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Hi, I'm Carley

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I'm a qualified Humanistic Integrative Counsellor and a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

I live in Dorset and have done for all my life, and I'm very fond of the earthy, slightly wild beauty of where I live. I'm happiest outside with my dog, preferably somewhere I can see the sea or a lot of sky.

I'm also an introvert at heart.

I really value the kind of one-to-one connection that counselling allows, and I think that is one of the things I love most about this work.

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What made me want to become a counsellor?

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I've always been interested in people and in the things that make us who we are.

Why do we sometimes behave in ways that don't seem to make sense?

Why can we know something intellectually but still find it incredibly difficult to change?

Why can we be endlessly understanding towards other people while being incredibly hard on ourselves?

And why do some experiences stay with us long after the event itself has passed?

Those questions are part of what led me to counselling.

I don't see people as broken things that need fixing.

I see us as people who have learned ways of coping, relating and protecting ourselves for very good reasons—and sometimes those ways of coping stop being as helpful as they once were.

Counselling can give us the opportunity to understand those patterns rather than simply judging ourselves for having them.

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How I work

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I'm a Humanistic Integrative Counsellor.

At the heart of Humanistic counselling is the belief that people have the capacity for growth and change when they have the right conditions to do so.

For me, those conditions include feeling heard, respected and accepted as yourself.

Integrative means that I draw from different therapeutic approaches rather than expecting every person to fit one particular way of working.

My training includes Person-Centred Therapy, Gestalt Therapy and Transactional Analysis, and I draw on these approaches depending on what feels useful for you.

Sometimes we'll spend time talking through something that has happened.

Sometimes we might notice a pattern in a relationship.

Sometimes I'll ask you to slow down and pay attention to what is happening for you in the moment.

And sometimes we'll laugh.

Therapy doesn't have to be serious every second for it to be meaningful.

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What matters to me in the room

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I want you to feel that you can be yourself with me.

You don't have to impress me.

You don't have to make your experiences sound reasonable.

You don't have to worry that you're taking up too much space.

And you don't have to have the “right” answer.

One of the things I valued most in my own experience of counselling was feeling genuinely seen without judgement.

That's something I try very hard to offer my clients too.

There can be difficult conversations, uncomfortable feelings and moments when we gently challenge something together.

But there can also be humour, warmth and relief.

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You are allowed to be a whole person in the room.

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A little about me outside counselling

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When I'm not counselling, you'll probably find me walking my dog, crafting, spending time with people I love, listening to podcasts, getting outside or generally trying to notice the little things that make life feel good.

I'm naturally quite reflective, which probably explains why counselling suits me so well!

I'm also someone who believes that looking after yourself isn't something you have to earn. 

It's part of being human.

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My professional background

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I hold a Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling and a BPS-accredited Psychology degree.

I'm a registered member of the BACP and work within its Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions.

I undertake continuing professional development throughout my practice and have regular clinical supervision. This helps me to keep reflecting on my work, develop my knowledge and make sure that I'm working safely and ethically.

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Most importantly...

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I hope that when you leave our sessions, you feel a little more heard than when you arrived.

Perhaps a little more accepting of yourself.

Perhaps more able to ask for help without feeling ashamed.

And, over time, hopefully more confident in your ability to navigate the difficult things life inevitably brings without losing sight of yourself in the process.

You don't have to become someone else to deserve care.

You deserve it as you are.

If you'd like to find out whether we might work well together, you can get in touch for a free initial telephone consultation.