Maria Harrison

I currently have availability on Tuesdays, Thursdays and can offer some flexibilities on evening appointments on these days. I will have some availability on Saturday mornings from mid November 2024 too.

I will be away from the 26th October 2024 to 3rd November 2024

Hello. My name is Maria, and I am a qualified person-centred counsellor. I know how much courage you may have needed just to take this first step, because it’s one that I’ve taken myself. It can feel quite scary and daunting to find the right person for you. I am hoping reading this will help you make your decision.

Sometimes life can feel so overwhelming that it is hard to put one foot in front of the other. Perhaps you are trying to cope with the grief of losing someone special or struggling with the after effects of a traumatic event. Perhaps something is making you really angry and you need the freedom to express that without holding back. Maybe you are feeling lonely, confused, scared and vulnerable and that somehow you have lost yourself along the way.

Whatever may have brought you to seek some support, I would like to reassure you that we will work together gently, at your own pace, to explore why life is feeling challenging. Sometimes you may not even feel like talking and that is ok too.

The most important part of my job is to help you feel comfortable, safe and supported throughout. It’s a journey we will embark on together, at your pace, whenever you’re ready. You will always be at the centre of our time together.

For the past 11 years I have been working with children's emotional and mental wellbeing in a primary school setting as a Thrive practitioner.

During this time, I completed a foundation degree in person-centred counselling. Over the past couple of years I have worked at St Wilfred's hospice working with adults in their bereavement service. I also worked at The Seahorse Project at St Wilfred's Hospice supporting children and young people in bereavement counselling.

I offer face to face counselling to adults, children and young people within my purpose built therapy cabin in Heathfield, East Sussex.

As a person-centred integrative counsellor, you will be at the centre of our time together. I offer an empathic, trusting, warm, non-judgemental and genuine approach to each individual person. The person-centred approach to therapy believes that each individual is an expert in themselves and by providing a non-judgemental space full of warmth, empathy, respect and genuineness, you will be empowered to trust yourself and understand your challenges more fully.

I believe by offering my clients these conditions, and a place where you feel accepted, respected and really listened to, that healing, change and self-growth will naturally follow.

I believe in following what you need from therapy and for some people, working creatively can also feel supportive and offer another depth to the therapy process, so I can follow my client's lead and can offer this too.

Getting the right therapist for you is essential so I offer a free introductory 30 minute session, either face to face or on the telephone to help you decide whether I am the right person for you and whether I can offer the support you need.

This no obligation time is for you to make sure you feel comfortable with me and that the space we are in works for you. We can also use this time to discuss the potential days and times of your sessions that work best for you should you decide to continue.

If you choose to continue then our sessions will be 50 minutes long and are £50 per session. I also offer a limited number of sessions at a concession rate of £45 depending on individual circumstances.