Carrie McColl

Current availability for face to face in Old Town, Swindon is:

Mondays at 2pm

Wednesdays at 5.15pm or 7.15pm (fortnightly only)

For phone or online based sessions, I currently have some spaces on a Tuesday or Wednesday.

Hi from me, Carrie and thanks for reading a bit about me :) 

Now that the dark nights are closing in and Christmas is already on the horizon, are you feeling the stress of life becoming difficult to handle? 

I have some slots available for anyone who wants to have some time and space just for them. Counselling is a commitment of time and money so finding 'the one' is important yet it can feel overwhelming to choose! I deal with all sorts of issues and clients so there isn't much I haven't heard and helped with. Are you worried you might not be ‘unwell’ enough for counselling? There is no minimum level of sad or anxious to gain benefit from counselling. Feel that your issues aren’t as bad as someone else’s? There is no comparison in therapy- any issue, problem, challenge is welcome with me. Or maybe it's the opposite and you feel beyond help or that this is how life will always feel? That's a difficult place to be so why not come and share some of that burden. I am trained to work with and support those who are neurodivergent and I continue to undergo further training in Autism and ADHD. I've worked with anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, school issues, relationships challenges and much more. I am a safe pair of ears!

Every client has different needs, ways of relating and wishes for their therapy. I take all of this on board and aim to work in a way that fits you. What is there to lose from giving an initial session a try? Whatever happens in that session, you have made the first step by accepting things aren't quite right and starting your journey to a happier life.

My counselling training focused on the person-centred way of working. This means I believe each person is their own expert and with the right support, can find a way forward that means something to them. I have found that some clients like to have 'homework' to do between sessions- things that can be tried between sessions to continue the therapeutic journey. I can bring in some more prescriptive work such as using more cognitive based techniques to work on specific thoughts.

There is lots of knowledge and experience I can bring but I think a good working relationship between client and counsellor is the biggest key to change. After all, if you don't feel safe with your therapist, there may be challenges in talking about those difficult feelings and situations. I will bring safety, openness, honesty, empathy and my whole human self so we can take those steps towards change together. 

All counsellors have a duty to continue their professional development throughout their career. Over the last few years, I’ve done additional training in child and adolescent mental health, understanding autism and ADHD and working ethically online. I will always have my head in a book to keep learning!

The first session is an opportunity for us to get to know each other and to see how you feel in the counselling space with me.

I use this session to complete what I lovingly refer to as the 'boring admin'- gaining the necessary details from you such as address, emergency contact, GP etc. I'll then delve a little deeper to carry out a risk assessment so please don't be shocked if I ask about any risks of harm you may currently have. This is all about the bigger picture, an overview of where you're at so I can gauge how best we can work together.

For you, it's a chance to meet me. To see how it feels to talk about things with me and within my counselling room. And any questions or concerns about the work will always be answered with honesty. Whilst it may feel very odd to confess all to a stranger, I hope it will feel like the weight has been lifted from you slightly. You can share your burden with me, let me take some of the load and leave you to walk away knowing I'll keep it safe until you're ready to explore it further.