Counselling in Honiton
If you are looking for specialist couple and relationship counselling in the Honiton area, my practice, Counselling South West, is nearby in Axminster, 10 miles and a twenty minute drive from Honiton. It is easy to find and there is parking on the road outside or nearby. Honiton is also on the SW train line, one stop from Axminster and the station in Axminster is five minutes’ walk from my practice.
Welcome to Counselling South West
Whether this is the first time you have had counselling or you have already experienced the process before, I offer a calm, comfortable and confidential environment in which to relax and talk about your problems.
I believe that building a therapeutic relationship with me, your counsellor, is very important for the process to be successful and you will be able to see how you feel during the initial consultation and decide whether you are happy to carry on having counselling.
I hope that you will experience a secure environment in which to deal with the different aspects of the problem you have brought for counselling. There is on street parking outside and around and Axminster town centre is only a five minute walk away, should you decide to visit the shops or cafes whilst you are here.
About Me
I have practised counselling for twenty years after four years training. Three of those years were with Relate where I gained intensive experience in couple and relationship counselling. I still do a few hours counselling for Relate but I am able to offer more flexible hours in a more central location for East Devon, South Somerset and West Dorset at affordable rates. Over the last twenty years, I have gained experience in counselling issues arising from relationship, separation and divorce problems, bereavement, low self-esteem, assertiveness issues and power and control problems. I am a member of BACP (British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists) and am on the Relate Register of Counsellors. I also have education and adult training qualifications, run CPD courses for counsellors and general courses for the public. I feel it is a privilege to work in the counselling profession and gain great rewards from helping people get their lives back on track.
Client Testimonials
IT Manager
I would just like to say thanks for all your help. When I arrived at my first session with you I had almost given up and lost all hope of a recovery in my relationship. After speaking to you, you seemed to understand perfectly my situation and were able to provide me with some positives which I took away with me and was able to work on.
Company director
It is very difficult to put into words what positive effect on my life our sessions have had. The hardest step for anyone considering counselling is to make the appointment and arrive. However you made me feel extremely relaxed and comfortable from the very first minute we met. My partner also found you extremely easy to communicate with. After weeks of almost silence, she was able to open up and speak to you instantly which was absolutely amazing. Initially she was very wary of counselling and talking to a counsellor. She was happy to return for further sessions, which is testament in itself to your counselling approach and skills.
Marketing Manager
Anne’s support throughout the time when my marriage broke up has been crucial. I suffered depression following the marriage breakdown and extreme anxiety and stress as a result of a variety of other external factors. There were times when I couldn’t see how I was going to get through. Anne’s consistent, clear and sympathetic approach enabled me to see that there was light at the end of the tunnel and that I didn’t need to be a victim of the situation in which I found myself. I had a number of very difficult decisions to make and, through regularly talking with Anne, I was able to make these decisions with confidence, and be resolute enough to see them through.
IT Manager
I would just like to say thanks for all your help. When I arrived at my first session with you I had almost given up and lost all hope of a recovery in my relationship. After speaking to you, you seemed to understand perfectly my situation and were able to provide me with some positives which I took away with me and was able to work on.
Company director
It is very difficult to put into words what positive effect on my life our sessions have had. The hardest step for anyone considering counselling is to make the appointment and arrive. However you made me feel extremely relaxed and comfortable from the very first minute we met. My partner also found you extremely easy to communicate with. After weeks of almost silence, she was able to open up and speak to you instantly which was absolutely amazing. Initially she was very wary of counselling and talking to a counsellor. She was happy to return for further sessions, which is testament in itself to your counselling approach and skills.
Marketing Manager
Anne’s support throughout the time when my marriage broke up has been crucial. I suffered depression following the marriage breakdown and extreme anxiety and stress as a result of a variety of other external factors. There were times when I couldn’t see how I was going to get through. Anne’s consistent, clear and sympathetic approach enabled me to see that there was light at the end of the tunnel and that I didn’t need to be a victim of the situation in which I found myself. I had a number of very difficult decisions to make and, through regularly talking with Anne, I was able to make these decisions with confidence, and be resolute enough to see them through.
Guest
I cannot express enough gratitude for Anne’s exceptional counselling expertise. When I sought her help during a challenging period in my marriage, she guided us through individual and joint sessions with unparalleled skill and compassion. Anne had the ability to navigate through the complexities of our issues, especially in steering my husband towards understanding how his behaviour was upsetting me and the urgency of taking action. Beyond the initial concerns, Anne has been a consistent source of support, offering invaluable insights and empathy as I tackle various life struggles. Her depth of experience and keen understanding of human distress make her an invaluable ally on my journey. Anne’s warmth and genuine care shine through in every session, making me feel incredibly fortunate to have her in my corner. I wholeheartedly recommend Anne to anyone seeking profound and effective counselling support.
Artist
Counselling for anxiety, depression and negative thought patternsI went to Anne at a very dark and confusing time for me when my life was severely restricted by negative, unhelpful thinking processes. She both provided me with a safe, non-judgemental environment in which I could tell her my deepest thoughts and fears and helped me understand the way I think, providing me with tools and beneficial thought processes I needed to continue my recovery process on my own.
Builder
Your relaxed manner and understanding makes it extremely easy to express how one is feeling and I found the experience very rewarding. A real ‘life lesson’.
Retired
I would urge anyone who is considering counselling to contact you. I cannot recommend you highly enough.
Widower
Once again Anne, many thanks for your help and support. It’s been a difficult journey for me at times and without our sessions I dare not think what may have happened.
Solicitor
Thanks does not really convey my gratitude and appreciation for the help you have given me and my partner.
Vet
We just wanted to email you to let you know just how beneficial your sessions were for me and my husband. We were not in a good place when we first came to you but we both knew we really wanted to save our marriage. After 3 sessions we were in such a better place and 2 months later we have continued to build on your advice and things now are so much better than they have been in such a very long time. So thank you ever so much Anne …… your help was invaluable.
Teacher
Working with Anne has had a very significant and positive impact on me and, consequently, on my children. Life has not become perfect, but, with Anne’s support, I am well-equipped to deal with whatever is round the corner. I am now divorced, and that was done humanely, with dignity and without bitterness, as I initially hoped it could be. I have no doubt this would not have been achieved without Anne’s support and I will always be extremely grateful to her for this.
Accountant
I would thoroughly recommend Anne’s counselling services to anyone struggling to deal with difficult circumstances or challenging emotions.
Everything You need to know
Length of counselling?
Counselling usually starts weekly after the initial consultation in order to get the counselling process under way. Counselling starts by exploring your presenting problem, background and possible causes. Then there is a period of coming to some understanding of how and why the problems originated and your response to them. Gaining insight is very important at this stage. Then finally, it is usually appropriate to think about making any possible changes – sometimes this happens quickly, for others it may take longer, especially if the problems are very deep seated. This isn’t always a straight forward process and insight and changes can happen at any time during the counselling.
When the acute stage is over, or clients feel they can manage for longer, then sessions become fortnightly and then monthly until they stop. This is when clients feel confident that they are more in control, they have some kind of resolution and have the tools to manage their situation themselves.
Clients are always welcome to return for counselling in the future or for a one-off session should something arise which they wish to discuss.