About

Thank you for visiting my website and a very warm welcome to you.  I would like to introduce myself to you. my name is Hilary and I am passionate about helping people through the counselling process. I feel privileged to walk alongside people during times of difficulty, offering compassion, understanding and support. Sometimes, having someone to truly listen, in a safe, confidential setting, can bring relief and provide new insight into your situation. You bring your expertise about yourself and your inner resources, and I bring my professional knowledge, skills and experience of the counselling process. Together, in this relationship of trust, we can tackle problems as a team and gain a deeper understanding. Having someone understand us at a deep level can be a very healing experience.

How I work

I aim to provide a safe space for you to explore what you choose to bring to the sessions.  Past experiences can sometimes hold us back, creating unhelpful patterns that leave us feeling stuck.  By gently exploring our current difficulties, we can increase awareness of these patterns. With awareness comes choice—and with choice, new possibilities for moving forward and living more fully.

At the heart of this process is a relationship of trust, acceptance, and respect.

Qualifications, Accreditation and Professional Standards

I bring extensive training, experience, and ongoing professional development to my work. My qualifications include:

  • BA (Hons) Degree in Counselling (Waverley Abbey College / Roehampton University)
  • Diploma in Counselling
  • Diploma in Counselling Supervision
  • B.Ed (Hons) Degree in Education
  • Level 5 Certificate in Counselling Children and Young People (Distinction, ABC accredited)
  • Certificate in Telephone and Online Counselling (80+ hours CPD, ACTO accredited)
  • Certificate in CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)
  • Certificate in Couples Counselling
  • Certificate of Qualification in Spiritual Accompaniment

I am a BACP-registered and accredited counsellor, working within the BACP Ethical Framework. This provides an added level of accountability and reassurance for clients. I also hold an enhanced DBS certificate.  I am a BUPA-approved therapist.

I am committed to ongoing learning and regularly attend workshops, training sessions, and professional development opportunities to stay up-to-date with current research and best practices.

I meet regularly with independent clinical supervisors to ensure that I am working ethically and providing the highest standard of care.

Experience:

I have over 16 years’ counselling experience, supporting adults with a wide range of emotional and psychological difficulties.

A particular area of my expertise is trauma and abuse. My counselling dissertation focused on trauma, and I have extensive experience working with people who have experienced domestic abuse, as well as other forms of trauma, including PTSD. I work carefully and sensitively, helping clients feel safe, grounded, and in control of the pace of therapy.

I regularly support clients with:

  • Trauma and post-traumatic stress (PTSD)
  • Domestic abuse and childhood abuse
  • Anxiety, panic, phobias, and OCD
  • Depression and low mood
  • Self-harm and suicidal thoughts
  • Bereavement and loss
  • Relationship difficulties, affairs, and betrayal
  • Stress, burnout, and work-related pressure
  • Low self-esteem and confidence

Alongside my counselling practice, my wider professional experience includes:

  • Training and qualifying at Waverley Abbey College, known for its strong integrative and Christian counselling tradition
  • Co-founding Counselling World, where I write and deliver counsellor training up to diploma level
  • A background in primary education and leading parenting workshops, deepening my understanding of child development and long-term change
  • Management experience, giving insight into organisational stress and leadership pressures
  • Starting and leading a support group for people affected by Huntington’s Disease
  • Leading Pastoral Skills courses and co-facilitating self-esteem workshops
  • Working with a well-known publisher, reviewing counselling book proposals and manuscripts

Video Introduction

Therapeutic Approach

Integrative Counselling with a Gestalt Focus

I am an integrative counsellor, working with a strong Gestalt focus. Gestalt therapy is holistic, relational, and experiential. It pays attention to the whole of who you are — thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations, relationships, and your wider environment. When appropriate, I might invite you to experiment with creative techniques.

In sessions, we work primarily with what is happening in the here-and-now. I may invite awareness of things such as tone of voice, pace of speech, body language, or emotional shifts, helping you notice patterns in how you relate to yourself and others. When the past becomes alive in the present, we may gently explore unfinished business to support understanding, acceptance, or closure.

I believe that everyone has the capacity to live a rich and meaningful life. Sometimes patterns that once helped us survive begin to limit us. Through awareness, new choices become possible.

I also draw on aspects of Internal Family Systems, Mindfulness, Transactional Analysis, Person-Centred Theory, Compassion-Focused Therapy and CBT.

Relationship is central to this work. I aim to offer an accepting, respectful relationship where you feel safe enough to be real.

Faith, Spirituality and Counselling

Some people actively look for a counsellor who is Christian, while others simply want a therapist who understands faith, spirituality, and questions of meaning. Faith can be brought into our work if it feels relevant to you.  You are in the driving seat. I equally work with clients who are not seeking this aspect in the counselling process.

Couples Counselling

I also offer couples counselling for partners experiencing communication difficulties, conflict, loss of trust, or emotional distance. Equally, I work with those simply wanting to deepen their connection.

Couples counselling provides a supportive space to explore patterns in how you relate to one another, increase understanding, and develop healthier ways of connecting. This may be helpful whether you are seeking to strengthen your relationship or navigate a period of difficulty.

If you are unsure whether counselling is right for your situation, you are very welcome to contact me to discuss this.

Fees

I charge £55 for a 50-minute session. I only offer daytime, weekday sessions.

What to Expect:

Taking the first step towards counselling can feel daunting. It may be difficult to put your feelings into words or to know where to begin. I understand this from my own experience of being a client, and I want to reassure you that this is completely normal. Do feel free to email me for more information. 

At our first meeting, you will have the chance to:

  • Learn more about me, my approach, and my experience.

  • Share what has brought you to counselling—whether clearly or in a way that feels muddled or emotional (both are absolutely fine).

  • Talk about what you hope to gain from counselling.

  • Hear what I can offer and how I work.

Together, we can decide whether we are a good fit and whether you would like to continue. If so, we can discuss what might be most helpful for you, including how many sessions may be appropriate.

Where I work:

I offer a comfortable counselling room, in Chartham, close to an area of outstanding beauty, with easy, free parking. It is a 15-20 minute walk up a hill from the local train station, or just over a 5-minute walk from the bus stop. 

I also offer online and telephone counselling as well as outdoor therapy (see later on this website).

I look forward to hearing from you.