I am a qualified therapeutic counsellor offering in-person and online counselling to adults aged 18 and over.
I offer short-term counselling of 1–6 sessions, as well as open-ended counselling, depending on your individual needs and what feels right for you.
Life can sometimes feel overwhelming to navigate.
I work with people experiencing a range of difficulties, including:
Anxiety, stress and emotional wellbeing
Relationships and personal difficulties
Loss and difficult life experiences
Addiction and coping
When life feels particularly difficult
Get in touch to arrange your free 10-minute call to see if counselling with me feels right.
Counselling in Sonning, RG4
In-person and Online
Mobile: 07970 927 950
About me
I am an integrative counsellor, I draw on different therapeutic models to create a way of working that is tailored to you. My practice is informed by Person-Centred and Psychodynamic approaches, allowing us to explore both your experiences in the present and how past experiences may continue to influence how you think, feel and relate to yourself and others.
I believe that counselling is a collaborative process. Together, we can explore the things that are important to you, in a safe and supportive space.
Building a trusting therapeutic relationship is at the heart of my practice. I aim to offer a space, grounded in kindness, compassion without judgement, where you can feel heard, understood and accepted.
My hope is that through this process you can develop greater understanding of yourself, explore what you need, and work towards feeling more empowered in your life.
I am a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), a professional body for counsellors and psychotherapists. I work within the BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Profession, which guides my practice and supports the safety and wellbeing of my clients.
As part of my ongoing professional development, I engage in regular supervision and continuing professional development (CPD). This helps me continue to develop my practice, knowledge and skills.
Areas I work with
I work with people experiencing a range of difficulties, including:
Anxiety, stress and emotional wellbeing
Stress and anxiety
Panic attacks
Social anxiety
Low mood and unhappiness
Confidence and self-esteem
Burnout
Perfectionism
Relationships and personal difficulties
Relationship problems
Family issues
Attachment
People pleasing
Anger
Issues relating to sexuality
Loss and difficult life experiences
Grief and bereavement
Loss
Trauma and post-traumatic stress
Experiences of abuse
Adverse childhood experiences
Addiction and coping
Addiction
Difficult or unwanted patterns of behaviour
Work and life transitions
Difficulties at work
Retirement
Changes and transitions in life
When life feels particularly difficult
I can also offer a space to talk about experiences of self-harm or suicidal thoughts.
If you're experiencing immediate danger or believe you may act on suicidal thoughts, please contact emergency services or a crisis service rather than waiting for a counselling appointment.
Samaritans - Call 116 123 24 hours a day
NHS - Call 111 24 hours a day
Shout - text “Shout” to 85258 24 hours a day
Practical Information
Location
I hold face-2-face sessions in Sonning, RG4. I will send the full address once we have confirmed a slot in the diary
Online sessions
I offer online sessions through Zoom or Microsoft Teams
Sessions
You can book short term therapy - 1-6 sessions, or open ended therapy. If you opt for this I will ensure we have regular reviews to make sure you are getting what you want out of our time together.
Each session lasts 50 minutes. Sessions are usually offered at the same time each week, providing consistency and continuity
Fees
1 session is £60
Cancellation
24 hours notice
Confidentiality
Everything we discuss in our counselling sessions is treated as confidential, providing you with a safe and private space where you can feel comfortable talking openly. There are some circumstances where confidentiality may need to be broken, such as where there are serious concerns about your safety, the safety of someone else or safeguarding concerns. Wherever possible, I would discuss this with you first and work with you to ensure the appropriate support is in place.
What to Expect
Each session is 50 minutes long and we talk about whatever you choose to talk about. I am not going to offer advice and tell you what to do. You are the expert on you! I may offer a gentle challenge and we will work together to identify patterns and ways that no longer serve you. I will be guided by you on what you want to talk about.
What is counselling?
Perhaps you are feeling stressed, anxious, overwhelmed or low. You may be experiencing panic, difficulties with confidence or self-esteem, or finding it hard to cope with everyday life.
Or perhaps you are struggling with relationships, family difficulties, work, friendships or a significant change in your life. You may be dealing with grief or loss, trauma or experiences from the past that continue to affect you.
Sometimes there isn't an obvious reason for how we feel. You may simply have a feeling that something isn't right, or find yourself questioning your direction, relationships or sense of purpose.
Whatever has brought you to consider counselling, your experiences are unique to you. There is no right or wrong reason to seek therapy.
