Emma Chapman

I work with clients on Mondays only. Unfortunately I am unable to offer weekend or evening appointments.

Please note that I offer 60 minute appointments not the more standard 50 minute sessions.

Sometimes things can feel utterly overwhelming. At these times we can feel anxious, lonely, depressed, trapped, frightened and confused. I’m Emma, I can support you to work through these difficult feelings and find a way forward.

I am a BACP registered and accredited Person-Centred counsellor, this means that I work with you, my counselling sessions are client-led. I will offer you a safe, non-judgemental space to talk and explore your thoughts and feelings so that together, we can find a way to challenge them, or learn to accept them.

In my experience, there is rarely a 'quick fix' for difficulties with mental health; often 'quick fixes' can cause more problems later down the line.  However, it's important to be able to feel more in control of difficult feelings, thoughts and behaviours while working things through, this is why I have done some additional training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Solution Focussed Brief Therapy (SFBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) and Rewind Trauma Therapy to enhance my 3 year practitioner counselling training. I might use elements of these and other techniques if I feel it is appropriate for you and our work together. 

I am a Trauma-Informed Therapist, this means that I have an in-depth understanding of the way in which the body and mind reacts, adapts and changes in response to developmental trauma and other traumatic events.

I am also a Social Justice Informed Therapist.  This means that I am aware of power, politics and the impact of these on mental health. Understanding and exploring systemic issues of racism, sexism, ableism and classism and how their impact in a therapeutic setting can be incredibly empowering, and I can support you with this.

Alongside private practice I also teach part-time on the BACP Accredited MA in Clinical Counselling at Chester University, and I am completing a PhD in Counselling, my research is on Maternal Mental Health.

Specialisms

Having published research in Maternal Mental Health, and currently completing a PhD in this area, I have a particular interest in working with mothers and mothers to be. If you are a mother of any age who has experienced confusing feelings towards motherhood, or around being a mother, I can help.

I have also worked at a charity which is dedicated to the Prevention of Suicide. If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide, I can help you to keep safe from these often frightening and overwhelming thoughts whilst supporting you to understand where they come from and what you can do to move past them.

Your initial appointment will last for an hour and will give you an opportunity to find out if you feel comfortable working with me. 

It's so important that you find the right 'fit' for counselling.  Not all counsellors will meet your expectations, you might not feel comfortable with some therapists, and yet with others it may feel just right.  

During this initial appointment we will discuss why you wanted to come to counselling and what you would like to change or gain from the sessions.  

Together we will discuss how we might work together to achieve your counselling goals and any other questions or concerns that you might have about the therapeutic process.

If you book in with me I will send you some information about the way that I work before the session, you can read through this before you come, or we can discuss it together during our initial hour together.