Hi, I’m Abbie, Head of Counselling at HCP.

I’m a qualified and experienced counsellor and psychotherapist, offering a warm, down-to-earth and non-judgemental space where you can talk openly about whatever is going on for you.

People come to counselling for all sorts of reasons. You may be struggling with anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, relationship or family difficulties, low self-esteem, or simply feeling overwhelmed or stuck without really knowing why. Sometimes there isn’t one particular problem - you might just know that something doesn’t feel right and that you would like things to change.

My approach is primarily person-centred, which means I believe that counselling should be shaped around you rather than expecting you to fit into a particular way of working. Alongside talking therapy, I can draw upon a range of therapeutic approaches and practical tools where these may be helpful. My work is also informed by specialist training in trauma and Complex PTSD.

Over the years, I have worked with adults, young people and children across private practice, counselling services and educational settings. This has given me experience of supporting people from a wide variety of backgrounds and with many different experiences, including anxiety, depression, bereavement and complicated grief, trauma, suicidal thoughts, relationship difficulties, family issues, work-related stress, low self-worth and significant life changes.

For me, one of the most important parts of counselling is the relationship we build together. I’m not here to judge you, tell you what you “should” do, or expect you to have everything figured out. Instead, we can explore what is happening at a pace that feels manageable, understand the patterns or experiences that may be affecting you, and work towards whatever meaningful change looks like for you.

In private practice, I work with clients both face-to-face and online. I don’t place a set limit on the number of sessions you can have; some people come to counselling for a relatively short period, while others find longer-term therapy more helpful. We can regularly review how things are going and make those decisions together.

Taking the first step into counselling can feel daunting, particularly if you have never experienced therapy before. My aim is to make that process feel as comfortable and straightforward as possible and to provide a space where you can simply be yourself.