“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.”
Desmond Tutu
Welcome
My name is Abigail and I'm a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. I offer face to face integrative therapy to adults and young people (16+) in Exeter or online from wherever you are in the UK.
Whatever challenges you are facing and whatever hopes and dreams you are holding, you are welcome here. I hope this website will help you decide if I might be the right person to support you on this stage of life's journey.
"We don't get wounded alone
and we don't heal alone."
Carl Jung
I believe that the quality of the therapeutic relationship between counsellor and client is central to healing, so I offer a free 15 minute phone or zoom call to give you an opportunity to see if you would feel comfortable working with me before making any financial commitment.
How I work
You can choose whether you prefer sessions to be traditional talk therapy or if you'd like to engage with more creative options such as sand tray therapy, visualisation and inner child work.
Working in an integrative way means I draw on a number of different therapeutic theories to support you and your unique needs. These include ideas from the Psychodynamic school of thought (exploring how we have been shaped by our childhood experiences) and Humanistic traditions (believing we have agency and, with support, resources to heal ourselves).
I also have a particular strength in what psychotherapy calls the transpersonal - working with the spiritual aspect of who we are, that sense of being part of something more. There can be times in our lives when it's difficult or even frightening to name our beliefs but I want to ensure that my clients feel free to bring their whole being into the counselling space, without fear of judgement or dismissal. My own beliefs confirm the importance of everybody being valued, and for their voice to be heard in all its uniqueness. Whatever spirituality means to you, whether it be linked to a particular faith or religion, or something more individual, perhaps relating to mindfulness or a sense of deep connection with nature, you are welcome.
Embracing this part of ourselves feels important to me both because our spirit or soul can often be weighed down by our wounds, and also because the connection with something beyond ourselves can be an untapped wellspring of resources for healing. Sadly, I'm very aware that for some people their experiences with faith and spiritual communities can actually be a significant source of pain and I also work with those who struggle with the repercussions of this. Equally, if the spiritual side of life isn't something you relate to don't worry - I have worked successfully with many clients who don't wish to explore this as part of counselling and I only ever work in a way that respects the client's own choices.
I'm a p
“I wish I could show you, when you are lonely or in darkness,
The Astonishing Light of your own Being.”
-Hafiz of Shiraz