Hello my name is Emma West - whatever you are finding difficult, painful and/or confusing I can work with you to achieve positive change through online counselling.

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People come for counselling for all sorts of reasons - some people want to feel less depressed, anxious or lonely.  Others want to explore relationships - at home or at work - that are not working and find ways to improve them. Struggling with a lack of confidence or low self-esteem are also very common problems.  As is being haunted by the past or being unsure about the future.

 

Counselling helps you look at things differently, establish the things you want to change, find ways of making those changes and, consequently, feel better.

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Whilst I cannot give you medical advice I can help you source information and support you if you:

• Are thinking about taking psychiatric drugs

• Are already taking psychiatric drugs but want to consider your options

• Have decided you want to stop taking them

• Are in the process of tapering already 

 

I also have experience of counselling people experiencing a range of issues [see below] and I have specialist experience and knowledge of disability, carer, health, student, and gender dysphoria issues.  I am LGBTQIA2S+ affirmative.

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Whatever problem you are facing remember:

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"You can't stop the waves but you can learn to surf."  Jon Kabat-Zinn.

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Some examples of issues you might want to explore:

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• Feeling depressed and/or anxious

• Reducing or eliminating 'safety' behaviours such as avoiding [tasks / people / situations], rehearsing, seeking reassurance, ruminating, rituals, not/touching things, checking, limiting food, overeating, shouting, keeping quiet, over-working, prioritising others, making lists, procrastinating, using alcohol/drugs [including prescribed/psychiatric drugs], worrying

• Low self-esteem / confidence

• Trauma - one-off, ongoing, childhood or even intergenerational trauma

• Post-traumatic Stress 'Disorder' (PTSD) [actually a sane reaction to an insane situation]

• Abuse: sexual, psychological, physical, financial, neglect, discrimination

• Disability / discrimination

• Problems at work, including wanting to leave a job

• Taking or wanting to stop taking psychiatric drugs eg 'antidepressants'

• Being a carer

• Loss

• Loneliness

• Relationship difficulties [at home or at work]

• Family problmes

• Gender dysphoria / transitioning

• Managing stress / student stress

• Lifestyle problems eg sleep problems, social media, activity levels

• Ill health

• Life transitions

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