Hello and welcome! I'm Anna.
I understand seeking counselling can be daunting. You're already up against whatever struggles have brought you to this point and now you have the challenge of finding a counsellor. It can feel like just another job on the list, and perhaps one which can be ignored for a little longer. I know it's hard, that's why I do all I can to make getting started as easy as possible.
I believe counselling has a place as a proactive commitment to our wellbeing. Nothing is too minor nor trivial to be the catalyst for investing time in your emotional wellness. I won't give you advice or 'fix' you. But counselling can be raw and robust. Challenging but always compassionate and supportive.
My welcoming therapy room in Rowde, Wiltshire is private and calming and ideally located for clients from Devizes and surrounding villages, Calne, Corsham, Lacock, Derry Hill, Chippenham, Melksham, Bradford-on-Avon, Marlborough, Royal Wootton Bassett and Wroughton. There is free parking.
Some FAQs about counselling
The client is supported to explore issues or confusions which are stalling their happiness. These may feel unknown and elusive to the client at the outset, instead there is just a sense of knowing something isn't right. Life is being lived with the handbrake on so there is motion but it's damned slow and hard work. Or, perhaps you're always anticipating things going horribly wrong and overwhelming you.
The counsellor will attune themselves to the client, not only hearing what is said but what isn't or the way it is expressed. Just the simple act of saying out loud our thoughts and feelings can help begin the process of disentangling ourselves from them. The counsellor may ask some reflective questions to serve as a catalyst for your own deeper exploration. At all times, the counsellor will be attentive, working to your pace and providing safety and non-judgement.
It's not always 'just' talking. Sometimes, counsellors (myself included) will invite clients to try other ways of supporting the process. I have various ways of doing this, whether it be with shells and pinecones, pens and paper, nesting dolls, wooden people or therapeutic cards. Importantly, it is only ever an invite-the client remains in control and can say they don't wish to work this way. Clients can be surprised by how accessible and effective it is to work this way, especially for those who tend to remain within a very cognitive zone and need something to help them move beyond this for their therapeutic benefit.
It remains a valuable resource to you throughout your counselling but, no matter how fair and well-intentioned, a friend will always struggle to put aside their own opinion or personal experiences. Imagine if you are wanting to discuss your relationship- how easy would it be to tell someone close to you the most painful and exposing details of this? Would you fear they'd judge, take sides or try to excuse the behaviours you describe?
Confidentiality is the bedrock of counselling. Everything you say to me will be heard and held with absolute commitment to protecting this. Friends and family may have a more nuanced or selective approach to this. Perhaps it isn't black and white and instead they decide certain details feel insignificant and so to share would be ok. But would it feel ok for you? Could it have important ramifications for you?
Support from a counsellor goes deeper than someone who just listens. A counsellor undertakes significant training and has to accrue a great deal of clinical hours before qualifying. And the training doesn't stop there! It is an ongoing commitment. Therefore, when you work with a counsellor you know you are being supported by somebody who is trained, qualified and equipped to not only help you peer beneath the surface but who will keep you safe as you do so.
There’s no fixed or ideal number of session. It varies from person to person and will often depend on the depth of the issues you wish to work through. It is also dependent on how ready you feel to tackle things and whether you need to take a slower, more gentle approach. Sometimes, we find ourselves surprised by how daunting it can be and discover we need to be more patient with ourselves.
As with every aspect of therapy, there is no 'one-size-fits-all'. Instead, it is about meeting your own unique needs.
Knowing everything you share will be heard and held within confidentiality is one of the most liberating aspects of professional counselling which makes it different to support from friends and family. Having this confidence will encourage you to feel safe to share freely and fully.
There are some limited situations where the law requires disclosure of risk (e.g. certain child protection issues). If, for instance, a client tells me they are thinking of harming themselves in a way that I believe puts them at serious risk, or if someone tells me that they are doing something that could put others at risk, I may need to involve relevant parties. However, these examples are in exceptional circumstances and I would always seek to involve you in the process. Supporting you remains my key concern.
