LGBTQ+ Affirming Counsellors in Rochester
Starting therapy can feel really overwhelming, and if you have never been before you may be worried about what will happen. I am here to listen and offer you a safe space to explore your life and your feelings. I work in a person-centred way but also pull from other theories and methods and like to feel like we are working alongside each other to make any changes you want to see in your life. In our first session I will introduce myself and we can have a look at what has brought you to therapy and if working together seems like a good fit.
Starting therapy can feel really overwhelming, and if you have never been before you may be worried about what will happen. I am here to listen and offer you a safe space to explore your life and your feelings. I work in a person-centred way but also pull from other theories and methods and like to feel like we are working alongside each other to make any changes you want to see in your life. In our first session I will introduce myself and we can have a look at what has brought you to therapy and if working together seems like a good fit.
Hello. My name is Steve and I trained as a person-centred counsellor, although I have an interest in a broad range of therapies, including CBT, Existential and Family Systems Therapy. I believe that therapy is an exploration, where a safe, open and non-judgemental space can help us explore life's meaning, and help us overcome the things that trouble us.
Hello. My name is Steve and I trained as a person-centred counsellor, although I have an interest in a broad range of therapies, including CBT, Existential and Family Systems Therapy. I believe that therapy is an exploration, where a safe, open and non-judgemental space can help us explore life's meaning, and help us overcome the things that trouble us.
You are not alone. There are many reasons why people seek counselling such as anxiety, bereavement or relationships and it can be a combination of things that makes someone feel overwhelmed. I work with all age groups, genders and cultures; with individuals, couples and families. Talking can be difficult for anyone so I also offer creative and animal assisted therapies to enable clients to express their feelings and experiences in a less challenging way. I am experienced in different life issues: If you are Deaf I can sign BSL or you might be on the Autistic Spectrum. If appropriate I can also work with clients in a home setting.
You are not alone. There are many reasons why people seek counselling such as anxiety, bereavement or relationships and it can be a combination of things that makes someone feel overwhelmed. I work with all age groups, genders and cultures; with individuals, couples and families. Talking can be difficult for anyone so I also offer creative and animal assisted therapies to enable clients to express their feelings and experiences in a less challenging way. I am experienced in different life issues: If you are Deaf I can sign BSL or you might be on the Autistic Spectrum. If appropriate I can also work with clients in a home setting.
I'm an accredited Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist and Counsellor with almost 20yrs experience in mental health. I support Adults and Adolescents (12-17yrs). I have additional training in EMDR Therapy and Supervision, with over 10 years experience Supervising within the NHS and private practice. I have a special interest in PTSD and trauma. I also specialise in anxiety disorders (ie. PTSD, Panic, Health, GAD, Social Anxiety and Phobias) depression and low self-esteem. I Supervise Trainees on the level 7 Masters in CBT as well as other qualified clinicians. F2F and Remote.
I'm an accredited Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist and Counsellor with almost 20yrs experience in mental health. I support Adults and Adolescents (12-17yrs). I have additional training in EMDR Therapy and Supervision, with over 10 years experience Supervising within the NHS and private practice. I have a special interest in PTSD and trauma. I also specialise in anxiety disorders (ie. PTSD, Panic, Health, GAD, Social Anxiety and Phobias) depression and low self-esteem. I Supervise Trainees on the level 7 Masters in CBT as well as other qualified clinicians. F2F and Remote.
Do you need someone to talk too? Are you lonely, depressed or having relationship issues? Sometimes having an impartial listener can help you to see new ways of coping or overcoming the problems you are facing. As a couples counsellor my job is to help facilitate happier relationships or respectful endings. As a qualified and registered counsellor I am able to provide a safe and supportive environment to explore any issues you feel are causing difficulty in your life. I pride myself on being non-judgmental and welcome everyone, whatever your background may be, to explore ways in which to make your life better.
