Life can move quickly, and it is easy to lose touch with how we feel and what we need. Therapy offers a calm space to pause, reflect and reconnect with yourself, so that you can understand what is happening within and begin to feel more steady, present and aligned.
My role is to help you make sense of your experiences, identify what is no longer serving you and explore new ways forward. Together, we pay attention to the patterns that shape how you think, feel and respond, so you can move through life with greater awareness, choice and confidence. This is the heart of my work and the journey I share below.
Change begins when we pause, reflect and reconnect with the quiet strength that lives within us all.
The Essence of What I Do
As a counsellor, I have come to see that my work is as much about genuine presence as it is about supporting others in their growth and helping them find clarity. Over the years, every conversation, moment of stillness and story shared has reminded me how much we have in common beneath our differences, and how we grow when we give ourselves space to reflect.
Counselling, for me, is about creating space for people to slow down, turn inward and recognise their own strength.
Lasting change begins when we feel truly seen and understood and when we are met with genuine presence.
The Roots of My Approach
From a young age, I was captivated by psychology and the art of communication, driven by a desire to understand the complexities of our inner world and relationships. I have also had a deep interest in Eastern philosophies and nutrition, which continues to influence the way I integrate emotional, physical and mental health in my work. Over the years, I have trained in various forms of martial arts and more recently found a passion for Reformer Pilates. Both remind me that strength and stillness come from the same place. A sense of presence, discipline and flow continues to shape how I work today.
Experience That Shaped My Work
I am a fully qualified counsellor with more than 20 years of experience, accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). Before founding my private practice, Glister Counselling, in 2014, I worked in the NHS, schools and the charity sector. I have also been an affiliate counsellor for many years with several Employee Assistance Programme providers, supporting individuals in both corporate and workplace settings.
In my practice, I offer a calm and reflective space where clients can explore their thoughts and feelings at a pace that supports deeper understanding. My approach is integrative and humanistic, informed by Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and tailored to each individual. I focus on helping clients recognise patterns that influence how they think, feel and behave, and support them in developing practical ways to create meaningful change.
I believe that real growth happens when insight leads to thoughtful action and small, intentional shifts in daily life.
The Power of Communication
Over the years, I have come to realise that communication is at the heart of everything I do. Whether through words, tone or silence, how we connect matters. It has never been about searching for the perfect phrase. It is about listening deeply and allowing what feels true and needed to emerge. Sometimes that takes the form of reflection and at other times a piece of guidance that resonates at the right moment.
I have always been attentive to the rhythm of language and the unspoken messages between the lines. Thoughtful communication, grounded in empathy, curiosity and clarity, opens doors to self-awareness and change.
The Counselling Space
I see counselling as a collaborative process where insight becomes understanding and understanding becomes action. My role is to help you make sense of your experiences, notice what is no longer serving you and explore new ways forward. Each session is guided by curiosity, compassion and a pace that supports lasting change.
I pay close attention to what sits beneath the surface and to the quiet patterns that can shape how we think, feel and respond. Together, we explore which patterns support you and which may be keeping you stuck, so you can begin to move forward with greater awareness and choice. My approach combines compassion with honest challenge, helping clients face the truths that are often hardest to see but most important to understand.
I work with individuals and couples navigating life transitions, relationship challenges, anxiety, burnout and self-doubt. Many people come to me when they feel disconnected from themselves or unsure of their next step. Together, we explore what balance, confidence and self-trust can look like, building the clarity to move through life with a steadier mind and a calmer inner world.
Authenticity and Connection
I know what it means to step into the unknown and show up as yourself, even when it feels vulnerable. That is why authenticity sits at the heart of my work. I do not ask clients to go anywhere I have not been willing to go myself. Authenticity also means being willing to say what needs to be said, even when it is uncomfortable, because meaningful change often begins in honest conversations. Courage is not the absence of fear. It is the choice to move through it with awareness.
Being authentic in my work means listening to both what is spoken and what sits quietly beneath the surface. It is about recognising the right moment to name what feels true, even when it is difficult to say or hear, and doing so with care. Honesty, offered with empathy, can be a powerful catalyst for change.
Connection is central to therapy. When people feel safe enough to express what is real, something begins to shift. Conversations deepen. Perspectives widen. New possibilities emerge.
What Guides My Work
The values that guide my work are the values I aim to live by each day. Authenticity, integrity and compassion shape the way I practise and how I show up for others. I believe in genuine connection and in maintaining a balance between caring for others and caring for ourselves. I believe strength and kindness can coexist, and that courage and compassion together create the foundation for lasting growth.
Consistency and reliability are also values I hold closely. Steadiness creates a sense of safety and trust, both in life and in therapy. I believe in progress that develops gradually through thoughtful choices and continuous growth.
Therapy is a living process that evolves over time. It is about noticing, adapting and trusting the gradual shifts that support lasting change.
My Ongoing Work Towards Balance
Like many people, I continue to work on finding balance across different parts of my life including work, health and relationships. It is easy to give so much to one area that another begins to feel stretched. Maintaining balance is an ongoing process and something I revisit through my own self-reflection.
I am naturally driven and can sometimes lean towards perfectionism, so I remind myself that growth is not about perfection. Progress begins with awareness. I am learning the importance of knowing my limits, listening to what I need and allowing myself to slow down when necessary.
These lessons help keep me grounded and inform how I support others. Balance is not something we achieve once. It is something we return to again and again through thoughtful adjustments.
Finding Balance Beyond the Therapy Room
Outside of my work, I find balance through Reformer Pilates, time in nature, writing and moments spent with those closest to me. I also appreciate spa days, and city breaks that offer a change of pace and spark curiosity. These moments of care and exploration remind me that growth is nurtured through steady, meaningful choices.
What Inspires Me
I am inspired by the quiet strength that emerges when people begin to trust themselves again. I see it in the subtle shifts when confusion softens into clarity or when tension gives way to calm. I am moved by those light-bulb moments when self-awareness deepens, and confidence begins to take root.
I am continually reminded of the courage it takes to begin therapy, and I feel privileged to support those who choose to take that step toward self-understanding and wellbeing.
Change begins with a single step, often the one that feels hardest to take. If you are ready to begin, I am here to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.
If you would like to find out more or arrange an appointment, please visit my website or contact page.