Judith O'Brien

Please get in touch for most current availability.

Face to Face Monday - Thursday - daytime sessions available.   Limited evening sessions by arrangement.

I work face to face for couples work as I feel this works best. However if for any reason you would prefer online, we can discuss this. 

I am an experienced psychotherapist and counsellor and I believe passionately in the transformative potential of working together  with you as a couple in therapy to offer relational support. 

As an integrative counsellor, I embrace various approaches but the central theory of my practice is person-centred which is the belief that you are the best people to bring about the change, growth and awareness you are looking for with the right support.

I bring a deep sense of empathy and intuition and will listen carefully to your unique story within an atmosphere of  calmness, acceptance and with no judgement. Sometimes we may even bring humour, which can be a powerful tool to ease any discomfort.

All close relationships have their ups and downs. Today there are so many pressures on our time and on our lives. Finances, work pressure, wider family issues, children and difficulties communicating can all impact. It is in times like these that reaching out for help can make that longed for difference. 

Relationship counselling begins with an assessment process which is is a vital to understand what is happening and identify the focus of work. This consultation alone can bring you both clarity in terms of what is happening in your relationship.

Remaining impartial, I will listen to both of you and in turn you will be able to hear each other in a calm, neutral space.  You will each be able to express difficult feelings and identify what is needed to  seek a more fulfilling relationship and deepen your ability to trust and communicate more effectively.  

We will explore the cycles you may find yourselves in, learn how to handle conflicts better, recapture that loving feeling, or indeed, if wanted, I can support you both in navigating a healthy separation.  

Facing any problems in your relationship can feel daunting and lead to feelings of isolation, fear, vulnerability and shame. However, most relationships experience challenges and difficulties at some point and seeking therapy is a positive step towards getting the relationship you truly want. 

I understand that engaging in Couples' Therapy can feel daunting and you may even have reservations about how the therapy could help.  My aim is to put you both at ease and explore any uncertainties, so that you can feel safe to talk in a neutral, calm space, without judgement. 

In the first session, I will take some information from you both and listen to what you feel is happening in the relationship. From there you can decide if you would like us to work together and how we might best plan the therapy. 

 I offer on line sessions for adult individuals  working Monday to Thursday including some evening availability.

Although short treatments can give fantastic results, I think therapy is perhaps at its best when you can give it time. I am flexible however, remaining mindful of balancing your budget, psychotherapeutic needs and time frame. Sessions may be taken weekly or fortnightly, at agreed intervals. There is no obligation to commit to a set number of sessions. 

What can I offer you? I have my foundation is in Person Centred and Compassion-Focused therapies. My strength lies in attuning to what you need from therapy, to help you move out of repetitive patterns of behaviour, work through unwanted feelings and gain a deeper understanding of yourself.

I have experience of working with clients on a whole range of different issues including anxiety, depression, stress, loss, relationships and unhelpful patterns of behaviour. I can also bring "known empathy" having had personal experience of what life can throw at us.

Believing that counselling works best in the warmth of a meaningful, therapeutic relationship, my aim is to ensure you feel supported and safe when you meet me.  Enabling  you to feel you are not alone in dealing with difficulties. We will take things at your pace.

So, how does it work?  Always agreeing what you wish to bring to sessions, we might explore your history to understand the reasons for behind what you do and what might be going on for you. This can help you understand yourself better and be free to make healthier, more authentic choices.

The space is non-judgemental, confidential and calm. I will support you in feeling validated, accepted, heard and understood. The experience of such compassion will serve to help you achieve that longed for sense of relief.

So, what happens next? I understand that reaching out for counselling support can feel pretty daunting.  To help with that first step, we can arrange a brief telephone call where you can ask questions and confidentially share a little bit about what has brought you to therapy.

You will then receive some paperwork with further information and we can book in your first session.

Sessions may be taken weekly or fortnightly, at agreed intervals. There is no obligation to commit to a set number of sessions. 

Please get in touch for most current availability

Monday - Thursday - daytime sessions & limited evening session available in Wilmslow or Alderley Edge. 

Online sessions are held via Zoom, WhatsApp or Telephone at £60.

All sessions, whether in-person, via telephone/zoom  are 50 minutes in duration. 

Sessions tend to take place weekly or bi-weekly, depending on your needs. However, I am flexible and always mindful of your budget and time frame.

I am an experienced psychotherapist and counsellor.  I believe passionately in the transformative potential of working with you in therapy.  As an integrative counsellor, I embrace various approaches but the central theme of my practice is person-centred which is the belief that, with the right support, you are the best person to bring about the change, growth and awareness you are looking for, thus leaving you feeling empowered. 

With a calm and intuitive manner I create space for you to explore, to help you understand the reasons for behind what you do, to make sense of difficult emotions and identify what might be going on for you and work out how best to help you to move forward. 

I believe that counselling works best in the warmth of a meaningful, therapeutic relationship.   Whatever brings you to seek support, I will provide a safe and confidential therapeutic space where you can bring unconscious patterns of thinking and feelings into awareness and see yourself with increasing clarity and compassion to help you achieve that longed for sense of relief.

We will always take things at your pace.

My experience is extensive covering issues including grief, loss, health anxiety, relationship problems, low mood, stress, lack of self esteem, low self worth, relationship issues, men's issues and unhelpful patterns of behaviour. 

I also bring to the work a deeper sense of "known empathy" having personal experience of many issues that life can throw at us.

How often should I come?  Although short treatments can give fantastic results, I think therapy is perhaps at its best when you can give it time and go deeper, if you are ready to. However, I am flexible and always mindful of balancing your budget, psychotherapeutic needs and time frame. 

“Thank you for providing such a safe space for us to voice our feelings, and for making us feel truly listened to and understood. I felt immediately at ease and you gave me the confidence to approach a distressing and painful situation with positivity, hope and trust. We have both learnt a lot about each other during our sessions, and they have given us tools to communicate, an understanding of our own personalities and how we can develop our relationship to a deeper level."

So, what happens next?  I understand that reaching out for counselling support can feel pretty daunting. To help with that first step, we can arrange a brief telephone call where you can ask me any questions as well as confidentially share a little bit about what has brought you to therapy.

You will then receive some paperwork with further information and we can book in your first session.

On your first session, which I appreciate can be anxiety provoking, I will do my best to help you feel at ease.   Together we will assess your needs. If you are ready to, you can tell me more about what has brought you here. You may wish to set some therapeutic goals or prioritise areas you wish to work on.  We will always go at your pace.

So, if it helps to discuss whether I am the right therapist for you, do get in touch via email judyobrien@btinternet.com for a no-fee 15 minute chat before booking.