Relational Counselling in Bristol

Thank you for coming onto my profile and taking time to read my information. Initially I will help you identify whether a systemic/relational approach is the right one for you. I am informed by my training in Systemic and Family Psychotherapy, I draw on many approaches within the psychotherapuetic field, and will meet you with kindness and compassion to enable us to work together towards a change within either yourself, your relationship or your family.

I'm Zoë (she/her) and I am a qualified relational and existential counsellor & psychotherapist. Navigating life in 2024 is hard. Dealing with the ongoing unrest in the world alongside our own personal battles can often feel like too much to carry. While therapy alone cannot change the world, it can be a place to share the load, to untangle yourself and make sense of who you are and where you’re going. Often we find ourselves going against what we feel is right, pressured by expectations and living in a way that feels inauthentic, therapy can be a space to explore what you really want from life and how to get there.

I believe in the power of opening up, and while I will draw on theory and knowledge to support each individual client, I am led by the client and their individual needs. An ideal client is someone who wishes to build a therapeutic space alongside me, allowing me to facilitate safety and build trust. I am interested in helping others to develop personal growth and insight through the relational dynamics they experience.

I offer a safe, non-judgmental space to be supported as you move through difficulty and suffering whether it be emotional pain, anxiety, depression, shame, loneliness or loss. Therapy can also support you to reconnect with what makes you come alive – with wholeness, purpose and meaning. Every part of you is welcome here and there are no subjects that cannot be explored.

I am a warm and creative BACP accredited psychotherapists who offers 1:1 therapy to adults in distress or who are actively seeking change. I have experience of working with a wide range of presenting problems from relationship difficulties, health-related issues and loss to anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD and borderline personality disorder, as well as neurodiversity in all its forms. Careful listening within a warm, supportive, respectful relationship can help us feel safe enough to reflect. I think that reflection can help us heal.

Whether you have recently experienced a crisis in life, or are dealing with a more prolonged sense of disillusionment, I offer a compassionate space for you to explore whatever issue brings you to therapy. Beginning to talk about yourself and what you are dealing with may feel new or even unnerving, so I am always mindful to work with you at your own pace. In this process many different issues may come up for you, and through talking together we have an opportunity to explore, reflect upon and understand more fully how and why you feel the way you do.

Taking the first step towards seeking help is a courageous decision. I will work alongside you to facilitate self-exploration and help you understand your challenges. My aim is to empower you to make positive changes and live a more fulfilling life.

Modern living can be hard and while we hope that we will be able to cope if we’re feeling low, anxious or distressed; sometimes coping just isn’t enough. Counselling and Psychotherapy can help you find structure and stability when things feel chaotic. It can help when it feels like no one around you understands what it’s like to be you; when the way you feel makes no sense; or if you no longer feel that you're in control.

Psychotherapy can meet our innate need to be heard and deeply understood. Together we can explore your sense of being in the world and process difficult emotions, recurring difficulties or questions. Working with safety and sensitivity we can also process early life experience, past trauma and complex relational dynamics. My holistic approach aims to work with the whole of a person - I work relationally and openly with you to build awareness of psyche, body, memory, energy. As you deepen your understanding of self, you may start to let go of old patterns, restore a sense of balance and begin to build foundations for growth.

Sometimes difficulties can have a major impact on our well-being, relationships or work. Maybe friends and family can offer some support but we may also choose to see a qualified and experienced practitioner, who can provide a safe space in which to work with whatever is going on for us. I have a wide range of experience, including working in the NHS, at university as Associate Lecturer (14 years) and in a GP practice as a Lead Therapist and Supervisor, delivering Relational Integrative Therapy. I draw on Psychodynamic and Person-Centred approaches, relational CBT and CFT (Compassion-Focussed Therapy).

I provide a safe and unpressured space where you can explore all aspects of who you are, without the restrictions and expectations you might feel in everyday life. Counselling can help you make sense of your feelings, behaviour and relationships. I believe this can be a process of growth and self-discovery. We often adapt our true selves to manage the pressures of life. Counselling can be an opportunity to say the things you may never have had the chance to say before and explore feelings that may have been hidden. It can lead to deepened self-awareness and can help you find ways to become 'unstuck' and move forward with life.

