and Thursdays (daytime and evening).

The sessions will be at Whet Wellbeing which is located in Hoyland, close to Junction 36 of the M1. The premises is in a residential area with ample on-street parking. Due to ongoing renovations at the premises, there is currently no disabled access. If this prevents you from attending counselling, I may be able to visit you and, if appropriate, offer you sessions in your own home, but this will be dependent on the issues you wish to address. Please contact me for more information.

For some individuals, counselling sessions held outdoors may be beneficial. If this is something you might be interested in trying, please contact me for more information.

If you decide to contact me by telephone and I am unable to answer your call, please leave me a short message to confirm that you are happy for me to call you back. This is to protect your confidentiality. Please note that I will not return your call if you do not let me know that you are happy for me to do so.

Client testimonials

...'I just wanted to say a massive thank you for your great work. It's hard to think where I was before I came to see you and how I feel now. That guilt feeling has gone from inside me and it feels like a massive weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I feel I am back to my old self.'

'I found Wendy extremely easy to talk to and she made me feel comfortable and at ease. I've never fully opened up and spoken about all my issues and its a credit to Wendy that she was able to help me achieve this. I found our sessions very worthwhile and beneficial.'

'Thank you Wendy. I have some coping strategies now and hope they will help in my future life.'

'You were very easy to relate to and approachable. Your instructions were easy to follow. I feel your help has lifted a weight off my shoulders.'

'Although I had had counselling before it was quite daunting to meet a new counsellor and I didn't know what to expect, but Wendy was warm and welcoming and I never felt that my sessions were hard work despite the tough subjects we discussed. I would highly recommend Wendy as a counsellor to others, she is open, supportive and non-judgmental and has made a huge difference to my mental and emotional wellbeing.'

‘Wendy has been amazing from start to finish, although finish seems final, I know that if I ever need her again, I know that Wendy will be there. Wendy has helped me change my out-look on life and deal and come to terms with the challenges life has thrown me. Wendy is a professional at what she does, Wendy made me feel comfortable and at ease which was very important to me. I thank Wendy for helping me get my life back. Wendy is a fantastic therapist.’

‘I would just like to say thank-you Wendy for your professionalism, knowledge and compassion during our sessions over the last 12 months or so. I was pretty anxious about seeking help, but you made me feel comfortable from the outset. With your help and support I have now got clarity of thought and priority.’

'I found working with Wendy to be exactly what I needed. I knew very quickly in our first session that I would be able to share my issues with her as she was warm, welcoming and understanding. She just ‘got me’ very quickly and I really want to thank her for that. Wendy was professional, and at the same time open, honest, friendly and authentically caring. I know that should I ever need support again, Wendy will be my first port of call and I would recommend her to anyone who feels they need someone genuine to talk to who can support and empower them to move forward.'

'I will always be grateful for the work that Wendy and I did together. Just knowing she was always in my corner, listening to what I was needing to say, was the key to my recovery. My counselling sessions and her skills have enabled me to leave the past where it belongs, in the past, and move forward, ready to embrace with confidence and self-belief whatever the future holds for me. Thank you, Wendy.'

'Working with you was an absolute joy. You really helped me through a difficult time and gave me a lot of resources to look at and use. I’m thankful for our sessions and would have continued them if I didn’t relocate. You made me feel at ease and were incredibly warm and friendly, which created a very safe space.'

‘I could not recommend Wendy enough. She was really welcoming, friendly and very knowledgeable. When I first met Wendy I was in a really low place and I felt that she supported me by giving me the tools to get through this time in my life. I truly believe that I have come through this as a better person and could not have done this without Wendy. Thank you.’

‘I can’t thank you enough for all the help you provided. It had been fantastic working with you. The therapy you provide is very individualised and your techniques are fantastic. Thank you !! ‘