Counselling and therapy in Abingdon, Didcot and Oxford

You don’t need to be in crisis to start counselling. Many people look for counselling when they feel stuck, overwhelmed, anxious, low, or unsure how to cope with something in their life.

You might benefit from counselling if you keep having the same worries, feel emotionally exhausted, struggle in relationships, feel not good enough, or find yourself reacting in ways you do not fully understand.

For example, you may look fine on the outside but feel tense inside most of the day. You may try to keep on top of things while knowing that you are not really feeling fine. You may be managing work, family or studies, but still feel that something inside is too much.

In my practice, I offer counselling in my room in Abingdon and online for adults. I support clients experiencing anxiety, stress, low self-esteem, or grief, as well as those navigating relationship difficulties, life transitions, or challenging emotional patterns. You do not need to have the right words or a clear understanding before contacting me. We can begin with what feels most present or important for you now.

The free 20-minute introductory session is a friendly first meeting where you can ask questions, share a little about what has brought you to counselling, and see whether working together feels like the right fit. There is no obligation to continue.

You can book this session through the Booking section on my website. After booking, you will receive an email with a Google Meet link. Please check your inbox and spam/junk folder. At the time of the appointment, click the link to join the session.

Before joining, try to find a quiet and private space where you will not be interrupted. It can also help to test your camera, microphone and internet connection beforehand. You may prefer to use headphones for extra privacy.

In the session, we will talk briefly about what has brought you to counselling and what kind of support you are looking for. We can start with what feels most important right now.

You are also welcome to ask me any questions you might have, and whether online or face to face counselling in Abingdon would be suitable for you. Sometimes, I may suggest that a different therapist, service or type of support would be a better fit for your needs.

There is no pressure to make a decision straight away. My aim is to help you take the first step in your counselling journey.

The first counselling session is where we begin to understand your situation more in-depth.

At the start, I will explain how counselling works and go through practical and ethical information, including confidentiality, its limits, session times, fees, cancellations and record keeping. This helps you know what to expect before we begin. Next, I will be asking questions to help us understand what has been happening and how it is affecting your life, relationships, work or sense of self.

I may also ask about your current support, previous counselling, important relationships and how you usually cope when things feel difficult. This helps me understand the wider picture and check whether my way of working is appropriate for your needs.

In my practice, I may draw on schema therapy tools. This means we may explore recurring emotional patterns, unmet needs and different “parts” of you that can show up in difficult moments. Where appropriate, I may suggest questionnaires such as the Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ) or the Schema Mode Inventory (SMI). These are not tests. They are useful reflective tools that can help us understand your emotional patterns more clearly and decide what may be helpful to focus on in counselling. By the end of the first session, we may have a clearer idea of what you want to work on and what the next steps could be.