How counselling can help
Counselling offers a confidential space away from the demands of everyday life, where you can take time to explore what is happening for you and what may be contributing to the difficulties you are experiencing.
Through our work together, you may develop greater self-awareness and a clearer understanding of your thoughts, feelings and patterns of behaviour. This can help you consider different perspectives, discover new ways of coping and make choices that feel right for you.
Therapy isn't always easy, but you don't have to navigate it alone. I offer a warm, compassionate and supportive space where you can feel heard, understood and accepted.
Please get in touch to find out more
If you're unsure whether counselling might be helpful, I would be very happy to have an initial conversation with you. We can talk about what has brought you here, what you're hoping for and whether working together feels right.
Contact me
Send me a message and I’ll get back to you within 24 hours
By submitting this form, your information will be handled in accordance with my Privacy Notice.
Privacy notice
Confidentiality in Counselling
Confidentiality is the basis for a successful therapeutic relationship. It is what makes the client trust us as counsellors, and feel safe to open up and be honest. This is an important part of ethical counselling practice.
The first ethical principle in the BACP Ethical Framework is ‘Being trustworthy – honouring the trust placed in the therapist, and to ‘show respect by protecting client confidentiality and privacy’ (is one of our key commitments to clients.
There are, however, limited circumstances where confidentiality may need to be breached, for example where I believe there is a serious risk of harm to you or another person, where there are safeguarding concerns, or where I am legally required to disclose information.
Where possible and appropriate, I will endeavour to discuss this with you before information is shared. My priority is always to ensure that appropriate support is in place to help keep you safe.
As part of my professional practice, I receive regular clinical supervision. Supervision is an important part of ethical counselling practice and helps me to reflect on my work and ensure that I am working safely and effectively. Information discussed in supervision is treated confidentially and identifying details are anonymised wherever possible.
How I keep your information secure
I take appropriate steps to protect your personal information from loss, misuse, unauthorised access or disclosure.
Electronic information is stored using a password protected site.
I will review the security arrangements I use regularly to ensure that they remain appropriate to the sensitivity of the information I hold.
Telephone, text and email communication
I may use telephone, text message and email to communicate with you about practical matters relating to counselling.
Please be aware that electronic communication can carry some risks, and I will take reasonable steps to protect your information.
I will retain communications only for as long as they are necessary and in accordance with my retention policy.
How long I keep your information
I will not keep your personal information for longer than is necessary for the purposes for which it was collected.
My retention periods are based on my professional, legal and insurance requirements and will be reviewed periodically.
I currently keep data for initial enquiries for 3 months, and where counselling has taken place I will retain information for 7 years. After this the data will be destroyed unless there is a reason that I need to keep for longer. In this event you will be notified.
When information is no longer required, it will be securely deleted unless there is a specific reason I need to keep it for longer. If you would like more details, please send me an email and I will be happy to share my retention policy.
Who I may share your information with
I will not share your personal information with other people or organisations without your knowledge.
There are limited circumstances where information may need to be shared, including:
Where there is a serious and foreseeable risk of harm
Where there are safeguarding concerns
Where I am legally required to disclose information
Where disclosure is necessary to protect my legal or professional position
Where information is discussed with my clinical supervisor as part of professional supervision, however you will remain anonymous
Where information is shared, I will aim to share only information that is absolutely necessary and appropriate.
Your data protection rights
Under UK data protection law, you have rights in relation to your personal information. Depending on the circumstances, these may include the right to:
Ask what personal information I hold about you
Request a copy of your personal information
Ask me to correct inaccurate information
Ask me to delete information in certain circumstances
Ask me to restrict how your information is processed in certain circumstances
Object to certain types of processing
Some of these rights are subject to legal exceptions, so they may not apply in every situation.
If you would like to exercise any of your rights, please contact me in writing at:
Helen Bolton
Email: helenboltoncounselling@gmail.com
Telephone: 07970 927 950
I will respond to your request in accordance with applicable data protection legislation.
Complaints
If you have any concerns about the way I have handled your personal information, I encourage you to contact me first so that I can try to resolve your concerns.
You can contact me at:
Helen Bolton
Email: helenboltoncounselling@gmail.com
Telephone: 07970 927 950
You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), which is the UK's independent authority responsible for upholding information rights.
Further information about making a complaint can be found on the ICO website.
Changes to this Privacy Notice
I may update this Privacy Notice from time to time to reflect changes in my counselling practice, the services I provide, the systems I use or relevant legal and professional requirements.
The most recent version will be available on my website.