Vanessa | Counsellor & Psychotherapist, MBACP

Introduction

Real connection is an essential part of healing, which is why therapy with me isn’t stiff or clinical. I bring warmth, honesty, and yes, the occasional moment of humour when it fits. Life is heavy enough, sometimes being able to laugh gently at ourselves or the absurdity of being human is exactly what helps things shift. I’m here to make sense of things with you, not analyse you from a distance.

✨ Helping You Heal, Reconnect, and Find Your Inner Strength ✨ 

Life can sometimes feel overwhelming, confusing, or simply too much. You might be living with anxiety, depression, low mood, or stuck in patterns that leave you feeling frustrated or disconnected from loved ones, your daily life, or even from yourself. You may feel lonely, find it hard to trust, and wonder if things will ever feel manageable again.

I work with a wide range of experiences, and I have particular knowledge and experience in the following areas: Childhood Unmet Needs, Trauma, ADHD, OCD, Anxiety, Dating Patterns, Relationship Issues and Parenting, but I’m here to support you with whatever you might be facing. 

✨ Childhood Unmet Needs ✨

You may be carrying the weight of childhood experiences that left a lasting impact, perhaps you grew up in an environment where love and safety were inconsistent, where your emotions weren’t heard or accepted, or where you had to grow up too quickly. Childhood trauma doesn’t always come from a single event. It can come from years of feeling emotionally neglected, being criticised or shamed, living with a caregiver who was unpredictable or not getting the support you needed to feel secure and valued. Sometimes the wounds are quiet but deep, formed not just by what happened, but also by what you did not receive. As an adult, you may feel anxious, overwhelmed, disconnected, or unsure of your worth. You might struggle with people-pleasing, setting boundaries or feel like you're “too much,” “not enough,” or somehow broken. 

✨Trauma✨

You may have experienced trauma in adulthood, through an unhealthy relationship, domestic violence, a significant loss, accident, illness, or long-term stress, that has left you feeling detached, emotionally drained, or apprehensive. These experiences can be deeply traumatic and shape how you relate to yourself and others, often in ways that are difficult to understand. In therapy, we can gently explore these patterns, create emotional safety, and begin supporting your healing through self-understanding and compassion.

✨ ADHD ✨

Living with ADHD as an adult can be really tiring and lonely, especially when it’s gone unnoticed or misunderstood for a long time. You might find it hard to focus, stay organised, keep motivated, or manage your emotions, and carry a quiet sense of shame or self-doubt. Maybe you feel like you’re not quite “getting” adulting, like you’re always a step behind or that others seem to have it easier. Many adults with ADHD spend years masking or pushing themselves to keep up, without fully understanding why things feel so difficult.

I work with adults with ADHD, including those diagnosed later in life, and I’m open about having been diagnosed myself as an adult. I hold this gently within my role, bringing a compassionate understanding of how ADHD can be missed or misunderstood. ADHD can show up as overwhelm, procrastination, sensitivity to rejection, burnout, or struggles with relationships and self-esteem. Therapy can offer a safe, non-judgmental space where you don’t have to hide or explain yourself. Together, we can explore your experiences, build self-awareness, and find practical, kind ways to support you.

✨ Anxiety & OCD ✨
Living with anxiety or OCD can feel like your mind never gets a moment's peace. You may find yourself caught in endless "what ifs", overthinking, or intrusive thoughts that feel frightening or completely out of character, such as, "What if I pulled the steering wheel into the other side of the road?" or "What if I'm actually a terrible person?" You might repeatedly check that you've locked the door, turned the oven off, or not accidentally harmed someone, or find yourself seeking reassurance to quiet the anxiety, even though the relief is usually only temporary. You may also catch yourself scrolling through social media, comparing your life to everyone else's, and wondering why everything seems to come so much easier to other people.

Whether you're experiencing constant worry, intrusive thoughts, checking behaviours, compulsions, or overwhelming self-doubt, therapy can help you understand what is happening beneath the surface. Together, we'll explore these patterns with curiosity rather than judgement, helping you reduce anxiety, challenge OCD's grip, and regain confidence in yourself.

✨ Dating & Relationships ✨

Relationships can bring out some of our deepest hopes, fears, and insecurities. Perhaps you've noticed yourself falling into the same dating patterns, being drawn to emotionally unavailable or narcissistic partners, ignoring red flags, or putting someone else's needs before your own. Maybe you've just started talking to someone and can't stop thinking about them, analysing every message, wondering why they haven't replied, or worrying they'll lose interest or leave. Or perhaps conflict with your partner leaves you feeling panicked, desperate to fix things immediately, fearing they'll cheat, abandon you, or stop loving you. On the other hand, you might find yourself pulling away when relationships become too close, struggling to trust others, or feeling overwhelmed when someone wants emotional intimacy.

These patterns rarely appear out of nowhere. They are often shaped by our early experiences, past relationships, and the ways we've learned to protect ourselves. Together, we'll gently explore where these patterns come from, helping you understand yourself with compassion rather than blame. Whether you're navigating dating, a romantic relationship, family dynamics, friendships, or recovering from a narcissistic or abusive relationship, therapy can help you build healthier boundaries, feel more secure in yourself, and create relationships that feel safe, balanced, and genuinely fulfilling.

