Sonia Witney

Hello, my name is Sonia, thank you for looking at my profile. I am an experienced counsellor with over 15 years experience and a degree in Psychology (1996). I offer a safe, warm, empathic space to explore whatever is going on for you in your life.

I will work collaboratively with you. I may offer you feedback on what I observe and any patterns of behaviour or thought processes that might be hindering you. This can be helpful and may give you some insights about yourself and how sometimes experiences from your past might be affecting you today.

If you are feeling stuck and seeking more meaning and purpose in your life together we can look at ways to develop inner resources and facilitate change.

Counselling can be helpful in gaining acceptance over past events and be a reparative healing experience resulting in feeling more present and positive about your life, and developing a deeper connection with yourself, the most important relationship you will have in your life.

I believe in a holistic approach whereby counselling can have a beneficial effect on the body's physical health as well as helping cognitively and emotionally.

My postgraduate training has included a one year course on the embodied therapist.

I have also studied a one year postgraduate course on attachment and I have a particular interest in how our attachment styles, which are formed in childhood, can influence our "choices", both conscious and unconscious, in our adult relationships.

I have also done extensive training in grief work, participating in grief circles, and life, death, rebirth cycles, and transitions in life.

I have an interest in nervous system regulation techniques, “un-conditioning” what society has taught us, letting go and leading more authentic lives. This can arise often out of a big life event or radical change which triggers this process but it always involves courage and I aim to provide support and walk alongside you as you navigate this.

I have worked with people with the following difficulties:

• Grief and loss including the loss of a loved one, the end of a significant relationship, miscarriage, stillbirth, fertility issues, and unexpected loss such as suicide
• Loss of health
• Cumulative/complicated grief including collective grief experiences e.g. COVID or grief of environmental issues
• Grief of unmet needs e.g. childless not by choice
• People who grew up with a parent who did not meet their needs
  
• Neurodiversity, particularly partners of those diagnosed with Autism or Asperger's
• People who identify as HSP (Highly Sensitive Person)
• Life transitions e.g. menopause, empty nest syndrome, separation and divorce
• Loneliness
• Finding meaning and purpose in life
• Boundary work and sense of self

The counselling I offer can be long or shorter term depending on your needs.

I look forward to hearing from you.

I offer a free 20-30 minute chat on the phone. This is an opportunity for us to speak to each other, to explore your expectations of counselling, and to consider how we may best work together. It is also a chance for you to ask any questions or discuss any anxieties you may have about counselling, and to help you decide if I am the right therapist for you.

Each counselling session costs £60. I also offer a prepaid block of eight sessions for £440.