The relationship you have with your counsellor is paramount. You need and deserve someone who is adequately trained, competent and professional in every aspect, but above and beyond any qualifications they can rattle off, you need someone who will enable you to bring all parts of yourself to your sessions. Someone with whom you feel safe and invited to express every aspect of the unique person you are. Think about what sort of counsellor you think you'd best work with. You may have previous counselling experience to inspire this but if you haven't perhaps try to reflect on previous situations or relationships where you've felt supported to be authentically you and able to feel comfortable being vulnerable. What did this person offer you that created this security?
I am:
Patient I respect your need to work at your pace. This might be a little faster this week and super slow the next. That's ok.
Engaged I'm your ally. I want to hear all you have to say, I want to experience the emotions you want to share. I'm going to stand alongside you throughout this.
Empathic and non-judgemental I won't shame you or question your values and decisions. I understand we can drift from our sense of self and our own moral compass. It happens. It doesn't define you. It doesn't need to set the course of the rest of your life. I take a down-to-earth and realistic approach to this.
Gently challenging You haven't come to counselling to avoid whatever has brought you to find me. But, it can be hard to face things head on. I get that. So, where appropriate I offer gentle and compassionate challenge to help you push at the edges of your comfort zone always knowing you've got my support and we'll only ever do what feels achievable for you at that time.
Human. I'm not perfect, I'm real The same as you. We are flawed beings and that's ok. I won't scrutinise you or make you feel counselling has been 'done' to you, we are doing it together.
Remember to ensure any counsellor you consider having sessions with is fully qualified and insured. Being a member of a professional body (such as the NCPS) isn't mandatory but does assure you as a client that the counsellor works ethically and that you will have access to a complaints process should you ever need it.
It is my experience, both in offering and receiving counselling, that it is equal to working in-person. Having online sessions can be a very practical solution for those who might otherwise be unable to access counselling. I am able to accommodate a hybrid approach to sessions where needed, alternating between in-person and online sessions to meet client needs.
Send me an email to anna@kestrel-counselling.co.uk or scroll down to complete the form to send me a message. If you can give me a brief outline of why you are seeking counselling that really helps, but it doesn't need to be very detailed. I invite all prospective clients to arrange a free short telephone chat so we can discuss your needs further then. More information on this call be found by scrolling down.
If you decide you would like to book a first session, we'll find a time from my session availability which suits you. I ask for my brief and simple intake form to be completed online and once this and the first session fee are received your initial session is confirmed. Most clients will have scheduled or completed their first session within a week of their initial enquiry.
In-person sessions are held at The Mind Tree Cafe in Rowde near Devizes (SN10 2TQ)
About me
Before counselling, I worked for over a decade in hospitality. Therefore, I'm well placed to support individuals for whom life/work balance and workplace stress and fatigue are an issue. I know from experience that our work lives and stresses can have a deep and complicated impact on our personal lives.
Justice is a strong value of mine, and is one of the motivators behind what I do. I believe we should all be given the chance to live a life which brings us a sense of safety and fulfillment, regardless of where we began or the experiences we've had along the way.
I'm prone to swearing when the opportunity arises! Fortunately, I can pick my moments carefully. Knowing I am utterly unfazed by your most exciting choice of swear words can be amazingly freeing for some clients. And let's not deny it, throwing in an expletive can be wonderfully descriptive and cathartic!
What issues can counselling help with? Is counselling right for me?
Perhaps you question if the things bothering you are even 'counselling-worthy'? If it is something getting in the way of you enjoying life, limiting and restricting you or preventing full and authentic relationships chances are it is something which would benefit from therapy.
We seem to feel we should wait for a debilitating emotional emergency rather then tending to ourselves as part of our daily care. I wholeheartedly believe we don't need to have experienced a significant event or a catalogue of distress to justify seeking therapeutic support.
Clients often seek support for anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, overwhelm, low self esteem and confidence, life transitions and loss.
NCPS | How can Counselling help me?
