About me

Hi, my name is Lucy and I am an Integrative counsellor who works with young people and adults in Worthing, West Sussex.

Being able to support people is a massive part of my life and having experienced my own personal struggles, especially during my adolescent years, I reached a place where it felt a natural and needed progression to train to be a counsellor. Connection to myself, my immediate world and others is an important part of my life and something I work on everyday. 

I enjoy nature and spend as much time as I can walking along the seafront or in the woods. My new found passion for gardening is a great way for me to reground and recharge between seeing clients and I move between frustration and amazement in my ability to grow produce...I am determined to grow a pumpkin at least one year! Nature can have a massive impact on our mental health and even just a few minutes a day outside can reground, awaken and change something in us. In a world which is now so busy, it's these little things that we need to look for and nurture.

I am a fully trained counsellor having gained a Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling. Alongside my formal qualification, I have a wealth of experience both as a counsellor and in previous professional roles, working with a range of people, settings and issues. This includes;

• Working as a school counsellor at a high school
• Working in the community with vulnerable adults
• Working in a residential rehab as a counsellor supporting clients with substance addiction and offering both 1:1 and group therapy
• Counselling clients in private practice who are diagnosed or self identify as neurodivergent. This includes adhd/ add/ autism/ dyslexia/ dyspraxia

As part of my commitment to the service I provide, I am continually learning and developing. I focus on areas I am interested in as well as expanding my understanding and knowledge of specific client issues, enabling me to better support you. My continued learning is mostly through attending workshops/ training, reading, researching, listening to podcasts and articles. Previous training I have attended includes;

• Walk and Talk therapy
• Body psychotherapy
• Working with trauma
• Counselling young people 
• Suicide and self harm
• Sand Tray

Coming soon......

I am currently working on developing my service and have a few ideas in the pipeline. This will likely include some online live/ live on-demand training programmes for particular client groups/issues, as well as in person group therapy. I greatly believe in the positive impact counselling can have and so want to expand on this so more people can access the support they need. Support can be in the form of talking 1:1, sharing confidentially in a group and being part of a supportive network with other people who are experiencing similar things, psycho education, tools, self care, feeling listened to and acknowledged and developing confidence to manage difficult situations/ issues.  I am extremely excited about this and the possibilities of being able to reach and support a wider community. Watch this space for further updates and information.

Counselling, also referred to as Psychotherapy, is a talking therapy which can help you explore and process your thoughts, feelings, behaviours and experiences. The safety of the therapeutic relationship, and the non judgment and empathy of the counsellor, gives you the space to work out the why's, the wants, the needs and the how's in your life. Maybe you are feeling sad, depressed, anxious, stressed and it feels too much - Strong feelings may be leaving you overwhelmed and you are unsure how to manage them. Maybe you need some support with a life change such as a bereavement or illness. Perhaps you feel at a crossroads in your life and need a space where you can get some clarity. Counselling can help. No matter how big or little your problem seems. 

Counselling can help support a range of issues including;

Anxiety

Neurodiversity

Depression

Relationship issues

Addiction - substance and non substance

Abuse

Trauma

Low self esteem

Stress

Feeling low

Anger

Overwhelming emotions

Self harm

Bullying

Suicidal thoughts

Negative thinking / over thinking / excessive worrying

Decision making

Family dysfunction

Chronic illness

Negative behavioural patterns

Sleep - insomnia / over sleeping

Planning for the future / setting and reaching goals

Counselling can be whatever you need it to be for you and so I greatly believe that it can be suitable for everyone based on that. As helpful as it is when you are struggling or need some support, it can also be something you do as a form of self-care, taking that bit of time out for yourself each week, or as an opportunity to do some self reflection and self development. There is no right or wrong, it is your journey.

