Ruth Hill

From the 1st of December I will have availability opening up for new clients.  I have availability on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays both daytime and evenings up to 7pm, and some more limited availability on Mondays and Fridays.  

I'm a warm, down to earth counsellor with 12 years experience based in North Yorkshire, and working completely online.

I have a background in humanistic counselling, and I'm experienced in using this, CBT and various other models and techniques to help support you.

I have lots of experience with supporting and working with anxiety, emotional literacy (recognising and understanding what we feel when we feel it), hopelessness, insecurity and sadness, both on their own and as part of wider issues around family and relationships, grieving, OCD, confidence and autonomy. More importantly, I have lots of experience in seeing and supporting people who just want to find a way to feel better.

Because I work online, you can find me wherever you (and your WIFI connection!) are.

I'm passionate about co-creating a counselling experience with clients. I bring counselling experience, knowledge, and the ability to safely hold what you need to work with, and help you make sense of it. You bring yourself, your experience of your world, and your desire for change and support. Together, through warmth, respect, understanding and connection, we explore what might change, and how you might get there.

How I work

Through my training and experience, I have a well-developed toolbox of skills and approaches we can pick from when approaching counselling. If you are forward thinking and solution focussed, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy may feel supportive - If you are reflective, and looking for answers though connection and exploration, humanistic therapy might make more sense. It may be that a combination of processes, as unique as you are, is what offers you the most. I can support you in working out what works for you.

Who do I work with?

My practice is open to all kinds of people. I have lots of experience in working with university students, young adults (18+) moving into their own independence and autonomy, and the LGBTQIA+ communities, and its intersections.

What can I expect from counselling?

At its simplest and most recognisable, you can expect sessions to look and feel like a supportive conversation.

In the beginning... you can rely on me to help you get comfortable. I'll focus on making sure you know how sessions will work, helping us get to know each other, and working out what you might want from therapy. That might be as focussed as, 'I want to work on a particular issue', or as simple as 'I just want to feel better'. Together we'll make decisions about how best to work, and build a trusting professional space where you can start to explore whatever you need to bring.

While you work... you can expect me to stay present as you explore ideas, try things out, see what fits, and what doesn't. Sometimes it may be challenging. Sometimes it may be funny. Sometimes it may be sad. You may want to unpack the past, or build for the future. Sometimes you may not want to say very much at all. However you are will be met, seen and respected as you explore. I'll ask supportive questions, reflect your experience, help you reframe what might benefit from a different perspective, and help you be present with and give space to things it might be hard to experience in your everyday life.

At the end... Some clients only want short term therapy with a specific focus or goal. Some clients decide therapy isn't right for them, or isn’t right for them right now.  Some clients want to explore other ways of working with  different therapist.  As a period of therapy draws to a close you can expect me to support you in that ending and help you make plans for after.

First Session

When you first make contact I usually suggest an introductory session.  These are about 30 minutes long, and are free.  This gives us an opportunity to get to know each other and see if we might work well together.  I can learn some more about you, your background and what you're bringing to therapy, and you can get a sense of me as a person, ask any questions and see if we're a good fit for the sort of work you want to do.

After, we can either book in a first full session, or you can take some time to consider, or meet other counsellors, and let me know later if this feels like the right therapeutic relationship for you.

How do I know we'll work well together?

It can sometimes take time to work out who will work for, and with you, as a counsellor. I believe nothing is wasted. Just one session with someone you never see again can be supportive, enlightening or useful - even if all that does is help you work out what you do or don't want from a counsellor.

If you feel we might work well together, or even if you’re not sure but, 'hey, you've got to start somewhere!', get in touch.

I'll do all I can to make you feel welcome, and informed. We can start from there.