Zoe Hughes

I work on an entirely flexible basis, offering a subscription style service that enables you, the client, to choose session times that work for you each week/month.  This style of working has proven particularly helpful for clients who are neurodivergent, who work shifts, students and education professionals, as well as those who just prefer to manage their own therapy calendar according to their own availability and therapeutic need, rather than be restricted to a set day and time every week.

Whoever you are, whatever you are bringing – you can be yourself with me. I offer a non-judgmental, warm, and safe environment to explore life’s challenges.

I am described by others in the therapy room as kind, gentle, pragmatic, honest and constructive. I work with people to challenge shame, anxiety, and intrusive thoughts, to process trauma and abuse, navigate relationship breakups, figure out identity and/or existential crises and support people in learning how to survive in a neurotypical world when their life is anything but typical. Because of my areas of specialism, my approach focuses on accessibility and is always collaborative – we work together in harmony. Unlike single theory therapist-led approaches, I work integratively within a pluralistic philosophy. This means that if therapy were soup, you, the client, get to decide whether you like tomato in your soup or whether you prefer roasted pepper instead. And if you hate celery, then we simply leave it out forever. You are the Sherlock Holmes in the therapeutic relationship, and I am your Watson.

As a member of the LGBTQ+ and Neurodivergent communities, I can offer more than just empathy and unconditional positive regard – I have actual lived experience. As your therapist, this means that I don’t need you to keep repeating informational context about what it is like being part of these communities, I have lived it alongside you. This frees up much more time for actual therapy work, instead of you needing to educate your therapist first (with all the emotional labour that entails) before they can support you.  

We work together on how you want your therapy to progress. Some clients prefer having time to process and work on specific things in between sessions, some need more directive or challenging approaches from me, whilst others need lots of validation and nurture.  I adapt accordingly.

There are different schools of thought within the therapy world about the consistency of session timings. In my world, I believe that humans need flexibility and choice and most importantly – agency. In an increasingly invasive society, having control over your time and the demands upon you becomes crucial. Thus, I offer subscription services for both therapy and coaching allowing you much more control over when you have your therapy (including short notice sessions where required).

Professionally, I am a fully qualified Integrative Therapist with an additional MSc in Psychology. I am a member of both the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) and the British Psychological Society (BPS). I have been working as an ASC/ADHD Coach and a Specialist EOTAS and GCSE/A Level teacher for both children and adults for over 20 years. I have also undertaken additional qualifications in Aromatherapy, Reiki, and massage, and thus am able to take a truly holistic approach to my work. My areas of therapeutic and coaching expertise include ACEs (adverse childhood experiences), anxiety, education, families, identity, LGBTQ+, neurodivergence, relationship breakdown, shame, stress and trauma.

Therapy begins the moment you step through the practice door.  However, our first session together will just require some discussion around contracting (with a quick form to sign, as per BACP Ethical Guidance) so that we both understand how the therapy might work, the expectations of us both and also, you can offer any specific requirements that you might have or that you would like me to take into account.  This is an open invitation throughout your therapy time with me - I recognise that sometimes we feel differently about what we need in any given moment.  We keep open communication about that throughout our work together, not just in the first session.