Attachment-based Counselling in Hastings

I am a highly experienced Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Child & Family Psychotherapist with over twenty years experience working with Children, Adolescence (CAMHS), Families and Adult mental well being. My clinical services are based in Hastings and Brighton. I provide psychological clinical services to help with psychological distress such as anxiety, low mood, poor self-esteem, complex trauma and eating disorders. I offer a friendly, flexible and holistic approach, providing a range of therapeutic interventions tailored to the individual's or families' needs.

I am a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society and have a doctorate in Psychotherapeutic and Counselling Psychology from the University of Surrey. Prior to this qualification I was awarded a Bachelor of Science (First Class Honours) degree in Psychology with Clinical Psychology from the University of Kent. I have a wide range of experience working within a number of Community Mental Health Teams and Psychological Services Departments for the Kent and Medway NHS Foundation Trust. These roles involved working with a broad spectrum of psychological distress ranging from mild to severe and enduring.

I am a fully accredited cognitive behavioural psychotherapist and psychodynamic counsellor. I have worked extensively in both the NHS and charitable sectors as a manager, supervisor and lecturer. I offer specialist interventions for both assessments and treatments. I work autonomously within the ethical guidelines of both the BABCP and the BACP. I offer therapy for depression and anxiety and related and co-morbid disorders. I am an empathic, caring and non judgemental therapist who is keen to support you to meet your goals and feel better. I am actively engaged in keeping up to date with developments in my field.

I am a counsellor and counselling supervisor. I work with individuals and couples. Do you need some help with anger? Maybe you just wish you could stop feeling anxious? Perhaps you’ve been feeling really low, and have been feeling like this for a long time. Or wondering whether you’ll ever get over grief. Maybe you are seeking transformational change in your thinking. I have extensive experience in working with alcohol and substance misuse, sexual abuse and much more. I work positively to improving your well-bieng

This has been such a strange and demanding time. It has given many of us time to reflect on our lives and adjust our priorities. And for others it has increased anxieties and highlighted fears. You may be looking for support in understanding a difficult period or relationship in your life. You may be feeling desperate or feeling things just aren't right. Putting concerns into words and sharing your thoughts and feelings can be the first step to addressing the issues and resolving them. A better relationship with yourself is often a happy outcome.

As an integrative psychotherapist I tailor my approach to meet your needs. Together we will develop tools to help you manage your thoughts and feelings so that you can have the relationships you want and pursue a meaningful life. If you are struggling with emotional pain, worry, anxiety or depression, I can provide a safe and confidential space to begin your recovery. During your introductory session you can get a sense of if and how we might work together.

I believe that every client is unique, and so I adapt my approach to suit the individual. I also believe in the value and healing power of providing a non-judgemental, empathic and accepting relationship - an experience of relationship that many individuals may not have had previously. I currently see clients face-to-face on Monday & Wednesday mornings/afternoons (Hastings, East Sussex), Thursday mornings & afternoons (Chancery Lane/Holborn), Friday mornings & afternoons (Finsbury Park, N4) and online via Zoom on Monday & Tuesday afternoon / evenings.

'I just want to be free from my anxiety,''I will never be good enough,''They're better than me.' Maybe it's crippling anxiety where you're fearful of every situation, whether it's the now or related to a past trauma. Maybe you lack confidence in body & self, disliking yourself and feeling like you don't know who you are which causes you to be afraid to be you. Perhaps it's attachment patterns in relationships, fear of trusting due to being let down & abandoned, the terror of ending up hurt and alone. Well, I can help. After all, Tom, Dick or Harry telling us that 'It'll be okay' is well meaning but does it help?

Counselling, Psychotherapy, Therapeutic Coaching in Bexhill on Sea, Eastbourne, Brighton (face-to face) and beyond (by Skype). I qualified as a psychotherapist from the University of Sussex nearly 20 years ago, having gained a BSc (Honours) degree in Psychology in the late 1990s. My previous career was as a translator/interpreter in Higher Education. My work is underpinned by the psychodynamic (Freudian) approach which helps clients to understand how past relationships may be influencing their present issues such anxiety, generalised anxiety disorder, relationships, depression and many other personal difficulties.

