Counselling & EMDR Therapy in Hitchin
Professional, compassionate therapy for trauma, anxiety, depression, and life's challenges
NCPS-accredited counsellor offering evidence-based therapy in Hitchin and online. Specialising in trauma, with a specialism in perinatal mental health.
What is Counselling?
Life can be challenging. Sometimes we need support to navigate difficult times, process past experiences, or simply have a safe space to talk without judgment.
Whether you're dealing with trauma, struggling with anxiety or depression, facing a difficult life transition, or working through relationship issues, I'm here to help.
As a NCPS-accredited counsellor and EMDR therapist, I offer evidence-based, compassionate therapy tailored to your individual needs.
Counselling can help you:
- Process difficult experiences or emotions
- Understand patterns in your thoughts and behaviours
- Develop coping strategies
- Make decisions about your life
- Improve your relationships
- Build self-esteem and confidence
- Navigate life transitions
- Reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, or trauma
What is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy specifically designed to help people recover from trauma and PTSD. It's recommended by NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) as a first-line treatment for trauma.
What happens in EMDR sessions?
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation - typically eye movements (following the therapist's hand), but can also use taps or sounds. While following these movements, you briefly focus on the traumatic memory. This helps your brain reprocess the memory, in the same way rapid eye movement does when we dream and process daily events
Key points about EMDR:
- You remain fully in control
- You don't have to talk in detail about the trauma (though you can if you want to)
- It's structured and evidence-based
- Works for recent and historical trauma
- Can be done in-person or online
EMDR is particularly effective for:
- PTSD and trauma
- Birth trauma
- Childhood trauma
- Phobias and panic attacks
- Anxiety disorders
- Complex trauma
- Performance anxiety
- Recent traumatic events
What to Expect
Free 20-Minute Consultation
We'll have a friendly, no-pressure chat where you can:
- Discuss what brings you to counselling
- Talk about how I work
- Answer any questions you have
- See if we're a good fit
First Session
In our first full session (60 minutes), we'll:
- Explore your concerns in more depth
- Discuss your goals for therapy
- Talk about your history (as much as feels comfortable)
- Begin to build our therapeutic relationship
- Start to create a plan for how we'll work together
Ongoing Sessions
Regular therapy sessions with me are typically:
- 60 minutes long
- Weekly initially
- In-person in my Hitchin therapy room or online via Google Meets
- Confidential - what you share stays between us
When Should I Seek Help?
Immediately
If you are struggling, reach out for help now. The sooner you start to work on things, the sooner you can start to heal.
Months or years later
Depression, unhappiness and Traumas can surface long after events take place, especially when they are tied up in our childhood. Sometimes, life events show us things that we don’t realise are a problem, until they are, such as fighting with our partner or shouting at our child. All we know is, that isn’t the person we want to be, and it doesn’t feel good. I’m here to unpick that with you in a kind and non judgmental way.
Before big life events
What better time than to work on yourself, before it affects those around us. Think of it as preemptive therapy. If you know that you didn’t like the way you were treated as a child, rather than risking passing on that generational trauma to your child, you put a halt to it before you are even expecting a baby. And can you imagine how much easier relationships would be if we didn’t blindly take all of our damaged parts into the relationship with us. You really have lots to gain, when you recognise that there is work to do, and actively do the work.
When you're ready
There's no timeline for healing. Come when you're ready. Sometimes we just aren't ready, and it takes a brave leap to lean into our challenges rather than turn away from them. I’m here when you are ready.
Other Ways I Can Help
Mama Bear Birth Prep
Comprehensive birth preparation to prevent trauma and build confidence.
Birth Trauma Counselling
Specialised support if you've experienced a traumatic birth.
Hypnotherapy
I am a trained Hypnotherapist and may use hypnotherapy to support our work. Have a look at Mels Services for more information
FAQs
If you're struggling with your mental health, processing difficult experiences, or feel stuck, counselling can help. The free consultation is a good place to start.
They're often used interchangeably. Both involve talking through issues with a trained professional in a confidential setting.
This varies from person to person. Unlike the NHS, we aren’t prescribed or restricted by time limits. Some people find a few sessions helpful , others prefer and need to work longer-term. We'll review regularly and you can stop when it feels right for you.
That's completely normal. I'll help guide the conversation, and we'll work together to explore what's important to you.
Counselling isn't about giving advice. It's about helping you explore your options and make your own decisions. Sometimes I might offer psychoeducation or coping strategies. Psychoeducation is where we learn about how what happened to us has an impact on us.
Research shows online therapy is just as effective. EMDR works well online too. Choose what feels right for you.
If you have a tiny baby that needs to be close to you, you are welcome to bring them to your session. . For more mobile babies and children, you will need to find a safe person to take care of your child whilst we work together. It is important to be able to focus on yourself to get the most from therapy.
I offer flexible appointment times. Contact me to discuss availability.
I ask for 48 hours' notice where possible. I do appreciate that sometimes emergencies arise - I’ll do my best to accommodate another appointment.
No. You can book directly with me. However, in some circumstances, I may encourage you to also see your GP.