Emma Drake

I’m Emma, a fully qualified British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapist (BACP) registered counsellor, offering face-to-face counselling in central York or, if preferred, online therapy. I understand from personal experience therapy can be a daunting prospect, it can take a lot of courage to ask for support. I am professional but down-to-earth and offer a safe and accepting environment which feels safe for you to share your difficult thoughts and feelings. I offer a free 20- 30 minute initial assessment meeting, whereby I can answer any questions or concerns you may have and you can decide if you feel I’m the right counsellor for you.

I’m a Humanistic Integrative counsellor, which means I believe you hold the answers and inner resources to ease your distress; my role is to work collaboratively with you to facilitate understanding of your difficulties and help you implement changes so you can move forward with your life. I treat all clients as individuals with differing needs; I may, when appropriate, draw from other therapeutic approaches, such as Solution Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT).

Painful situations often have their roots in the past and I hope to assist you to uncover hidden links and understand your own patterns and responses to your experiences. I respect it is not easy to be able to talk about inner fears and anxieties; therefore, I place emphasis on developing a trusting and empathic relationship to help you to explore uncomfortable thoughts and emotions.

You will find counselling with me is a shared endeavour; I will work alongside you, at your pace to give you the time you need to feel fully heard and understood. I am always supportive but will challenge you when appropriate and I can hold and tolerate your distress. I truly want to help you to be able to deal with your concerns and move to living a fulfilling life. 

Alongside counselling in private practice, I am the Counselling Manager for York Women’s Counselling Service. I also work for North Yorkshire Police’s Supporting Victims Team which provides me with a solid understanding of the criminal justice system and what it feels like to be a victim of crime. Additionally, the difficulties faced by Police Officers, Social Workers and others involved with supporting victims and offenders.