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I currently have availability to take clients on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. