Willow & Thyme Therapy
Counselling and Psychotherapy in Cheltenham and Painswick, Gloucestershire
Welcome to
Willow & Thyme Therapy
You’re already on your way; I’ll meet you where you are.
Life can feel like a series of transitions
There are times when we feel we are perpetually in motion; there are also seasons of stasis when we ache for change. Sometimes the transition between being and doing falls out balance. My aim as your therapist is to meet you where you are and walk alongside you without judgement.
Transitions can be expected phases of life: moving somewhere new, relationships, parenthood, menstruation and menopause, retirement. Or, transitions can be unexpected: career change, loss, bereavement, divorce, health challenges. Whether expected, unexpected, or somewhere in between, changes in life can affect our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Life events may even influence our sense of self and identity.
I aim to offer a safe and confidential environment to help you make sense of your experience: the transition itself and the accompanying thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.
Not all therapy is characterised by prescribed solutions or advice; the approaches I use centre the process of self-empowerment and self-understanding leading to organic, committed change.
I am an accredited member of the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCPS) and follow their code of ethics.
You're already on your way . . .
But navigating the mental health landscape can be challenging and I want to meet you where you are. So let's break this process down into 3 steps:
- Schedule a complimentary 30-minute initial consultation.
- We will have a chat online or over the phone to get to know each other and decide if we're a good fit.
- If we decide to work together, we will agree on how often to meet and your preference for online, walk and talk, or face to face sessions.
Face to Face
Traditional face to face sessions are held in therapy offices located in Shurdington. Directions and parking information will be provided upon booking.
Online Therapy
Skip the commute to more easily find time in your busy schedule. I use a secure video platform developed by therapists for therapists in the UK. You will not need to create an account or download any additional software.
Common Areas of Support
- Menstrual cycle, period support
- Menopause
- Confidence & self-esteem
- Feelings of stress or anxiety
- Motivation
- Identity & sense of self
- Conflict at work, university, college, or at home
- Cultural issues, immigration, or life as an 'expat'
- Gender & Sexuality
- Pregnancy & Parenting
- Retirement
- Grief, loss, or bereavement
- Trauma
- Depression
Walk & Talk Therapy
Just as we have an impact on the world around us, it has an impact on us. Walk and talk therapy is a type of ecotherapy that brings the session outside. Moving at your own pace we will observe the connections between mind, body, nature, and community in relation to your experience.
All walk and talk sessions are held on a quiet public right of way accessible by public transportation.
What to expect
Whether online or outside, you can expect a confidential relationship free of judgment. I offer short and long-term talk therapy services for people experiencing challenging life transitions. Whether you need short-term support to cope with a transition or are looking to better understand long-term patterns surrounding transitions in your life, I hope to provide a safe, comfortable space for you to explore and develop the skills you feel would help.
You may see a variety of different therapeutic approaches in your search for the right practitioner. My goal is to explain to you the way I work in a way that is clear and concise. Please feel free to ask questions every step along the way. This time, this work, it’s yours.
How I work
I work from a person-centred perspective with a psychodynamic lens, but also incorporate other relevant techniques and theories as needed. This means that at the heart of all of our work together, I strive to see you as a whole person within the context of your life, your environment, your personality, your support systems, and identity. Underpinning this idea is the assumption that you are wildly capable.
The psychodynamic part of the work just means that I believe there may be assumptions, narratives, or patterns of behaviour at play in the human mind and, where appropriate, bringing these unconscious processes to awareness can help us better understand ourselves.
Get in touch
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how therapy works or to arrange an appointment. This enables us to discuss the reasons you are thinking of coming to counselling, whether it could be helpful for you and whether I am the right therapist to help.
I aim to respond to enquiries within 48 hours.
“I am a willow of the wilderness, Loving the wind that bent me.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
©Shauna New is powered by WebHealer