Welcome
Hi, I'm Lucy, a counsellor who specialises in bereavement, grief and loss including non-person losses such as the loss of a job, a pet, health or a relationship. I'm also a qualified CBT therapist and can help if you're struggling with stress, anxiety or depression and the many difficulties these can cause.
When bereavement takes a loved one from us, a life-changing loss turns our world upside down or feelings of stress, anxiety or depression prevent us doing the things that matter to us, it often affects many other areas of our lives, from our work and relationships with others to how we see the world and ourselves. These things can also cause us physical pain which further adds to our emotional pain. We may lose our sense of identity and purpose or put on a brave face and pretend we're Ok when really, just getting up in the morning, can feel like a huge battle. At times, it may seem as if we'll never be able to rebuild our lives, no matter how hard we try, but counselling really can help.
When we're already struggling with painful feelings, reaching out for help can seem very daunting, even scary, particularly if therapy is something you've never done before, and if this is how you feel right now, I promise you're not alone. Just getting to this webpage means you've already come a long way and when you're ready to take the next steps, I'm here to walk them with you, one healing step at a time.
If you would like more information about the ways I can help you, please call, email or use the contact form in the pages below.
How I Can Help
Navigating our way through loss and grief, stress, anxiety or depression can feel overwhelming, particularly when we can't talk to others about our thoughts and feelings or the physical pain those feelings might be causing us as well. Sometimes it's hard to know ourselves how we really feel or what we need and sometimes, there just aren't any words.
In therapy, we can explore and work through those thoughts and feelings, one session at a time. Sometimes, having somewhere safe to tell our story, where we will be heard, understood and accepted without judgement, can be just what we need to help us heal. At other times we might need someone to support us in finding new strategies and different ways of looking at things that enable us to rebuild our world and reconnect with the things that matter. And sometimes we don't know what we need, and that's OK. Taking the first step and seeking help is a really big step on it's own, the rest of the journey we can figure out together.
"I can't see a way through" said the boy."
"Can you see your next step?"
"Yes."
"Just take that" said the horse.
Charlie Mackesy
Here are some of the other areas I can help with:
Anxiety
Bereavement
Burnout
Cancer
Carer support
Depression
Feeling sad
Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)
Health anxiety
Low self-confidence
Low self-esteem
Mental health
Older people's counselling
Panic attacks
Redundancy
Separation and divorce
Social anxiety
Spirituality
Stress
Work-related stress
How I Work
We all experience things very differently and one way of working isn't always right for everyone all of the time. So that our work is always tailored to meet your individual needs and preferences, I often incorporate different counselling methods so that we're always working in the way you feel is best for you.
We will only ever work 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. It may be that you would like help to process and navigate feelings of loss or you might be looking for tools and techniques to help you with feelings of stress, anxiety or depression. Whatever you would like from therapy, our work together will always 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.
As a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), I work to the highest professional standards to ensure your safety and wellbeing are always at the centre of everything we do.
FAQs
Finding a therapist who you feel is the right for you is really important so I offer a 20 minute free, no obligation initial telephone session where we will talk about what you'd like help with, I'll explain how I can support you and answer any questions you may have so you can see how you feel about us working together.
When you make an enquiry, I will contact you by telephone or email to arrange a time for the call that's helpful to you. If you have a preferred initial contact method, just let me know you'd like it to be phone or email by including this in your enquiry.
If, after our 20 minute call, you feel I can be of help to you, we will then arrange a convenient date and time for our first session which can be in-person or remotely by telephone or Zoom.
Everyone is different so I will always be guided by you about how many sessions feels right for you and when you would like to bring our work to a close. Some people find it helpful to agree a set number of sessions at the start of our work whereas others prefer to leave it open and work session by session.
Payments are required a minimum of 24 hours in advance by bank transfer which confirms the appointment but if you're unable to do this for any reason, just let me know so we can agree alternative ways of making your payment. Cancellations require a minimum of 24 hours notice as this allows me to offer your appointment to someone else who may need it if you're unable to attend.
Availability
I offer flexible appointments as I understand some people would like long term weekly, fortnightly or monthly support while others would find just a few sessions helpful to them. These sessions can be in-person, online, telephone or walk and talk and I also offer weekday evening and Saturday appointments
Fees
In-person, telephone and online sessions are £58.00 for a 50 minute session.
Concessions are available for trainee counsellors who are looking for personal therapy as part of the their course requirements. Appointments would be online and are £40 per 60 minute session.
Outdoor Therapy
Outdoor sessions are £65 for a 50 minute session either in and around the beautiful Poole Park or Poole's lovely quayside. I also offer outdoor therapy in the grounds of Upton Country Park.
All outdoor sessions are subject to availability and weather conditions. If adverse weather meant the session couldn't go ahead, we would agree whether you'd prefer to reschedule the appointment or have a £58 in-person, telephone or online session instead.
Training
Training workshops are available for organisations who would like to gain a better understanding of the impact of loss, grief and bereavement and increase their level of confidence in supporting colleagues, staff members, clients, customers or students who have experienced a bereavement.
For more information, please call or email via the online enquiry contact form below.
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.
Please note that I will be closed from 24 April 2025 to 9 May 2025 and unable to respond to enquiries between those two dates
My Location
I am based in town centre in Poole, Dorset within easy reach of Upton, Hamworthy and Broadstone. For more information about appointment times, please see the Hours and Availability section at the bottom of the page or contact me using the Get In Touch form above.
About Me
I started my counselling training in 2017 and have been counselling since 2018, first as part of my training and then after I fully qualified in 2020. Since then, I have continued training and gained additional formal qualifications as well as regularly participating in professional development events.
In addition to my private work here, I work as a counsellor in a hospice and run a gentle exercise class for a community charity.
Formal Qualifications
Advanced Diploma in Integrative Counselling
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) Level 5
Certificate in Therapeutic Use Of Person Centred Creative Arts
Mindfulness Practitioner Certificate
Diploma in Counselling Children and Young People
