Private online counselling, one to one

I offer private, 1 to 1 online counselling sessions from the UK by secure video, in English, and in person in Shrewsbury by arrangement. Sessions last 50 minutes and cost £45. I'm a trainee counsellor and BACP student member, working under regular clinical supervision. This is private counselling and sits outside local healthcare in your country.

How 1 to 1 online counselling sessions work

Video counselling, wherever you live

We meet by secure video wherever you are. For many people, being in their own space brings a different kind of comfort. I take care of the privacy of our sessions on my side so that you can speak freely. All you need is a private room, a stable connection and headphones if you share your home.

Evening sessions are available in UK time, which can make it easier to fit counselling around work or a different time zone. If you wonder whether video can feel as real as a room, I've summarised what research says about online counselling and how confidentiality works online.

In person in Shrewsbury

We can meet in person in Shrewsbury by arrangement. Stepping out of your daily surroundings can sometimes make it easier to focus entirely on yourself.

Hybrid

We can also mix the two. This gives you flexibility, for example if you travel or split your time between countries, while keeping the continuity of our relationship.

What can you bring to counselling?

There is no wrong thing to bring. Given my background, people often bring themes like these:

• Family duty and your own needs. Feeling torn between loyalty to your family and the life you want. See family duty and self.
• Identity and belonging. Living as a minority, migrating, or no longer feeling at home anywhere. See identity and belonging and counselling for immigrants.
• Life abroad. Loneliness after a move, or moving for a partner's job and losing parts of yourself. See expat loneliness.
• Feeling stuck. Anxious, flat or disconnected from yourself without knowing why. See feeling stuck.
• How you relate to others. People-pleasing, guilt and finding it hard to say no. See people-pleasing.
• Worry, exhaustion and self-doubt. A mind that won't switch off, running on empty, or a harsh inner critic. See anxiety, burnout and self-esteem.

If you'd like a private way to put words to how you've been feeling before we meet, the free GAD-7 anxiety check or self-esteem test can be a starting point. They are not a diagnosis, and you don't need to do one to book.

What person-centred counselling is and isn't

Many approaches focus on tools, homework or diagnosis. Mine starts from the conviction that the relationship is the therapy. There's a fuller explanation on my page about person-centred counselling.

I don't have a plan for your life, and I don't know in advance where our work will lead. I trust that if I can offer a relationship built on honesty, deep understanding and acceptance, you will find the way forward that is right for you.

Person-centred counselling is:

• a space to speak freely and be listened to closely
• led by what matters to you, at your pace
• respectful of your culture, your family and your faith

It isn't:

• a diagnosis or a treatment plan
• advice on what you should decide
• a quick fix, or a crisis service

If you want something more structured, a skills-based approach such as CBT may suit you better, and that's a perfectly good choice. The free guides on understanding therapy explain the main approaches side by side.

Private online counselling or a therapy app?

As an online counsellor in private practice, I see you myself, at a booked time, for the whole 50 minutes. You pay £45 per session, with no subscription, and you can stop whenever you choose.

You also know exactly who you are talking to: my training, my supervision and my trainee status are all on this site. Apps work differently, often matching you with someone and offering messaging between live sessions, and they suit some people well. If you're deciding between the two, I've set out the differences in private counselling vs therapy apps.

What I don't work with

As a trainee, I work within my competence. I don't offer counselling for the following, and I'll help you think about where to go instead:

• Active suicidal thoughts or plans. Please use the crisis contacts below, your GP or your local emergency number.
• Psychosis. Your GP or local mental health service can arrange specialist assessment.
• Eating disorders. Your GP can refer you to specialist eating disorder support, and there are free eating and body image resources.
• Treatment for severe trauma or PTSD. A trauma-specialist therapist or your GP is a better first step. See also trauma resources.
• Addiction treatment. Your GP or a specialist addiction service can help, and alcohol and substances resources list free support.
• Couples counselling. A counsellor trained in couples work is the right fit.
• Children and young people. A counsellor trained to work with children and young people is best placed to help.

Training and supervision

I'm a Trainee Person-Centred Counsellor completing an MSc in Counselling & Psychotherapy at Keele University and a student member of the BACP, so I follow the BACP Ethical Framework. I work under regular clinical supervision, which supports the quality and safety of our work.

In supervision I reflect on my practice with an experienced practitioner, without sharing anything that identifies you. I'm also a Placement Counsellor at Axis Counselling in Shrewsbury. Being a trainee is why my fee is lower than many qualified counsellors charge. You can read more about my training and background.

If you are in crisis

I'm not a crisis service. If you are in immediate danger, call 999 in the UK or 112 across the EU, or go to your nearest emergency department. In the UK you can call Samaritans free on 116 123, 24 hours a day. If you live elsewhere, please contact your local emergency number. The UK helplines page and the helplines directory list free, checked numbers by country.

When you are ready, you can check fees and concessions or book a session.