Ingrid Koehler

Available from 1 February 2024.

Tuesdays and Thursdays in person in Exeter or online video or phone sessions.  

Mondays and Wednesdays - online video or phone sessions only.

It takes courage to seek help for what is troubling us or to deal with a problem we cannot resolve ourselves. Counselling can support us to make sense of things and join the dots. The counsellor can be a mirror to seeing and discovering what we could not see before and a witness to who we are, so that we can understand the troubling situation and know ourselves better. When we have made mistakes in life or there has been pain and suffering for different reasons, counselling can help to see what we need to do and can bring clarity and relief.

I support unpacking emotion; opening up to feelings like being out of control, overwhelmed or confused, depressed or sad, sometimes for no definable reason; feeling hurt or vulnerable, angry, frustrated, desperate, or needy because of particular circumstances, a relationship or our life history. We can also be emotional all the time or the opposite, numb or disconnected, or flat or pointless. We can very often feel rage, lack of trust, resentment and anger or that we’re a victim of injustice, abuse and discrimination. We may have had a ‘nervous breakdown’ or simply a ‘breakdown’. Having physical pain, chronic ailments and poor health can also take their toll. Relationship difficulties are commonly at the heart of our distress and affect how we feel about ourselves. There is more awareness these days of the negative effect of being in a relationship with someone with narcissistic tendencies or personality disorders and the advice is usually ‘to see a therapist’ in order to process or move on from these relationships.

Counselling is effective for trauma and the long-term effects of both shock/terror trauma (PTSD) and developmental trauma, often called complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD).  Also, the effects of short- and long-term grief and loss and can take its toll.  I am 'trauma-informed' and not a specialist therapist in trauma.

My approach is to understand with compassion how your troubles have come about by, firstly, exploring your story and whatever you choose to share and then looking at ways of coping with or dealing with your troubles. I try to come alongside you, respecting your level of comfort, within a safe space of caring, trust and confidentiality either in person or online. Counselling can bring new insights to and awareness of our troubles and can help us understand our behaviour and that of others. Talking to someone who appreciates the human condition can help to strengthen and heal parts of ourselves or to let go of painful feelings, like guilt, shame or remorse or distorted thinking that have arisen through trauma, abuse, loss, perceived mistakes and general fear and regain our confidence, trust, self-worth and self-belief by accessing our inner resources and coping strategies.

I have worked as a counsellor in private counselling practice since 2011 and continue to practise in central Totnes and online through video platforms. I have a background in nursing in the NHS, having worked in the specialty of cancer and cancer clinical trials for many years, though I am now retired from nursing. I work with adult individuals. 

My counselling room is in a private house, not mine.  There is good sound insulation for privacy and confidentiality but an occasional noise may be heard which would be the owner, but they are respectful of confidentiality.

In the first session I will ask you to tell me what brings you to counselling.  I will then ask some details about your circumstances, family history and a short risk assessment.  I will give you some information about how I work and some of my 'terms and conditions' regarding confidentiality, cancellation policy, data protection etc.  At the end of the session will then decide if we can work together going forward.