Counsellor in Lymington & Online
Hello, I’m Maria!
I’m a qualified counsellor based in Lymington, offering a warm, supportive and non-judgemental space for people who are finding life difficult, feeling stuck, or simply wanting to understand themselves better.
I believe counselling is not about telling you what to do or giving you a set of answers. It is about having the space to talk openly, without judgement, and to begin making sense of what is happening for you. Sometimes we know exactly what is wrong. Sometimes we just know that something doesn’t feel right.
Either way, you don’t have to have everything worked out before you come to counselling.
How I work
My approach is humanistic and integrative, drawing on different counselling theories and adapting the way I work to the individual person. There isn’t a one-size-fits all approach to counselling. You are unique, and I believe the therapy should reflect that.
My role is to listen, to help you explore what is happening beneath the surface, and to support you in understanding patterns, feelings, relationships and experiences that may be affecting your life now.
I work with a range of issues including anxiety, relationship difficulties, grief and loss, low confidence and self-esteem, difficult life transitions and experiences of trauma.
I also offer couples counselling, where the focus is on creating a space where both people can feel heard, understood and able to explore what is happening within the relationship.
Experience you can trust
Alongside my private counselling practice, I have experience working with people of different ages and with a wide range of presenting issues.
I have worked with young people in schools and colleges and have also worked as a trauma-informed therapist with YouTrust, supporting survivors of sexual violence and domestic abuse. These experiences have shaped the way I work. I understand how important it is to create a therapeutic relationship where you feel safe, respected and in control of your own story.
I am a CPCAB qualified Counsellor and BACP registered, and I continue to develop my knowledge and practice so that I can offer thoughtful and appropriate support to my clients.
A little more about me
Counselling is at the heart of my work, but my professional background extends beyond the therapy room.
I have worked for many years in health, fitness and wellbeing, including as a personal trainer, yoga teacher and life coach. I have also written books exploring mental health, wellbeing, counselling and emotional development.
These different experiences have given me a strong interest in the relationship between our emotional wellbeing, our bodies, our relationships and the lives we lead. I don’t believe we can always separate one from the other.
Sometimes what we are experiencing emotionally affects our body. Sometimes our relationships affect how we see ourselves. Sometimes a major change in our life can leave us wondering who we are and what comes next. This is why I take a holistic view of the person sitting in front of me.
But counselling isn’t about fixing every part of your life at once. It starts with you, what is happening for you now, what you need, and what you would like to change or understand.
Why I became a counsellor
My interest in counselling comes from a genuine belief in the value of being heard and after my own personal experience with mental health. There can be enormous pressure to keep going, to cope, to be positive and to work things out ourselves. But sometimes we need somewhere we can put all of that down for a while.
A place where we don’t have to pretend everything is okay. A place where we can be honest. That is what I want to offer my clients. I know that starting counselling can feel daunting, particularly if you’ve never spoken to someone in this way before. You don’t need to know exactly what to say, and you don’t need to arrive with everything neatly explained.
We can start wherever you are.
Maria the author
Writing has always been another way for me to explore and communicate ideas around mental health and wellbeing. I am the author of six books, including Hare and Tortoise Have Counselling, which explores different counselling approaches through the familiar story of the Hare and Tortoise.
I have also written books for children and young people around feelings, identity and emotional wellbeing. Writing and counselling share something important for me: both create opportunities for people to understand themselves and their experiences a little differently.
Learn more about my books here.
What you can expect from me
I will listen.
I will not judge you.
I won’t tell you how you should live your life.
I will ask questions, help you explore what is going on and work collaboratively with you at a pace that feels manageable.
Most importantly, I want counselling to feel like a space where you can be yourself. If you’re considering counselling but aren’t sure whether it’s right for you, you don’t have to make that decision alone.
Take the first step (I don’t bite)
I offer a free initial consultation so that we can talk about what you’re looking for, answer any questions you have and see whether working together feels like the right fit.
