Kirsty Ball

I work midweek during the day and offer some evening appointments. Please contact me for my current availability.

Life can be difficult at times and it can sometimes feel quite overwhelming. We may not always know why we feel the way we do and our feelings and thoughts may worry us and prevent us from living life to the full. It can be difficult to explore how we feel with those around us and we may feel that we are alone and that no-one really understands us. That’s when talking therapy can really help.

Coming to see a counsellor for the first time can often feel daunting. However, talking to someone who can hold space for you and who has been trained to listen to your story empathically and to help you make sense of your experiences can be profoundly helpful.

Counselling is a time to prioritise yourself and your relationship with yourself.

By exploring our thoughts, feelings and fears in a safe, supportive and confidential space that is free from judgment we can start to process them healthily. In doing so we can gain insight into how and why we act and think as we do and achieve a deeper understanding of ourselves and of those around us. This can help us to store difficult experiences in a way in which they impact us less and to break unhelpful and often unconscious patterns that might be working against us. With the right support we can move towards feeling a greater sense of calm and freedom from whatever has previously been holding us back.

First and foremost, I am a relational therapist which means that I place the client-counsellor relationship at the centre of the therapeutic work. My counselling style is very warm, empathic and supportive.

Taking an integrative approach to therapy means I am able to draw on various therapeutic techniques in order to meet you wherever you may be. This allows me to combine aspects of person-centred counselling which looks at how things affect us in the present with psychodynamic counselling which involves making links with past events and relationships.

I see clients with a range of presenting issues and those looking for emotional support in navigating challenging life stages. I am experienced in working with a range of emotional and psychological difficulties including: 

There will be an initial consultation, usually by phone when we can decide if we are good match to work together. We will discuss what brings you to counselling, what you are hoping to achieve and how I might be able to support you. 

Counselling is usually agreed on a weekly, open-ended basis until you decide that you are ready to finish.