You may have come across various types of counselling and are wondering what type you need. People who have had counselling before often feel confident in what works and doesn't work for them, however, for those who are new to counselling, you may not know what you need. It can feel a bit of a minefield. This is something I am happy to chat with you about and together we can decide what type of therapy may be beneficial for you. I am trained in person centred therapy and offer elements of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), solution focus, emotion focus, mindfulness, positive psychology and body awareness, into my counselling work. 

The way I offer counselling can be likened to a 'sandbox' computer game...Think Minecraft - there are no required goals or rules or tools, you can choose what we do, where we go and how we do it. You can choose to go back, you can choose to stop, you can choose to 'see what happens', you can choose to do one task and then leave, you can choose to try out a new world, you can choose to create or survive. Counselling is your sandbox and I will be there alongside you throughout. 

As well as having an understanding of what counselling is, it's also important to understand what counselling is not;

• Counselling is not giving advice
• Counselling is not about imposing my (the counsellor's) beliefs or values onto you. You will not be blamed, judged or criticised
• Counselling is not a substitute for friendship
• I hate to break it to you but counselling is not a magic wand...you will have to work and it can take time
• Counselling is not a one size fits all approach - we will work together to incorporate various ways of working to meet your needs and preferences
• Counsellors do not and cannot diagnose any mental health condition. Although mental health conditions can be explored, I will always advise you to seek further professional help for a diagnosis, if this seems in your best interests and will support your wellbeing
• Counselling is not about ignoring differences between the client and counsellor. We bring these things into the room and work with them with respect, non judgment and understanding
• Another big one...gulp!...There are no guarantees with counselling. Progress and outcomes vary for each individual. What you put in, is what you will get out. It requires active participation and engagement from both client and counsellor
• Counselling can be uncomfortable as it often involves exploring challenging emotions, thoughts and experiences

I am a client centred counsellor, which means I put you at the heart of our work and use various approaches to support you. Counselling is a collaborative process, it involves shared decisions. With this in mind, we can look at what you need and want from counselling and in particular what you need and want from me. How can I best support you? Everyone is different and I believe that having a choice and being open about your preferences can have an impact on the work you do in counselling and the effectiveness of counselling.  

My focus is on creating and developing a trusting, warm and safe relationship where you can talk freely, without judgment. I have experience of working with a range of issues including anxiety, depression, panic attacks, trauma, relationship/family issues, low self esteem, abuse, self-harm and addiction and can support you with what you are going through.

Talking with me will enable you to understand yourself better and it is with this greater sense of self-awareness that you can begin the process of accepting yourself and making the changes you want to make.

We can meet for an initial introductory session which lasts for 50 minutes, at a reduced rate of £30. Thereafter 50 minute sessions are charged at £65. An introductory session is an ideal opportunity for us to go into a bit more detail about what has brought you to counselling and for you to understand how I work and could help you. In this first initial session I will likely ask you about your life in general - family, friends, work/education, medical history, relationship history and risk factors. This helps me to start to get an understanding of you and what you may need support with. There is no obligation for you to continue beyond this session and I always encourage you to have a think about what feels right for you. 

We will have regular reviews which are very informal and often incorporated into a session. If needed, we can introduce other methods/strategies to best meet your needs and help you work through your issues. Often our needs change as we progress through counselling. Sometimes it may be that what I offer doesn't match your needs or you may need further support from somebody in a specialist field, e.g trauma such as PTSD, eating disorders. Please do not see this as a concern. As a professional it is my responsibility to assess whether you may benefit from different or additional support and this is something we will discuss and manage together. 

I work face to face from a lovely, light room in Worthing, West Sussex, which is easily accessible via foot, car, bus or train. The room is located on the top floor, so there are 2 flights of stairs to keep us fit and unfortunately no lift. I will always do my utmost to make my counselling service as accessible as possible so if you are limited by the stairs, we can consider other options such as online therapy or home visits. There is a w/c, which you are welcome to use at any time. 

Working with people of all ages and varying sensory needs, I have fidget toys, clay, stones, figures and other things in the room for you to hold. I also welcome you to bring your own sensory/comfort items.