Safe Shores Counselling
Counselling and IFS Therapy in Poole, Dorset
Welcome.....
and thank you for visiting Safe Shores Counselling
I'm Lucy, a bereavement, grief and loss counsellor in Poole and I help people navigate some of the many difficult thoughts, feelings and emotions grief can generate. Not all grief comes from a bereavement, we can grieve when go through the loss of anything that matters to us; a job, a home, a relationship, our health, we can even grieve for things we didn't have in the past but needed at the time, and I can help with these too.
When a loved one is taken from us, or we lose something we hold dear, grief can be like waking up in a world that looks the same but has changed completely. Ordinary tasks can feel heavier, time both move and stand still, and we might look "OK" to others, but on the inside, everything has been rearranged.
Grief can be many different feelings which can come over us in waves or hit us like a Tsunami. Navigating it can feel like swimming against a tide of emotions or treading water just to stay afloat. And all of it is exhausting.
Although therapy can't change what's happened, it can help you find your way back to calmer waters and the safety of the shore. And if it feels right for you, and when you're ready, I'm here to make the journey with you, one wave at a time.
How I Work
Counselling and therapy with me is a safe, calm and supportive space where you can begin to find inner peace and healing. It's a place where you can talk in complete confidence about the things you'd like help with and where we can find a way through those things together.
We will only ever go at a speed you feel safe and comfortable with and each session will be a partnership rather than someone giving you advice or telling you what to do. I truly believe loss and grief aren't things that can be "advised on" or "fixed," they are feelings that need space and compassion, so instead, I will help you find your own answers and support you every step of the way.
Here are just some of the areas I can help with.
Anticipatory Grief
Anxiety
Anger
Bereavement
Depression
Grief
Health
Low Self-Confidence
Low Self Esteem
Motivation
Non-person losses
Panic attacks
Prolonged Grief
Redundancy/Job Loss
Relationships
Separation and divorce
Spirituality
Sudden/Traumatic Loss
Trauma
Terminal/Life Limiting Illness
About Therapy
A lot of how I work comes from a model called IFS (Internal Family Systems) and I've completed advanced Level 2 training in this. IFS is a very compassionate approach and particularly helpful for grief and trauma and navigating life-changing losses. It offers a way of understanding the different "parts" of you that emerge and helping them let go of the burdens they carry.
IFS for Bereavement, Grief & Loss
Grief is rarely one feeling, it's lots of them, and we all have parts that show up in a variety of ways. You might notice a part of you that feels angry, a part that's trying to keep everything together, a part that wants to hide from the world or a part that's carrying intense guilt or regret. You might notice parts pulling in opposite directions too. A part of you might feel a need to "move on" while another part can't bear to "let go." None of these parts are wrong, they're all trying to help you through what's happened, whether it's something very recent or from a long time ago.
In our sessions, we make space for all these parts, gradually getting to know them and helping them feel heard, supported and understood. This often allows them to soften naturally and reconnect with the wise, steady, compassionate Self of you that can hold grief and navigate loss without being overwhelmed by it.
What if IFS isn't for me?
Although IFS often informs how I work, I understand it might not feel right for everyone. I believe therapy should be about what works for you, not you trying to fit into a particular model.
If the idea of "parts" resonates with you, we can use it, but if it doesn't, that's OK too. I'm also a trained integrative counsellor and draw on a variety of different approaches so every session is tailored to whatever you feel is most helpful and supportive to you.
Whatever approach we use, 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 will always work to their high professional and ethical standards.
Appointments
In-person sessions in Poole 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 a limited number of appointments available.
Fees
I understand that reaching out for help can be a big step so I offer a free initial, 20 minute, confidential telephone session where we can talk a little about what you'd like help with, I can answer any questions you may have and you can see how it feels for you first.
If you would like us to work together after our initial call, the cost of each in-person and online session 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.
Bereavement, Grief & Loss Workshops
I can provide training workshops to groups and organisations who would like to gain an insight into the impact of bereavement, grief and loss and increase their level of confidence in supporting others.
Please contact for more information
Get in Touch
Please contact me if you have any questions about how I can help or would like to arrange an initial free of charge telephone session. Alternatively, you can call me on 07568 923506.
All enquiries are completely confidential and I aim to reply within 24 hours.
** Please state how you'd prefer me to contact you (ie phone, text or email) in your message. **
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've been counselling since 2018 and in addition to my work here, have experience of counselling and running training workshops in hospices and other charities.
I was drawn to working with bereavement, grief and loss because I believe it's one of the most difficult things we can go through and I wanted to help. It can generate thoughts and feelings nothing prepared us for and challenge everything we thought we knew about the world, from our beliefs to our sense of identity and purpose.
Outside of my practice, I enjoy dance, painting and drawing and taking long walks in nature. I also run a gentle wellbeing class for a local charity to help people stay active, build confidence and connect with others.
Qualifications
- IFS Advanced Level 2
- Advanced Diploma in Integrative Counselling
- CBT Level 5
- Level 2 Certificate in Therapeutic Use Of Person Centred Creative Arts
- Mindfulness Practitioner Certificate
- Diploma in Counselling Children and Young People *
* please note that I'm currently unable to offer help and support to children and young people under 18