Trish Benson

I offer a free 10- 15 minute initial telephone consultation so we can decide together if I may be able to help.

Appointments are usually Mon - Thursday between 8.30 am- 6.30 pm

I try to accommodate individual needs and circumstances where possible.

I believe that problems can come from avoiding painful feelings; why would you want to visit or talk about these if it hurts, but they go somewhere. Often, we push these feelings down and keep them held within. This isn’t always a conscious decision. It happens unconsciously.

Counselling provides a patient and accepting space to hear your troubles, your own thoughts and words.

I am a professionally qualified therapeutic counsellor, a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), providing counselling for 18 years, seeing clients privately for 16 years, and offering both short-term and long-term therapy.

Counselling provides a unique place, solely for you, to talk about what you would like to talk about, to bring your concerns, discomfort, and parts of life that you have been trying to manage or find a way through either recently or maybe for some time. Our sessions offer you somewhere to bring your concerns, the things that are bothering you, so we can try to understand these together.

The way we find ourselves living our lives at the moment will undoubtedly trigger and push internal buttons. All sorts of thoughts and feelings will be surfacing; it can be difficult to know where feels okay to take these.

Our conversations together provide some distance to try to understand what’s happening.

Therapeutic counselling can also explore patterns that seem to keep repeating or thoughts that keep returning. Eventually, and at a pace that feels comfortable for you, we try to find meaning, a different awareness.

It is this awareness and understanding which leaves you feeling freer to embrace your future and live a meaningful life, even in the most testing of times.

Exploring if counselling might be helpful usually begins with an initial assessment appointment. Our first meeting is an opportunity to examine if my provision may be beneficial for you, and if I am someone who you feel you can begin to trust and share your concerns. During our first meeting, I will do my best to answer any questions or address any thoughts or concerns you may have.

Finding the right counsellor or therapist for you is essential you are investing your time money and trust in your counselling. Any ethically practising counsellor will welcome any questions you may have about their counselling service.

Sometimes it can feel daunting making that first contact, but it is worth your time emailing or calling a few different counsellors, finding someone you might be able to connect with will give your counselling the best start.