For a free 30 minute consultation: Contact Ally at ally@counsellingbynature.co.uk Contact Neil at neil@counsellingbynature.co.uk

Counselling & Therapy -

online and in-person based in Ashford

Looking for a counsellor?

This may be your first time looking for support or you may have had counselling before, either way it is worth exploring what counselling is and whether it is right for you.

Counselling is a place and space for you to talk about the things in your life that might be troubling you. This might be because you are experiencing difficult emotions, going through a period of change or you might need to make a difficult decision and need support in helping you through the process.

A counsellor will give you their time and attention, listening to you without judging what you are saying so you are able to work out what you would like to happen. The counselling relationship is different from a friendship or family bond, it is an agreed upon relationship where the counsellor focuses solely on helping you. You don't need to worry that you are taking up their time, talking too much (or too little) or not focusing on the other person; a counsellor's sole focus is on you and your wellbeing.

All the research on the effectiveness of therapy points to the strength of the relationship between you (the client) and the counsellor being the most important aspect in positive outcomes when seeking therapy. Do you feel accepted and heard by your counsellor? Are they genuinely interested in who you are? Do you feel they are ‘on your side’, even when they might be saying something challenging?

What we can help with

You may be seeking counselling if you are struggling with something in your life, come to a crossroads and need support in what to do next, or feeling a sense of stuckness that won't go away. There are many reasons why people seek counselling and we can help you navigate a path through some of life's common issues, such as:

Loneliness

Affairs and betrayals

Social anxiety

Suicidal thoughts

Neurodiversity

Health anxiety

Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)

Emotional abuse

Self-harm

Separation and divorce

Domestic abuse

Redundancy

Anxiety

Depression

Relationship problems

ADHD

Low self-esteem

Low self-confidence

Trauma

Bereavement

Autism

Feeling sad

Stress

Anger management

Burnout

Work-related stress

Gender & sexuality

LGBTQ+

Bullying

Menopause

Postnatal depression

Mindfulness

Physical abuse

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

Hoarding

Jealousy

Perfectionism

Meet the team

Neil Bedwell

Ally Payne

Having worked as a counsellor for a number of years, I can offer you a space where you will find compassion, openness, empathy and warmth. I know from my own experience of counselling what it can do to help. It offered me the time and space with someone who focused on me without judgement, so I was able to explore who I was and what I wanted. My own counsellor didn’t give me the answers or tell me what they thought I should do, but they were alongside me offering compassion, empathy and acceptance whilst sharing their own reflections on what I was bringing.

We all experience difficult times in our lives, times when we can't make sense and feel stuck. Sometimes that can be a life event such as bereavement, relationship break up or illness which has left you in need of support, or you may not be able to put your finger on what you feel is wrong. Often we have ways of coping with emotional distress that come from what happened in our childhood, and those ways of coping no longer serve us as adults.

Sometimes it may feel like there are different ‘parts’ of ourselves that are in conflict with each other and this can cause us distress. By not rejecting but listening to and accepting those parts of ourselves we struggle with, we can become more self-compassionate and less judgemental of ourselves and others. My aim is to work with you to uncover ways in which you might be keeping yourself stuck, to find out what might be blocking you from fully becoming who you want to be and supporting you in making different choices in your life.

By working integratively (counselling-speak for blending different theoretical approaches) together we can find what approach works best for you. You might want a space to explore what you are feeling where you lead the way (person-centred, humanistic) or you might want a more active, solution focused approach (like CBT or solution-focused therapy). I don't believe there is a one-size-fits-all way of working, it's more about what works best. We are all individuals and I believe that working together to find the best approach will lead to the most positive outcome for you. I offer both short and long-term therapy and can work with you face-to-face, via online sessions/telephone or a hybrid of both depending on your preference.

I am an experienced counsellor and counselling lecturer, who believes that everyone is unique and valuable and deserves to live a rich and fulfilling life. Challenges are a normal part of the journey but sometimes they can become obstacles that detract from, or even totally obscure, the path that we would like to be on, or they prevent us from being the person that we would like to be.

Having faced many difficulties in my own life, I know first-hand how talking to an experienced professional can help us to explore and make sense of things. Life experiences can sometimes make us feel overwhelmed and confused and may cause anxiety or depression. Often the difficulties we experience in life aren’t developed in an instant and working through them, solving them, healing from them doesn’t happen instantly either. I would like to walk alongside you in this process.

I believe that the counselling relationship is at the heart of the work we do together. We will co- create a relationship that is truly collaborative with your goals as our shared aims. By cultivating a safe, confidential space, without judgement and with utmost respect and compassion, I can support you in exploring the issues that are troubling you and work with you to move forward.

I am an integrative therapist which means that I use techniques from a range of therapeutic models. This enables me to tailor our work most effectively to suit the personality, the preferences and issues that individuals may bring.

I offer both short-term and longer-term therapy, working either face-to-face or via online and telephone sessions. If you would prefer I also offer 'walk and talk' therapy, where we can get out into nature. My therapy dog Ella has worked with me for many years and would be happy to join us if you feel it would be helpful.