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I work Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays, from 8am to the evening, as clients require .

I am an integrative counsellor. Put simply, this means that I tailor your counselling to your unique needs. I use a person-centred approach, where the most important part of our work together is the relationship between client and counsellor. That’s one of the reasons why I am sharing this information about me, so you can decide if you think we would be a good fit. I also integrate and incorporate elements of other types of therapy (like CBT or psychodynamic models), according to what might be most helpful for you. I am always happy to talk more about how integrative counselling works! 

I have been a qualified counsellor for ten years now. I completed my Professional Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy in 2015, and achieved my Íø±¬ÃÅ Accreditation in 2021. Since qualifying I have worked and volunteered in diverse services, with a focus on trauma work, working with LGBTQIA clients, and women’s mental health.

I only offer online counselling at this time. If you are reluctant to try online therapy, I understand! I originally thought it couldn’t possibly be as effective or ‘real’ as face to face counselling. But when COVID meant that all the therapy offered through my workplace was online for a year, I quickly realised that it truly can be just as meaningful, connected and powerful – with the bonus of being more convenient, avoiding travel, and in your own comfortable surroundings.

People come to counselling for many different reasons, and for a lot of us it’s a scary step. It can mean admitting that we are sad, or stuck, or that something has to change. But it’s also a brave and hopeful step. My aim is to offer you a warm, gentle, and authentic presence, so you can tell your story and be truly heard. A place where you feel supported to explore your thoughts and feelings. A time that is just for you and your needs and hopes. 

My practice is open to anyone, but I also have special interests in working with LGBTQIA clients, and those who wish to bring their faith or spirituality into the counselling room with them.

I am a queer, polyamorous, trans nonbinary person, and I use they/them pronouns. I feel that it is important to be open about my queerness with my clients, not just because it is an essential part of me, but because I want to show my clients that their whole selves are welcomed too. I am experienced at working with LGBTQIA and Gender, Sex, and Relationship Diverse clients and regularly undertake CPD to help me be the best counsellor for you.

Faith and belief are central parts of many people’s lives, and can play powerful roles in healing and personal development. In my counselling practice I seek to create an atmosphere where my clients are welcome to bring their spiritual beliefs into the work, for exploration, examination, and support. As a Pagan with childhood roots in Catholicism and a daily secular meditation practice, I welcome clients of any faith or belief, or none.

I know how hard it can be to take these first steps, so I aim to make it as easy as possible to start counselling with me. Here’s how it works:

All you need to do is send me an email at slate.powell@protonmail.com and let me know that you are interested in doing counselling with me. We can then have a discussion about what times and days suit you, and if I have availability that fits your needs, we can book in our first session.

I offer a free 15 minute phone call for anyone who wants to explore if working with me is the right option for them. You can email and ask for a call (don’t forget your phone number and what times suit you) and we can arrange one. If things feel right, we can book our first session during the call, but there is no pressure – you are welcome to take some time to decide.

Once we have agreed our first session time and date, I will email you a Welcome Pack that includes my Contract and Privacy Policy. The Contract lays out how I work, including my payment details, and I ask you to read through these documents before we meet, in case they bring up any questions for you that we can discuss in our first session. The first session is charged at my usual fee of £55.

On the morning of our first session I will email you a Zoom invite – this serves as a reminder of our meeting time too. We meet online for 50 minutes, to talk through the Contract and Privacy Policy together. I can answer any questions that you have, and we will have time to get started on why you are seeking counselling right now. At the end of this session, I will ask if you want to continue counselling with me, and if so we will book in the next five sessions. A benefit of online counselling is that you can have things around you that feel soothing, like a fidget toy, a cuddly animal, a blanket or your pet, and you can take care of yourself after the session without having to worry about driving home or catching the bus.