Whatever the issues and problems we have to face, one question seems to come up whether we are aware of it or not, which is how much if any control do we have over the way we feel, especially when we feel very powerful or overwhelming emotions. Usually the bad things happen (or are said) when we are out of control and completely in the grip of our feelings of anger, jealousy, fear, lust, greed etc. However trying to remove or erase these feelings, an obvious and often tried solution doesn’t seem to work that well, usually they squirt out and can be even more damaging by being denied and buried.

If you decide to work with me it will be rather like setting out on a journey together. On that journey I’ll be your fellow traveller, companion and guide. Whether or not your reason for coming to see me is an external situation that’s impacting your life, a key part of our time together will be to explore your inner world. As we explore that world together you may develop greater insight into patterns of thought and behaviour that served you once but now limit you; you may find alternative ways of approaching difficulties; you may discover a way of being in the world that is more in tune with who you truly are.

No one needs to suffer alone, and in fact, I like to think that no one needs to suffer at all. I have dedicated most of my adult life, helping people with their mental health, as a nurse, a social worker and as a psychologist. I have over 40 years experience in the Mental Health field, 16 of which have been with the NHS as a Senior Psychologist. I help all age groups both face to face and on-line. My clients have varied needs and I offer an individual plan of treatment for each person depending upon their specific needs and goals.

Hi there, Are you feeling the stresses of Covid 19? Does life feel hard to deal with right now? I'm Sonia Stiles and I am a trained Counselling Therapist with 14 years of experience. As a member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP), I work within the BACP Ethical Framework of Data Protection and Confidentiality. I specialise in Couple Therapy and Family Therapy. I help you address any friction and arguing in relationships that pull people apart and cause more hurt and upset. I do this by looking at the individuals with a caring and nurturing approach to enable everyone to look at the bigger picture.

My aim is to offer a supportive space to help you explore issues creating distress in areas of your life. With empathy and compassion, I will help you to express thoughts, feelings, emotions which may be too painful to explore alone and which are preventing you from making important decisions or making you feel stuck. Emotional distress can trigger symptoms of stress, anxiety, impacting your physical health and wellbeing. I will help you to identify, explore and overcome the areas that you are struggling with, supporting you towards healing and recovery from the overwhelm you may be facing, toward the life you truly desire.

If you’re feeling sad, anxious or lost, struggling with relationships, or stuck in familiar negative patterns of thoughts or behaviour, please contact me to see how counselling can help.

At times, we can find it difficult to connect with those closest to us or even with ourselves. Traumatic events, change, loss and ongoing stress can lead us to feel overwhelmed, stuck, anxious, irritated, confused or low and lacking in motivation. If this resonates with you, I provide a confidential space in which you can express, explore and reflect on your experience without blame or judgement. I work with calm compassion and gentle curiosity. By supporting you to enhance self awareness and develop self acceptance, you can move towards more satisfying, life-affirming, choices and connections.

Do you need an opportunity to help process your thoughts and feelings in a safe, non-judgemental, confidential environment? I can offer you a warm, confidential and trusting relationship. Although what distresses you is the most important factor, I will also discuss with you your lifestyle, health, sleep patterns and other aspects, such as relaxation techniques. Whatever the situation take your first step whether you are anxious, depressed, grieving or feeling bad about yourself. You are the real expert in what is going on for you and what you need. I am here to support you and together we can work through your concerns. ​

I am a qualified and experienced counsellor working with adults, children and young people. I offer a warm, listening enviroment for you to gain awareness around your problems and make the necessary changes for your own wellbeing.. My specialist area is working with young people 11-18, children 7-11 and Canine Therapy, having practised as a school counsellor for many years. I also provide counselling to school staff, such as teachers and teaching assistants. When working with children and young people, I encourage parents and carers to be involved as much as possible, whilst respecting the confidentiality and autonomy of your child.