Do you need someone to talk too? Are you lonely, depressed or having relationship issues? Sometimes having an impartial listener can help you to see new ways of coping or overcoming the problems you are facing. As a couples counsellor my job is to help facilitate happier relationships or respectful endings. As a qualified and registered counsellor I am able to provide a safe and supportive environment to explore any issues you feel are causing difficulty in your life. I pride myself on being non-judgmental and welcome everyone, whatever your background may be, to explore ways in which to make your life better.
My name is Phillippa and i am a qualified integrative counsellor meaning that i can offer different types of counselling and interventions. I offer an adaptable approach tailored to your own individual circumstance in a empathetic setting . Counselling offers you an opportunity what is going on with you in your life , enabling you to express your mind and find some peace In a non judgmental environment. I believe that we all have times in our life where we all need to talk to someone with prejudice or judgement. .I have experience working with mind and can offer a wide range of support around your mental wellbeing
My name is Phillippa and i am a qualified integrative counsellor meaning that i can offer different types of counselling and interventions. I offer an adaptable approach tailored to your own individual circumstance in a empathetic setting . Counselling offers you an opportunity what is going on with you in your life , enabling you to express your mind and find some peace In a non judgmental environment. I believe that we all have times in our life where we all need to talk to someone with prejudice or judgement. .I have experience working with mind and can offer a wide range of support around your mental wellbeing
Dealing with challenges in daily life can be tough. Are you feeling stuck in your life? Has your relationship changed? Or you are no longer happy with your partner or family members? Perhaps, you are dealing with parenting challenges, having a baby and being a parent can bring great joy, but it can also be difficult. It is normal to feel low and not like yourself, and it is okay to struggle to understand your birth experience. Feeling guilty about not meeting your own expectations can also make life feel hard. Or are you feeling lonely because your beliefs do not align with your parents' values?
Dealing with challenges in daily life can be tough. Are you feeling stuck in your life? Has your relationship changed? Or you are no longer happy with your partner or family members? Perhaps, you are dealing with parenting challenges, having a baby and being a parent can bring great joy, but it can also be difficult. It is normal to feel low and not like yourself, and it is okay to struggle to understand your birth experience. Feeling guilty about not meeting your own expectations can also make life feel hard. Or are you feeling lonely because your beliefs do not align with your parents' values?
Sometimes life can feel like a struggle, provoking anxiety, distress and confusion. You may feel that something needs to change, but are unsure of which direction to take. Maybe you already know what you need but would welcome a little support and clarity to enable you to move forward. Perhaps you have experienced a significant life event, either recently or in the past, that has derailed you? Bereavement, relationships, work and health are among the many concerns that can be de-stabilising. Counselling can help to untangle past or current concerns that are causing you to feel low or isolated.
Sometimes life can feel like a struggle, provoking anxiety, distress and confusion. You may feel that something needs to change, but are unsure of which direction to take. Maybe you already know what you need but would welcome a little support and clarity to enable you to move forward. Perhaps you have experienced a significant life event, either recently or in the past, that has derailed you? Bereavement, relationships, work and health are among the many concerns that can be de-stabilising. Counselling can help to untangle past or current concerns that are causing you to feel low or isolated.
Hi I'm Sarah and I am a Person Centred therapist based in Rochester providing counselling in person and online. My specialism is working with adults and adolescents who have had traumatic experiences such as sexual abuse, domestic violence, childhood neglect and physical abuse. My approach is to work with you to build a safe and trusting relationship, in which you feel heard and understood and where you can be your true authentic self without judgement. In this safe space I can help you to begin to make sense of difficult, overwhelming and confusing feelings and to be able to find a path towards the future you want to create.
Hi I'm Sarah and I am a Person Centred therapist based in Rochester providing counselling in person and online. My specialism is working with adults and adolescents who have had traumatic experiences such as sexual abuse, domestic violence, childhood neglect and physical abuse. My approach is to work with you to build a safe and trusting relationship, in which you feel heard and understood and where you can be your true authentic self without judgement. In this safe space I can help you to begin to make sense of difficult, overwhelming and confusing feelings and to be able to find a path towards the future you want to create.
I am an experienced counsellor, registered with the BACP and work with individual adults.