I am a registered counsellor with the BACP and in the final stages of completing a Doctorate in Counselling Psychology. As a neurodivergent therapist, I prioritise creating an accepting space and focus on building a strong therapeutic relationship. I use an integrative approach, drawing on relational psychodynamic, systemic, CBT, and third-wave therapies. I also offer the Rewind Technique for PTSD, this takes two to three sessions and does not require you to disclose any trauma. I work with a variety of clients, including, children, adolescents, adults, couples and families. I offer sessions online and outdoors (walk-and-talk).

I'm an integrative, person centred counsellor combining relational talking therapy, somatic awareness, creativity and psychoeducation for a wide range of difficulties that can present as anxiety, low mood, panic, loneliness, depression or lack of clarity...some common symptoms of deeper issues. Counselling is about allowing time and space in a supportive, safe and private environment to explore and understand difficulties and root causes of distress, build resilience and learn strategies for moving forward. Life isn’t always smooth but we can weather the waves together in the hope that you live day to day life feeling supported.

You might seek help for a variety of reasons, such as anxiety, low mood, bereavement, eating and body weight problems, relational issues, feeling stuck or overwhelmed by life change situations (the list is not exhaustive). Sometimes it could be difficult to identify a specific reason for seeking support. It might be a struggle to find a sense of meaning or a way through emotional pain. Whatever the reason you are looking for emotional support, I can offer my skills and experience in a safe a confidential non-judgemental space where you can feel free to express your thoughts, and feelings.

I provide Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, and Relational Group-Analytic Therapy. Working together, we create trust and rapport to understand and address unresolved life events and dilemmas. We recognise the complexities of relating to self and others, engaging dreams, the imagination and communication to become receptive to deeper, lasting change. By working individually with an experienced clinician, or, through sharing honest communication in a supportive, facilitated group, you can develop increased agency, greater self-worth and resilience, courage to discern a new life-direction, and, the confidence to explore relationships.

Many of us feel stuck, low, anxious, or overwhelmed at times. Whatever you are struggling with, I will help you to make sense of things and support you to develop insight, skills and strategies to make changes that will make a difference in your life. I am experienced in working with adults and young people with a range of difficulties such as stress, low mood, anxiety, panic, PTSD, low self-esteem, identity or relationship difficulties, difficult life experiences, and addiction. I also offer psychological support to people facing health challenges or living with long-term health conditions (e.g., pain, fatigue, COPD, cancer).

I offer individual counselling face-to-face and online, weekly or fortnightly. My aim is to create a space where you feel compassionately accepted and heard. Together we can explore whatever you wish to bring to counselling, and move towards understanding what is causing you distress. I am committed to anti-oppressive practice and have over two years experience working with ethnically diverse clients, along with my own lived experience as a mixed race person. I am passionate about improving access to counselling for minoritised individuals and currently work at Nilaari Agency to help with this.

My work is with both individuals and couples. The skill-sets and experience I bring to therapy draw off my Systemic Practice, honing the skills of Internal Family System (IFS) and Intimacy from the Inside Out (IFIO) . These approaches are well known to bring about the transformative qualities and resources that exist inside people. These approaches makes difficult experiences possible, such as healing trauma, phobia or anxiety. I am dedicated and assist people to better relate with what humans experience. I’ve learned this is evidently possible through the transformations I’ve witnessed in my practice and what my clients feedback.

I have over fifteen years of experience working as a counsellor and now as a counselling psychologist (in training). I have extensive experience of working in the NHS, MIND, Off the Record and students. I offer a calm safe space where together we can find clarity on what has brought you to seek counselling. At times it can be very confusing and frustrating when we can't make sense of our emotions and often feel stuck or overwhelmed. I work collaboratively, cultivating a mindful and inquisitive approach to understand how clients construe their inner reality and life experiences, which paves the way for more fulfilment in daily life.