WELCOME and thank you for visiting my website.
I am an experienced Adult, Youth and Family Counsellor, and Counselling Supervisor. My private practice is located in the centre of Romsey, Hampshire, where I offer face to face counselling and supervision. I also offer online and telephone counselling to provide flexibility and access to clients who may not otherwise be able to reach my premises. I work with clients in long-term psychotherapy and short-term focussed therapy (6-12 sessions).
About me
I am a registered member of the BACP. I continue to prioritise professional development, holding leadership roles in counseling services and volunteering for the Family Counselling Trust in Hampshire to support accessible and affordable counselling for young people and their families.
I am also a qualified youth counsellor (11-25yrs) gaining vast experience working within a large sixth form college, where I have supported clients with a wide range of issues, including self-harm and suicide ideation.
Life throws us curve-balls
Feeling overwhelmed and at a loss on how to move forward, we often need someone independent of family and friends who we can talk to without judgment, or advice giving.
I offer a safe, confidential and non-judgemental setting for you to explore a range of concerns, feelings and unresolved childhood experiences, such as childhood sexual abuse or trauma. You may be experiencing relationship difficulties or a desire to make life style changes. You may feel lost, uncertain or feel a sense of disconnection to yourself or those around you.
In my experience, if we are able to re-connect with ourselves in a safe therapeutic relationship, we can develop a renewed trust in ourselves, and in others. I will guide and support you as you come to terms yourself, and with whatever might be holding you back. As overwhelming as it may feel for you right now, please remember that I am trained to identify what might be at the root of how you are feeling, and to support you as we work through what you feel is holding you back.
Individual Counselling
I can provide a confidential, safe and secure environment for you to explore or uncover whatever is troubling you. As a Humanistic Counsellor, I will guide and support you as you come to terms yourself, with whatever might be holding you back.
As overwhelming as it may feel for you right now, please remember that I am trained to identify what might be at the root of how you are feeling, and to support you as we work through what you feel is holding you back.
Do you feel that you are not important, feel unseen and unheard? Do you find it difficult to get your voice across, or maybe find yourself adopting a defensive or Victim position (poor me, it’s not my fault)? Have others experienced you as controlling? All of these issues can be worked on within the safe space of personal therapy.
Counselling Families
My experience of working with families is supported by the theory of Transactional Analysis (the study of human transactions). Our way of thinking in the here and now is rooted in childhood or early life experiences. For example, the position we took in our families growing up, or experiences in our birth family, may well be played out in our current relationships.
Do we find relationships with our families strained?
Are their communication barriers, or do we find it difficult to really listen and to hear each other?
Are our relationships with our parents, or our children problematic?
Maybe our own background was difficult, and we don’t know how to communicate in a healthy way, for example, getting your voice across without shouting?
Maybe relations have completely broken down to the point that we are unable to communicate at all?
Maybe we are the younger family member and are finding relationships with our parents strained?
Sometimes, things come up within family therapy, related to the past, which we find is impacting the way we communicate in current adult relationships. If so, this may be something that you find you wish to explore further within individual therapy.
I have extensive experience supporting parents in their relationships with their children. Often the younger family member will approach me themselves, to seek my support in the coming together of the family.
Counselling Young People
You may be experiencing problems at school, college or university. There may be issues with friendships, at home, within the family, or you may generally just not be feeling like yourself. Counselling offers you a safe space to talk about what is worrying you, and to work out the root of your problems. In time, you will start to feel better and become happier.
I work with young people to support them in learning grounding techniques, and in managing their emotional responses in a healthier and more effective way.
Many of this age group are active in self harm, substance and alcohol misuse and suicide ideation. This can feel lonely and isolating.
