Private Counselling For Individuals
People come to me for many different reasons. Sometimes life has become unmanageable and they are not quite sure why. Sometimes they know exactly what the problem is but cannot seem to shift it on their own. Often, what brings someone to counselling is something they have been carrying for a long time.
Whatever brings you here, I offer a warm, supportive and confidential space where we can explore what is going on for you without judgement. My role is to help you get in touch with feelings or emotions that may have been too painful or frightening to look at before, and to work through them at a pace that feels right for you.
I work with individuals in Bath and Bristol, and online via Zoom with clients throughout the UK. My two main areas of specialism are trauma and addiction. Most of the people I work with are dealing with one or both of these, often without fully realising it.
Trauma and addiction are at the heart of what I do
I am a BACP-registered counsellor with over 20 years of personal recovery from addiction. My own journey showed me first-hand how past trauma and addictive behaviour can shape present-day life in ways that are difficult to see clearly from the inside. That lived experience sits at the core of everything I do.
Many of the people I work with arrive describing anxiety, low mood, relationship difficulties, or a persistent feeling of being stuck. Underneath those presenting problems, there is often unprocessed trauma, or a pattern of addictive behaviour that has quietly become a way of coping. My job is to help you understand what is really going on beneath the surface, not just manage the symptoms on top.
For trauma, I am a trained Rewind Technique practitioner. This is a gentle and effective method that allows us to process difficult or distressing experiences without you having to relive them in detail. Many clients find it produces a significant reduction in anxiety, intrusive thoughts, nightmares, and emotional overwhelm. The goal is not to erase the memory, but to remove the charge attached to it.
For addiction, I work with alcohol, drugs, gambling, and other compulsive behaviours. I have been in recovery myself for over 20 years, which means I can offer something beyond professional training: genuine understanding of how powerful addiction is, and how real recovery is possible.
Why trauma and addiction so often go together
In my experience, trauma and addiction are rarely separate. For many people, addictive behaviour begins as a way of managing pain that has no other outlet. Alcohol numbs it. Gambling distracts from it. Other compulsive behaviours provide a temporary sense of control or escape. The addiction is not the root problem. It is often a response to something deeper that has never been fully addressed.
This is why working with both areas together matters. Treating the addiction without understanding what drives it tends to leave people vulnerable to relapse. And sitting with trauma without the support structures that recovery builds can feel overwhelming. The most sustainable progress comes from working on both, in a space where neither carries shame.
You do not need to arrive with a clear diagnosis or a label. Many people simply know that something is not right, and that what they have tried so far has not been enough. That is a perfectly good place to start.
What working together can help with
How I work
I combine counselling with practical tools, so you come away from sessions with something you can actually use in your day-to-day life, not just insight that stays in the room.
I work in a way that is warm, direct and non-judgemental. I have a natural ability to help people feel at ease, which matters particularly when the things being discussed are difficult or carry shame. You will not be lectured or told what to do. What I offer is a space where you can begin to understand yourself more clearly, and from that understanding, begin to change.
Counselling can be short-term or longer term depending on what you bring. I offer a free 15-minute discovery call so you can get a sense of how I work before committing to anything.
What you can expect over time
Recovery and healing are not linear, and progress looks different for everyone. But over time, most clients find that things begin to shift. The thoughts that felt relentless become quieter. The cravings lose some of their grip. The situations that used to trigger a strong reaction start to feel more manageable.
People often describe feeling more like themselves again. Clearer in their thinking. More present in their relationships. Less driven by shame or the need to escape. It is not about becoming a different person. It is about coming back to who you really are, without the weight of what you have been carrying.
I see clients in person at The Practice Rooms in Bath and at Queen Square in Bristol. If you already know which area you are looking for help with, you can read more about trauma counselling in Bath, trauma counselling in Bristol, addiction counselling in Bath, or addiction counselling in Bristol.
Ready to take the first step?
If you are not sure which area applies to you, that is fine. You do not need to have it all figured out before reaching out. Get in touch and we can work out together what would be most useful.
Sessions are available in person in Bath and Bristol, and online via Zoom for clients anywhere in the UK.