If you'd like to ask me something more specific about how counselling could aid your own wellbeing, do get in touch: anna@kestrel-counselling.co.uk
Therapy with me & my qualifications
I work within the Integrative model of counselling as this most closely reflects my passion for working in attunement with the uniqueness of those I support. Being trained in a variety of modalities means I am able to tailor my therapy to your unique needs.
At the core of my therapy is the Person-Centred approach, meaning I believe in the ability of individuals to unravel their emotional overwhelm and pain when given compassionate understanding and a secure space to work towards this. I'm mindful of how we may become distant from the person we feel is most naturally us, and how we can re-establish the security and surety which comes with feeling firm within our sense of our self.
, so consider how our earliest relationships and interactions, and then subsequent patterns in relationships, create our present day self including those parts which we experience as challenging or restrictive.
I am an accredited member of the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society, demonstrating my commitment to working ethically and professionally.
Diploma in Integrative Counselling
Online and Telephone Counselling trained
Treating Chronic Stress
Dealing with Distress: Working with Suicide and Self Harm
Supporting Clients Experiencing Domestic Abuse
Attachment Based Therapy Approaches
Sexuality and Gender Awareness: Working with Clients who Identify as LGBTQ+
Managing Power, Control, Boundary and Attachment Dynamic with Abuse Survivors
Exploring White Privilege
Vicarious Traumatisation
Working with Anxiety- A Compassion-focussed Approach
Eating Disorders: Understanding research, presentations and treatment
Creative Counsellors Walk and Talk Therapy
Foundation for Infant Loss Training
I also hold an Enhanced DBS
Breathwork in Therapy
Working with Relational Trauma
What happens in counselling sessions?
In your first session we will gain a better understanding of what our therapeutic relationship will look like. Ahead of this session I will send you an intake form to complete- nothing too extensive but just the vital information.
Sessions will always be at your pace, ensuring you feel secure enough to explore those parts of your life, present or past, which may be more comfortable to turn away from but which you feel need confronting.
I invite every part of your emotional experience whether rage, fear, despair or vulnerability. Whether you want to shout, swear or need silence I invite you to express yourself fully.
You will be able to say those things which you felt could never be shared. This can be deeply empowering and freeing. Where appropriate I will pose questions to help prompt your self-reflection or to enable you to challenge long-held thoughts which have become burdens.
On my therapy table are always a few bits to keep your hands busy, if you wish. My clients often pick these up just as soon as they are seated, finding it helps them settle into the session and engage deeply in their therapy.
I adapt and flex to enhance the therapy I provide each client. Some need the safety and nurturance of gentle attuned and empathic support, others would like a more robust and challenging alliance. We will develop this together, learning how I can best meet your particular needs. However we work together, it will always be founded on compassion, trust and non-judgement.
Session information
Sessions are £50 (payable by bank transfer) and 50 minutes long. I work only with over 18s.
For those seeking in-person sessions, my therapy room is wheelchair accessible and has free parking. It is ideally located from clients throughout Wiltshire, including Calne, Corsham, Chippenham, Devizes, Melksham, Royal Wootton Bassett, Marlborough or Bradford-On-Avon.
Shall we talk?
As so much of what can be achieved in counselling relies upon the quality of the therapeutic relationship between counsellor and client it is important that you feel I am the right fit for you. Therefore, I encourage prospective clients to have a free 15 minute phone call to learn more about how we can work together.
You can ask any questions you may have and get a sense of who I am beyond a photo and some text online. In essence, this brief chat is a no-obligations opportunity for you to test out how comfortable you feel with me.
I know starting counselling can be a huge step and assure you that you will be supported by me throughout.
Or, send me an email to anna@kestrel-counselling.co.uk
Let's see how I can support you
If you have any questions about how counselling works or how I can support you please get in touch.
If you are experiencing extreme distress and suffering a mental health crisis please contact your GP or find urgent support via one of the helplines which are ready to take your call and offer assistance 24 hours a day, every day such as Samaritans 116 123. My emails are not constantly monitored so are not a substitute for crisis support.
Anna Lear, Kestrel Counselling
The Mind Tree Cafe, Furlong Close, Rowde near Devizes
SN10 2TQ