A Trauma Informed Practice
The effects of Trauma (such as flashbacks, emotional dysregulation and panic attacks) can be very distressing. Flash-backs can be so distressing that many survivors of trauma will find themselves relying on unhelpful coping strategies such a self harm, drugs and alcohol to help combat triggers. Using a psycho-educative approach, I can help you to understand the effects of Trauma on the brain and how we can support this in the here and now, by using effective grounding techniques and coping strategies.
Grounding and distraction techniques are crucial in our ability to self -regulate and to bring ourselves out of a flashback, or bring ourselves back into the present, when our stress levels are high. These are skills that are adapted to you personally, then taught and practiced together in sessions with an understanding of how they work and what does and does not work for you. Creating a calm and safe environment around us, learning how to ground ourselves, and to self soothe, is key in how we navigate those difficult emotions. Even if our living conditions or relations at home are really difficult, learning to work with the 5 senses along with the support of therapy, will help us to feel calm and more in control of ourselves and our lives.
It is important to remember that Trauma is not unique to a specific client group, it can happen to us all. We can experience Trauma in many different ways; and at any age, such as in childhood, in our youth and in our adult lives. Trauma can impact us through bereavement and loss, poor health, or the poor health of loved ones, by bullying, racial abuse, and distressing life events.
Issues such as anxiety, depression, self harm and suicide ideation can all be supported by helping a person to understand how past experiences influence our thought processes in the here and now, and by introducing coping strategies that can be used outside of counselling sessions.
I believe that Counselling really does change lives
Well done for getting to this point. - I understand how hard this can be. The first steps are often the most difficult and require the most courage. As overwhelming as it may be for you right now and however confused you might feel, please remember that I am trained to identify what might be at the root of how you are feeling. I will guide and support you as we work through what you feel is holding you back.
You may already be completely aware of what is troubling you and want to work through these problems. Sometimes it is easier to talk to a stranger than to relatives or to friends.
This could be an opportunity for you to look at your problems in a different way, with someone who will respect you and your opinions, without judgement. You will then start to find your own answers, in your own time, at your own pace.
Supervision
Supervision offers us the space in which to reflect and to develop our practice and offers us support when the job feels tough. I realise the importance of my own supervision and value the space it creates.
I provide Counselling Supervision to fellow professionals, Counsellors in training, NHS Professionals, People working in the care sector and Clergy. Drawing from my qualifications and experience, I offer professional guidance and bring my own experiences (maintaining confidentiality) in navigating the ethical challenges inherent in these roles.
Supervision is provided to ensure standards, enhance the quality of our work, advance learning, stimulate creativity and to support the sustainability and resilience of the work being undertaken (BACP Ethical Framework, 2018).
As with finding the right therapist, finding the right supervisor is equally important. Please do get in touch to arrange a complementary meeting to see if I am the right person for you.
Supervision is offered face to face or online, which ever works best for you.
Testimonials
To protect client anonymity, all names have been changed.
My location
My private practice is located in Romsey, Hampshire. I see clients from surrounding villages such as Salisbury, Winchester, Eastleigh, Southampton and New Forest. I also offer online and telephone counselling.
In addition to providing face-to-face therapy, I also offer online and telephone counselling to provide flexibility and access to clients who may not otherwise be able to reach my premises.
Fees & availability
Sessions last for 50 minutes, usually taking place on a weekly basis at the cost of £60 per session. This can be discussed at assessment and a plan put into place that feels sustainable.
Initial assessment sessions last for around an hour at the cost of £60. Family or joint sessions are £97 and last for 1 hr, 20 minutes.
Should you have to cancel your appointment at short notice (day of the appointment) please note that the full sessional payment is still required.
If you need to re-schedule your appointment before the 48 hours you will not be charged and I will do my best to reschedule for you.
Get in touch
Please contact me If you would like any further information or have any questions, or to arrange an appointment. You can also call me on 07895 929617 if you would prefer to leave a message and I will call you back at my earliest convenience.
All enquires are usually answered within 24 hours, and all contact is strictly confidential.
©Maria Welsh Counselling & Supervision
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