About Me

Hi - I'm Rachel (she/her)

3 Things About Me

I love to connect with people - sharing a smile and 'hello' with a stranger, a walk with a friend or building a relationship with you. We are all unique and we all have a story to tell.

I believe in taking time to acknowledge the 'glimmers' - drinking a cup of tea sitting in the sun, listening to a favourite song on repeat, wearing colour (and the odd leopard print!) to lift my mood.

Listening to water calms me - sitting alongside the stillness of a lake or hearing the waves of the sea, being by the water helps me slow down and put things into perspective.

Counselling with Me

My style is relaxed, friendly and I'm open to finding a way of working which feels right for you.

If you need to take your time and build trust before sharing your experiences, that's OK. If you want to dive straight in, that's OK too.

If you want to swear, go ahead and swear.

If dark humour helps to get you through the tough times, let's go with that!

You bring you, I'll bring me and we can figure it out together.

My Values

Kindness is central to the way I work.

When we're struggling, our inner critic often becomes louder, and self-compassion can feel difficult to reach. Together, we can explore where that inner critic comes from and take small, manageable steps towards treating yourself with greater kindness and understanding.

Respect is about recognising that you are the expert in your own life.

I won't make assumptions or give you advice on what to do. Even if things feel confusing right now, you are the person who knows what it's like to be you. My role is not to have all the answers, but to help you explore what matters to you and what feels right for your life.

Honesty is about being real with one another.

I'll be open and genuine with you, sharing my thoughts and reflections with kindness and care. If something feels difficult to say, I'll do my best to approach it with compassion, because I believe honesty helps us build trust and create opportunities for change.

Experience

I am a qualified and BACP accredited counsellor/psychotherapist with over 16 years' counselling experience.

My experience includes working with young people / adults 18+ in charities, university and in my private practice, specifically supporting women through difficult periods - navigating life changes, unhealthy relationships and discovering who they are.

Alongside private practice, I currently work part-time in my role as counsellor at Cardiff University. Please note that, due to this, I am unable to provide counselling if you are a current student at Cardiff University.

Qualifications

  • BACP Accredited since 2018
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling Children and Young People, University of Wales (Newport)
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling, University of Wales (Newport)

Additional Training

  • EMDR Therapy Part One - Certificate (qualified to provide EMDR Therapy for single-event traumas)
  • Certificate in Online and Telephone Counselling 
  • Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
  • Working Therapeutically with the Autistic Community
  • Flash Technique
  • Understanding Muslim Mental Health
  • Race, Identity and Intersectionality
  • Working Alongside Trans, Gender Diverse and Questioning People