Dr Florence Little

I offer face-to-face and online counselling or a mixture of both, and normally see clients Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Counselling can be either for a fixed, mutually agreed number of sessions or open-ended.

Sessions are held at the same time each week and last 50 minutes.

Please note that I currently have availability mostly for online counselling and some availability for in-person sessions. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch!

You can reach me either by email, or by phone/text. I respond to emails promptly, and always aim to do so within 24 hours. Please be aware that my work phone is not always on, but if you text or leave a message I will reply as soon as possible.

Hello!

You are on this page, and I imagine you, or someone you care about, may be facing a challenging emotional or psychological situation.

I am a professionally qualified counselling psychologist and a BACP accredited counsellor. The BACP accreditation scheme aims to recognise the achievement of high standards of knowledge, experience and development in counselling and psychotherapy. I have several years of experience, across various settings including the NHS and the private and charity sectors. 

I have worked with many different issues, and I recognise that there are many possible overlaps. I will always talk with you about the various options that may be helpful in your specific situation and respond to your own preferences.

In my work, I endeavour to provide a confidential and non-judgmental space in which you can feel safe to explore whatever is on your mind. I view my role as supporting you in addressing the issues that burden you and I commit to be with and for you. 

I wholeheartedly uphold the BACP and BPS ethical frameworks. 

I have lived in a few different countries, and, as a linguist, I have had a lifelong interest in languages, and multi-cultural belonging. I can work in French and in English. I have a good command of Spanish, and some understanding of German.

I work pluralistically, which means I can draw on more than one theory to understand and meet your needs. The modalities I draw from include humanistic and psychodynamic approaches and also second and third-wave cognitive-behavioural therapies (CBT).

Different therapies use different skills and techniques, and can be more or less directive. However, in my view, no counselling should be prescriptive. That is, you, as the client, always have a say in how therapy is conducted. This implies, in particular, that your cultural and linguistic belongings are integral to the formulations we construct together.

For more information on my ways of working and my background, you can also visit my website.

The use of the title Dr in this directory listing relates to the member’s doctorate qualification. However, this does not imply a general medical qualification.

You may be feeling worried, low, stressed or distressed.  You may want to come to terms with loss, abuse or trauma or be confronted with difficulties related to your job, your health or challenging life events? It may be that you need or want to make important choices... The reasons for reaching out are many, and counselling psychology can make a positive difference to these life situations and improve your emotional wellbeing and your mental health.

Just as there are many reasons and contexts for therapy, there are different ways you can choose your therapist, and there is no right or wrong way to go about it. From looking at their photo and see if you feel you can relate to them, to weighing their credentials or the description of their practice, every way is valid if it resonates with you. The important thing is to ask yourself what matters the most to you.

I have worked with issues such as depression, anxiety, stress, anger, self-esteem, bereavement, personal and professional cross-cultural challenges, abuse, traumatic experiences, ill health, relationship issues and family dynamics, among others. I recognise that, sometimes, our experience doesn’t fall neatly into any one “category”, and I will work with you to identify and address whatever is troubling you at this particular moment in time.

A collaborative, compassionate and trusting relationship is the most important aspect of therapy. In practice, we will work together towards a joint understanding of your difficulties that will take into consideration your past experiences as well as your present situation and your views of your future. 

My task as a therapist is to help you to reflect on the issues that trouble you and to become more aware of your thoughts, emotions and sensations. This is so that you can make sense of them and start processing them differently, gradually easing feelings of ‘stuckness’, sadness, confusion, anxiety or other feelings that are adversely affecting you.

After our initial contact and exchanges, we can organise a first session. This usually lasts about 50 minutes. It is not a counselling session but it aims to give you an idea of what having counselling might be like. The charge for this is £40.

We will talk about and agree on the terms of our work together. This is to help you make an informed choice about what to expect from me as your therapist and also about what is expected of you during therapy. I maintain strict confidentiality (within the limits of the law), in a similar way to what happens with your GP. 

I will ask you some questions to better understand your background and the issues that are bringing you to counselling, as well as your hopes and goals.You will be able to raise any questions you may have about therapy approaches, about how to prioritise (or not), or anything else.

We will also talk about practical aspects such as payment and attendance. This is a two-way process which gives you an opportunity to see whether we can be a good fit working together.

There is no obligation to continue after this first session.

If you decide you want to go ahead, we will agree a mutually convenient time, day and format (e.g., time-limited or ongoing) for the sessions. I will then send you a copy of the counselling agreement.