Counselling in Exeter

I have worked in the NHS for over 20 years and I realise that therapy can be a new and unusual approach for people. I often work with folk who are finding things hard, and need a neutral form of support. I can offer direct support, teaching and practice in cognitive and behavioural techniques, or relaxation and mindfulness ideas to help. The goals that a person wants to work towards might be crystal clear to them, or they might refine these as we work together.

People come to therapy for many different and important reasons. For some it is to discuss difficult and emotional experiences, while for others its to have a space in their week to reflect and make time to check-in with themselves. I ask all my clients to come with an open-mind as therapy can take you on a journey of self-discovery. I have worked with many clients with varying degrees of personal difficulties; severe and mild distress including depression, anxiety, suicide, low-self-esteem, earlier life trauma, PTSD, relational difficulties and many more.

I provide a range of evidence based psychotherapies to alleviate psychological distress in Devon, my main approach being Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP). Intensive Short term Dynamic Psychotherapy is a highly effective form of psychodynamic psychotherapy designed to help you get to the heart of the matter quickly, and resolve issues fast. The approach is emotion focussed; a relational therapy that can address a wide range of ongoing problems or symptoms. ISTDP is particularly useful in attending to internal conflicts that can arise from interpersonal relationships.

Hi, my name is Samantha and I am a person-centred counsellor based in Ottery, Devon. I am a registered member of the BACP, offering individual counselling to adults aged 18+. I have experience working with adults aged 19-80, online and face to face and currently have availability to work with new clients. I have previously volunteered my counselling services at SAFE ltd. working with survivors of domestic violence and working with trauma. I work range of issues including self worth, anxiety, depression, trauma, abuse, shame, stresses of everyday life. People come to counselling for many reasons, there is no size fits all approach.

I'm a Relationship and Couples Counsellor because I believe - and I know from my own experience - that the impact of either a nourishing or a difficult, draining relationship affects our whole lives and how much we are able to engage with the world as our best selves. A crisis, an ongoing difficulty, or just loss of connection can make us feel hopeless and stuck and our sense of well-being is lost. Feeling hopeless with your intimate and sexual relationship can feel lonely and isolating. I will create a safe and unbiased space in which to explore what you are longing for and what is keeping you from having the relationship you want.

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No matter what current life problems you are facing; whether they be emotional, physical, relationship, bereavement, trauma or employment related issues, talking it through with a qualified counselling professional can help you make sense of your situation and move forward.

I have been working in the field of mental health for over 15 years as Counsellor, Psychotherapist and Supervisor and thus able to offer a wide range of counselling and psychotherapeutic techniques. My work is tailored to each individual client's needs. Whether you are seeking short term intervention therapy for a crisis or looking inwards in order to discover who you are, we travel the journey together. My approach encompasses most of the humanistic therapies together with an emphasis on transpersonal/Jungian therapy working with dreams, spiritual emergence/crisis and your personal journey towards wholeness.

Counselling can be the first step toward better self care and prioritising your own needs. It can help with understanding the choices you have in life. It can be used to work on issues such as anxiety, depression or anger. It can be helpful to look at the past and understand how it impacts the present. Re-framing this can lead to a better understanding and maybe less self blame or shame. We can carry burdens which aren't ours to carry and counselling can be a safe place to explore this. It can help for the management of difficult relationships in our lives.

Albert Einstein said “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving”. Life can be a rough ride. Keeping the balance and moving forward can be a challenge. It can involve stress, anxiety, depression and much more. But I believe through psychological therapies we can learn and, in some cases even master, the art of managing life successfully. To achieve this, I practise an integrative approach that draws strength from various therapies in the field. I am qualified and confident in using an integrative approach. My natural inclination is to really listen and offer empathy and understanding to people in need.

Life can feel like an uphill struggle sometimes. Therapy is a space where we can discover the obstacles that might be holding you back, and unpack them so that you’re able to navigate life with more self-belief and self-acceptance. Therapy can create change, growth, or it might simply be the first step towards living the life you want to. My aim is to offer you support and provide a space that is comfortable, calm, and free from judgement. Your needs are at the centre of our therapeutic journey together

I offer a confidential and friendly space for clients who want to explore any aspect of their lives which is holding them back or stealing their joy. Issues clients bring to me include things such as anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, loss and trauma. My aim is to support my clients to find a way forward which works for them as individuals; helping them achieve their goals and make the changes they want to see in their lives. I have a particular specialism in eating disorders, all types of issues with food, and body image concerns.

I believe that life is a gift; yet, at times, it can feel quite the opposite. Sometimes, we can feel overwhelmed by our difficulties. ​Often, a trained, non-judgmental and objective ear can help order one's thoughts, challenge ingrained patterns of behaviour, and manage emotions. 

In my experience people seek therapy because they feel desperate, and hold off on spending money on therapy until they absolutely have to, with this in mind I will do my best to offer a quick appointment using a variety of options - phone, online or home visit . All with sliding scale prices. If you have awful feelings that have taken all the joy out of life, maybe event stop you from thinking life is worth living, I'm asking you to give therapy a try because often, using small steps, given the right support, things can get better.

I am clinically experienced in counselling and psychotherapy with children, youth and adults, in the following areas: depression and anxiety, NHS/community acute and enduring mental health, family, parent and child issues, depression, panic disorder, anxiety, trauma, relationship issues, Domestic Abuse, occupational/life stress, addiction/substance abuse recovery, autistic spectrum/developmental delay, learning disability, children and young persons experiencing domestic violence, refugees, forensic and eating disorder. As a practitioner I have been part of multidisciplinary teams.If you have any questions or would like to book.

I am here to support you with a down to earth approach to help you create the life you want, we don't need to delve into your past but instead work out how the past may be affecting you today. Together we can build coping mechanisms to bring about the changes you want in a caring therapeutic way. We can meet in my country cabin below or outside enjoying mother nature and the countryside, with whatever feels most comfortable to you.

I am offering a low cost counselling service. Through my voluntary work I see the real need for assessable counselling and I am now able to provide that through Zoom or telephone. I first discovered counselling when I was referred to one many years ago. The experience for me was life changing. It was one of my first relationships that valued my choices and it and me gave me the tools, knowledge and courage to make changes in my life. I believe no one will know the truth about themselves until you find it by yourself. In doing so will give you greater value and empower you to make your own choices.

I believe that our capacity to cope with issues that arise in adult life, whether this is how we experience the world, relate to others, cope with difficult situations or understand and manage what can often be overwhelming emotions, is ultimately bound up with our early experiences. Whether we wish to or not we carry our history with us and sometimes this does not provide the strong foundation needed to engage and embrace life or weather its storms. I work with clients to recognise the origins of their difficulties so that together we might arrive at a place where life is understandable, and they feel both validated and valued.

Life can often feel both difficult and overwhelming and I offer a peaceful, private and confidential space in which you can talk through some of the issues that might be holding you back or making life feel challenging. Maybe your relationship is feeling buried under family life or intimacy has dwindled. Perhaps you are feeling unhappy at work, or are navigating difficult life events like, divorce or bereavement. Counselling is your time to explore what matters to you. We can decide together what your goals are from counselling and how I can best support you using the very best of current theory, thinking and skills.