Emma Mckenzie

I’m Em (She/Her), a qualified and experienced person-centred creative counsellor providing short and long term individual therapy in York.

My practice runs on a Tuesday and Thursday and depending on availability I offer evening appointments on these days. I also offer walk and talk therapy outside of these hours (not including weekends).

I’m a qualified person-centred counsellor and registered BACP and Creative Counsellors member.

I offer a safe and confidential space along with my honesty, empathic understanding and respect while we explore the difficulties that bring you to therapy in a meaningful way for you.

People seek therapy for a range of reasons and in different levels of distress, sometimes we don’t even know what the specific issue is, but we know we don’t feel as we’d like to, perhaps disoriented, lost or disconnected.

I work to help people make sense of their experience and how they relate to the world around them. Providing the space and time for you to press pause and look within, to talk about anything that’s troubling you and explore your thoughts and feelings: Help you gain a better understanding of yourself, give some clarity on things that are causing you distress and help you to think about how you might like things to be different to live a more fulfilling life.

I believe counselling is a truly unique opportunity in that it provides a confidential space that is free from judgement and with no other motive than to help you understand yourself better.

As a person-centred counsellor I believe in a non-judgemental and non-directive approach. I don’t give advice, instead I listen and provide the therapeutic space and time that empowers you to discover your own answers. I support clients to understand themselves better, to live more fulfilling lives, and build strength and resilience within themselves.

My belief is that we are all unique and diverse; I work with people of all genders, sexualities, faiths, cultures and backgrounds and encourage clients to bring all parts of their identities. As such, each individual requires unique and diverse support and so I work to tailor interventions to each individual. 

With this in mind I offer elements of creativity and the outdoors in my practice to  provide clients with other ways of exploring themselves when words can not be found or are not enough, or when being in an indoor setting feels too difficult.

I also draw upon my experience working as a recovery counsellor for York Drug and Alcohol Service and delivering psycho-social skills interventions. Along with voluntary sector experience including Serendipity and York Women's Counselling Services, both of which provided low-cost support for those who struggled to get their needs met elsewhere.

The elements of creativity I offer are integrated within the talking therapy, only if this is an area you feel might be helpful as part of our sessions. Creativity allows you to work at a more subconscious level, tapping into thoughts and emotions that you are not fully aware of but that influence your behaviours and feelings.

I have a personal understanding of how difficult and daunting it can be to reach out, it takes courage. I also know how important it is to find a counsellor that you feel comfortable and confident with. I therefore welcome you to get in touch and offer a free 15 minute initial consultation. This gives us the opportunity to go through any questions you might have, explore your needs and how I might be able to support you in your journey.

If we decide to go ahead we can then arrange a 50 minute initial assessment session charged at full fee (£60). This session is to understand what is bringing you to counselling and what you're hoping to get out of it in more detail, and how we can work together to best support you. Should we both feel there is a good fit then we can then book in subsequent sessions.

Please be assured that taking part in an initial phone consultation or assessment session does not mean that you are committed to work with me.