I am an experienced counsellor, registered with the BACP and work with individual adults.
In psychotherapy there is an opportunity to get to know yourself in depth and discover new ways of living your life. Often we have repetitive patterns and ways of thinking that can for instance cause suffering, frustration, anxiety and sadness in our life. Despite our best efforts to decide to behave and relate differently, we drift back to our old ways of being and behaving. In psychotherapy we will work at getting to know your unconscious inner life. A lot of feelings and thoughts we have are not conscious and psychotherapy gives you the opportunity to reflect and try out new ways when you feel change is needed.
In psychotherapy there is an opportunity to get to know yourself in depth and discover new ways of living your life. Often we have repetitive patterns and ways of thinking that can for instance cause suffering, frustration, anxiety and sadness in our life. Despite our best efforts to decide to behave and relate differently, we drift back to our old ways of being and behaving. In psychotherapy we will work at getting to know your unconscious inner life. A lot of feelings and thoughts we have are not conscious and psychotherapy gives you the opportunity to reflect and try out new ways when you feel change is needed.
Meet Our LGBTQ+ Counsellors
Acknowledging that we need help and reaching out is a really big, and sometimes a daunting step and it is important that you find the right counsellor for you. Whether you have been feeling anxious, depressed, lost, stressed, isolated, overwhelmed or misunderstood, I can support you. I offer a safe, non-judgemental space for you to explore what makes you “you”. This can include exploring how events of the past might be influencing the present, to understand how you experience and cope with life’s stresses and consider how you might want to challenge and adapt these to feel more fulfilled.
Acknowledging that we need help and reaching out is a really big, and sometimes a daunting step and it is important that you find the right counsellor for you. Whether you have been feeling anxious, depressed, lost, stressed, isolated, overwhelmed or misunderstood, I can support you. I offer a safe, non-judgemental space for you to explore what makes you “you”. This can include exploring how events of the past might be influencing the present, to understand how you experience and cope with life’s stresses and consider how you might want to challenge and adapt these to feel more fulfilled.
Dr Esther Cole
Psychologist, PsychD, HCPC - Clin. Psych.
Verified Verified
12 Endorsed
Rochester ME2
Are you feeling exhausted, stressed and overwhelmed? Are you in physical or emotional pain, working relentlessly in different areas of your life: at work, home or study, in relationships, caring or parental roles? Do you need to make sense of, and overcome trauma, feelings of sadness, low-self esteem or burnout? As a third generation British Jamaican Psychologist, managing long-term conditions whilst being a mother of three, I warmly welcome clients of all ages and walks of life, and have a passion for supporting people living alongside mental, physical or neurological difficulties and trauma.
Are you feeling exhausted, stressed and overwhelmed? Are you in physical or emotional pain, working relentlessly in different areas of your life: at work, home or study, in relationships, caring or parental roles? Do you need to make sense of, and overcome trauma, feelings of sadness, low-self esteem or burnout? As a third generation British Jamaican Psychologist, managing long-term conditions whilst being a mother of three, I warmly welcome clients of all ages and walks of life, and have a passion for supporting people living alongside mental, physical or neurological difficulties and trauma.
Sometimes it's about coping strategies and supporting my clients through a tough time or loss, want to change something about how they feel, think or behave, many look to free themselves of the past whilst some aren't sure exactly what they need, they simply feel the struggle to be happy in their life or relationships.You'll find I'm patient and calm by nature, have a compassionate and mature approach to helping, intuitively sense some things are really tough to talk about and whilst I will help you with ideas and tools to reduce symptoms and which can also speed up meaningful change between sessions, note: you will get to direct, manage your own destiny. I have always seen my role as guiding my client to see difficulties you stuck and with my help how to overcome them. My aim is always for my clients to be able to leave feeling confident in knowing their own well being long term.