We can also explore the complexities of family and other relationships, whether it’s with your parents, siblings, children, or friends. Every connection is unique and has its own story, and there’s no single “right” solution. You might be feeling hurt, distant, or unsure how to repair something that’s been strained, or learning to make peace with choosing not to reconnect. In therapy with me, you’ll have a safe space to explore your feelings, understand patterns in your relationships, and develop strategies to build trust and stronger connections with the people who matter most, especially yourself.

✨ Parenting ✨

Do you give yourself a hard time and feel like no matter what you do, it isn’t enough? Parenting alongside work, family, and other commitments can be exhausting, and it can feel like there is never enough time or energy. Parenting brings many joys, but it can also leave you feeling unsure of your decisions or stretched thin. Whether you’re caring for a baby, navigating school years, supporting a teenager, or raising a neurodivergent child, moments of guilt, frustration, and self-doubt are completely normal. Questions about whether you’re “doing it right” can feel heavy, and co-parenting stress, overwhelm, or burnout can add even more pressure.

You do not have to face these challenges alone. In therapy, we can explore your child’s emotions and behaviours, understand what they might be communicating, and support your own wellbeing at the same time. Together, we can develop practical and compassionate strategies that strengthen connection, build resilience, and help you feel more confident and grounded in your parenting. I also offer Parent and Child Therapy to support your relationship and help both of you feel more understood and connected.

 ✨ Teenagers ✨

In addition to working with adults, I also offer Therapy for Teens. Adolescence can be challenging times, with emotional, social, and developmental changes that can feel overwhelming to navigate alone. I offer a safe, calm, and supportive space where Teenagers can explore what’s troubling them, such as difficulties at school, friendships, anxiety, low mood, identity, ADHD or family relationships. My approach is gentle and collaborative, helping each young person develop self-understanding, emotional resilience, and coping strategies at a pace that feels right for them.

✨ Testimonials ✨

"Having spent at least 12 months contemplating therapy, the initial contact was admittedly a nerve-wracking prospect. Within the first hour, Vanessa had not only managed to settle those nerves but also set a firm grounding for progress which has been built on since over the past 6 months. She has helped me tackle problems which I had felt bound to for life, consistently reassuring and understanding. Conversations are as light-hearted or as sensitive as the appointment requires - each week has provided an unmatched quiet space in which to think clearly and (finally) start feeling better. Vanessa is consistently professional, but is also able to land a perfect level of humour when needed, this has made each conversation more natural, ultimately leading to my opening up more about long-buried insecurities, feelings of guilt, shame and entrapment. I have felt an immeasurable benefit since starting Therapy with Vanessa and would recommend her to anyone. Vanessa will help you understand where the problem is rooted, how to manage it, how to process it, and eventually how to move forward healthily."

"I've been working with vanessa for some time now after years of getting no where with the NHS. I can honestly say vanessa understands more than most. especially myself being male vanessa is very easy to talk to and very understanding & helped me through some. Difficult stuff I would highly recommend. Thanks again."

"I recently wanted to get into therapy/counselling but I was not sure where to start and who would be best fit for myself. After finding Vanessa's profile and the introduction call we had - I knew she was the best fit for me. Since then, the work we have done together has been great and makes the space feel safe with zero judgement etc. She is a very welcoming and warm person to be able to speak to about any problem, concerns, areas to work on etc. Definitely recommend!"

"Vanessa made me feel comfortable and supported from the moment I started therapy. With Vanessa's help we were able to look at my past and I shared things that I had never said out loud before. Together we made sense of why I felt the way I did and why I struggled with certain situations. Therapy has been life changing for me and I will be forever grateful for our time together, Thank you Vanessa."

"I will miss our weekly morning sessions, I feel so much better for them. My Husband and my family have noticed a huge positive change, thank you for everything you have done for me! I now have a spring in my step again and I will be recommending you to anyone seeking counselling."

✨ About me ✨

I’m Vanessa, a qualified psychotherapist with seven years of university education and training. I run my own private practice, and I also work within a trauma charity, supporting people through some of life’s most challenging moments. Today, I bring both professional expertise and a genuine understanding to my work, providing a compassionate, non-judgemental space where you can feel truly heard and supported.

✨ How I work ✨

Therapy with me offers you a space to slow down and reconnect with who you are. My approach is integrative, drawing on person-centred, psychodynamic, attachment-based, CBT, and other approaches, allowing me to tailor our work to what feels most helpful for you. This means we can gently explore your past and how it has shaped you, make sense of what is happening for you in the present, and find a way forward that feels supportive and manageable. Alongside this deeper exploration, we can also focus on practical ways to help you feel more grounded, confident, and connected in your life.

I offer face to face sessions from my therapy room in Leek, Staffordshire, as well as online therapy to anywhere in the UK. 

✨ If this feels like the right place for you, I would be glad to hear from you - please reach out whenever you feel ready ✨