Welcome
Hi, I'm Lucy, a counsellor based in Poole and I offer one to one in person and online support to adults over 18.
I can help with a number of difficulties including anxiety, depression, stress and trauma and I'm also a bereavement and loss specialist which includes non-person losses such as the loss of a job, a relationship, a pet, or health.
When we're struggling with painful feelings and emotions, it can affect many areas of our lives, from our work and relationships with others, to how we see the world and ourselves. We may lose our sense of identity, purpose or direction, or feel trapped inside difficult thoughts we can't seem to find a way out of, no matter how hard we try.
We can be affected physically too with problems like panic and anxiety attacks, poor concentration, muscle pain or problems sleeping which cause us even more pain and suffering.
If you're going through any of these things right now, or struggling in a different way, counselling really can help. Reaching out and taking the first step is often the hardest part of the healing journey and when you feel ready, I'm here to walk beside you the rest of the way.
How I Can Help
Navigating painful thoughts, feelings and emotions can often be hard to do on our own, and confiding in others about how we're really feeling can be hard too, for all sorts of reasons. Will they worry about us? Will they understand? What will they think? They've got their own problems......
Counselling is a space where you can talk in complete confidence about the things you'd like help with, without being judged, and where we can find a way through those things together. You might want a place to talk about and process some your thoughts and feelings or be looking for tools and techniques that help bring positive, transformational and lasting change for you. You might want help to reconnect with the things that give your life meaning or be supported in finding a sense of purpose and direction.
Whatever you'd like from counselling, I will meet you with compassion and understanding and we'll go from there together.
Here are just some of the areas I can help with.
Anxiety
Anger Management
Bereavement
Burnout
Cancer
Carer support
Depression
Low Self-Confidence
Low Self Esteem
Mental Health
Motivation
Non-person Losses
Panic attacks
Personal Development/Life Coaching
Physical Health
Redundancy
Relationships
Separation and divorce
Social anxiety
Spirituality
Stress
Trauma
Terminal/Life Limiting Illness
How I Work
I will always be guided by you in how we work together because I understand we all experience things very differently and need different things, at different times, to help us. I'm what is called an integrative counsellor which means I work with a number of different counselling methods so that every session is tailored to what you feel is most helpful to you. A lot of my work is IFS (Internal Family Systems) informed which is a scientifically proven way of exploring your inner world and helping the wounded parts within it to truly heal.
I also understand how difficult it can sometimes be to put thoughts and feelings into words, especially when they're all mixed up together and whirling round inside like a washing machine on fast spin. Creatively externalising our thoughts and emotions can sometimes help put the washing machine on pause and make sense of what's going on inside so we might use things like pictures, drawing or nesting dolls in our sessions if you'd find any of those things helpful.
However we work together, we will only ever go at a speed that feels right for you and there is never any pressure to move faster in our sessions than you feel safe and comfortable going. Every session will also be a partnership, not someone giving you advice or telling you what to do which, however well intended, isn't always helpful. Instead, I will help you find your own answers by walking beside you and supporting you every step of the way.
I'm a registered member of British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), so you can be sure I have met all their training requirements and work to their high professional and ethical standards.
Appointments
One to one in-person and online appointments are available which can be weekly, fortnightly or monthly depending on what you feel would work best for you.
Availability
I currently have appointments available.
Fees
I offer a free initial 20 minute telephone session which is completely confidential, so we can talk a little about what you'd like help with and I can answer any questions you may have.
If you would like us to work together after our initial call, the cost of in-person and online sessions is £58.00 per 50 minute session.
Outdoor Therapy
Outdoor sessions are £65 per 50 minute session, either in and around the beautiful Poole Park or along Poole's lovely quayside. Sessions are also available in the grounds of Upton Country Park.
Training Workshops
I can provide training workshops to groups and organisations who would like to gain an insight into the impact of bereavement and grief and increase their level of confidence in supporting others who have lost a loved one.
Please contact for more information
Get in Touch
Please contact me if you have any questions about how I can help you or to arrange an initial free of charge telephone appointment. Alternatively, you can call me in confidence on 07568 923506.
My Location
Located in the Old Town part of Poole, Dorset close to Poole Quay, the building is easy to find and readily accessible by car, bus or train. There are plenty of carparks nearby and both the train and main bus stations are just a 10-15 minute walk away.
About Me
I began my counselling training in 2017 after a long management career and have been helping people since 2018, first as part of my counselling training and then after I fully qualified in 2020.
Since then I have continued my training and development through formal qualifications, workshops and self-led research in different therapy approaches so I can adapt and tailor our sessions to your individual needs and preferred way of working.
Qualifications
Advanced Diploma in Integrative Counselling (BACP Accredited)
Level 3 in Integrative Counselling (BACP Accredited)
CBT Level 5 (CPCAB)
Certificate in Therapeutic Use Of Person Centred Creative Arts (APCCA)
Mindfulness Practitioner Certificate (NCS Accredited)
Diploma in Counselling Children and Young People (BACP Accredited)
FAQs
When you make an enquiry, I will contact you by telephone to arrange a convenient time for us to have a free 20 minute initial call where we will discuss in more detail what you'd like help with and I can answer any questions you may have.
If you'd prefer me to contact you by email to arrange a call, just let me know when you make your enquiry so I can do that for you.
Payments are usually by bank transfer but if you're unable to do this for any reason, just let me know so we can arrange a different payment method that's more helpful to you.
A lot will depend on what you'd like support with but most people find 6 sessions are helpful to start with. We can then review this together to see if you feel more sessions would be helpful. You can cancel our sessions at any time and I will always be guided by you and when you feel is the right time to bring our work to a close.