Sometimes it's about coping strategies and supporting my clients through a tough time or loss, want to change something about how they feel, think or behave, many look to free themselves of the past whilst some aren't sure exactly what they need, they simply feel the struggle to be happy in their life or relationships.You'll find I'm patient and calm by nature, have a compassionate and mature approach to helping, intuitively sense some things are really tough to talk about and whilst I will help you with ideas and tools to reduce symptoms and which can also speed up meaningful change between sessions, note: you will get to direct, manage your own destiny. I have always seen my role as guiding my client to see difficulties you stuck and with my help how to overcome them. My aim is always for my clients to be able to leave feeling confident in knowing their own well being long term.
Whether you are struggling with mental health, wanting to process your story or need support making some changes, I offer a space to explore your story and what has made you who you are today. Together, we sit compassionately with whatever pain, struggle or issue is brought, bringing awareness to how things are and what lies behind it. I see a range of clients from all walks of life, ethnicities, and beliefs.
As a Christian, I understand wanting a therapist who appreciates faith as an important aspect of your life. I specialise in incorporating what this means to you and how you would like to include it in our work together.
Whether you are struggling with mental health, wanting to process your story or need support making some changes, I offer a space to explore your story and what has made you who you are today. Together, we sit compassionately with whatever pain, struggle or issue is brought, bringing awareness to how things are and what lies behind it. I see a range of clients from all walks of life, ethnicities, and beliefs.
As a Christian, I understand wanting a therapist who appreciates faith as an important aspect of your life. I specialise in incorporating what this means to you and how you would like to include it in our work together.
Occasionally, we find ourselves experiencing a wide range of difficulties. It could be anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, grief, or just a sense that you do not feel good enough no matter how hard you try. Whatever the reason, I understand that it can feel incredibly isolating and as if no one seems to understand you or how you are feeling. It can reach a point where we begin to recognise that something has got to change; but are just not sure what that is yet. I truly believe that part of the healing power is the ability to untangle your thoughts and feelings freely, without the fear of judgement and being truly heard.
Occasionally, we find ourselves experiencing a wide range of difficulties. It could be anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, grief, or just a sense that you do not feel good enough no matter how hard you try. Whatever the reason, I understand that it can feel incredibly isolating and as if no one seems to understand you or how you are feeling. It can reach a point where we begin to recognise that something has got to change; but are just not sure what that is yet. I truly believe that part of the healing power is the ability to untangle your thoughts and feelings freely, without the fear of judgement and being truly heard.
Hi, I am a person centred counsellor this means I accept and support you to explore ways to help overcome any uncomfortable or traumatic emotions you may be experiencing. I have also trained in cognitive behavioural therapy which can also help support and reframe thinking. We may have experiences in life that can be overwhelming or we are unable to make sense of the events that may have happened to us. Asking for help can be the first step for us to overcome or understand how we are feeling and the repetitive behaviour's or thoughts that can keep us in a unhealthy cycle, working together allows us to find heathy self-awareness.
Hi, I am a person centred counsellor this means I accept and support you to explore ways to help overcome any uncomfortable or traumatic emotions you may be experiencing. I have also trained in cognitive behavioural therapy which can also help support and reframe thinking. We may have experiences in life that can be overwhelming or we are unable to make sense of the events that may have happened to us. Asking for help can be the first step for us to overcome or understand how we are feeling and the repetitive behaviour's or thoughts that can keep us in a unhealthy cycle, working together allows us to find heathy self-awareness.
As I have evolved through both my Professional and Personal landscapes, I am committed to help transform, Children, Adults , Families through their Relationships, Mental Health issues, overcome Domestic Abuse and Trauma, recognise Narcissistic Abuse and achieve overall life improvement.
I work with all walks of life and have many strings to my bow, I adore learning, researching and am currently undergoing further training focussing on the impact of Trauma and implementing new approaches to help manage CPTSD/PTSD.
I have a diverse range of interpersonal skills and utilise my knowledge to teach and train Psychology and Counselling
As I have evolved through both my Professional and Personal landscapes, I am committed to help transform, Children, Adults , Families through their Relationships, Mental Health issues, overcome Domestic Abuse and Trauma, recognise Narcissistic Abuse and achieve overall life improvement.
I work with all walks of life and have many strings to my bow, I adore learning, researching and am currently undergoing further training focussing on the impact of Trauma and implementing new approaches to help manage CPTSD/PTSD.
I have a diverse range of interpersonal skills and utilise my knowledge to teach and train Psychology and Counselling
Feeling overwhelmed and struggling to make sense of stressful and emotional anguish from current or past experiences? As a counsellor, my help with you would be to explore these issues, enable you to find your answers and recognise the choices that are available to you.
Feeling overwhelmed and struggling to make sense of stressful and emotional anguish from current or past experiences? As a counsellor, my help with you would be to explore these issues, enable you to find your answers and recognise the choices that are available to you.
My name is Kirstie Eames and I’m here to help and support you to gain the skills you need to make a positive move forward. I offer one to one Integrative and Trauma counselling in a safe, confidential, Empathetic, non-judgemental space for you to be able to promote healing, build self-awareness, build self-esteem and to be heard to help you move forward in your life. As a trauma informed therapist I can provide a grounded presence where you can begin to explore your trauma while feeling safe, listened to, and held. I also work with more generalised mental health such as depression, all anxiety, PD's, behaviour disorders and OCD
My name is Kirstie Eames and I’m here to help and support you to gain the skills you need to make a positive move forward. I offer one to one Integrative and Trauma counselling in a safe, confidential, Empathetic, non-judgemental space for you to be able to promote healing, build self-awareness, build self-esteem and to be heard to help you move forward in your life. As a trauma informed therapist I can provide a grounded presence where you can begin to explore your trauma while feeling safe, listened to, and held. I also work with more generalised mental health such as depression, all anxiety, PD's, behaviour disorders and OCD
See more therapy options for Rochester
Nearby Gay Counsellors Searches for Rochester
- Benfleet
- Chatham
- Faversham
- Gillingham
- Gravesend
- Leigh-on-Sea
- Longfield
- Maidstone
- Sittingbourne
- Southend-on-Sea
- West Malling
- Westcliff-on-Sea
LGBTQ+ Counsellors
Do LGBTQ-affirmative therapists receive special training?
Yes. Many therapists who practice LGBTQ-affirmative therapy have completed specialised training, either during their degree programme or as continuing education, to learn the core principles of affirmative therapy and how to best support their LGBTQ clients; some have received certifications in LGBTQ-affirmative therapy. Prospective clients should inquire as to a clinician’s background and training to ensure a good fit.
Why might I want to see an LGBTQ-affirming or LGBTQ-friendly therapist?
Queer and gender-non-conforming individuals frequently experience bias and marginalisation in day-to-day life. Working with a therapist who understands these unique challenges, as well as accepts and affirms their identity, can help LGBTQ clients feel safe and supported during therapy—allowing them to better navigate their relationships, mental health, and anything else that they wish to explore during therapy. It is important to note that many therapists can be effective in their work with LGBTQ+ individuals, even in the absence of specific training or background knowledge. The most important component in therapy is the alliance between therapist and client, and this alliance can exist between individuals with very different backgrounds.
How can I find an LGBTQ-friendly therapist?
You may wish to inquire about a therapist’s expertise with your specific challenges or concerns—depression, for example, or relationship strife—as well as their past experiences treating LGBTQ+ clients. Prospective clients may also ask whether a therapist has obtained additional training and/or certification in LGBTQ-affirmative techniques.
How can I inquire about a therapist’s experience with LGBTQ issues?
Prospective clients should feel empowered to directly ask therapists whether they have received training or been certified in LGBTQ-affirming therapy; competent therapists will be happy to explain their educational background and preferred approach(es) to help a client find the best match for them. Clients may also wish to ask how a therapist has treated clients with their particular challenges in the past and what they expect treatment to look like.
Are all the therapists listed in the LGBTQ directory themselves members of the LGBTQ community?
While therapists may choose to disclose their sexual orientation or gender identity in their profiles, the LGBTQ directory features not only those who have shared this information but also those who assert specialised training or experience in providing support to queer individuals, couples or families.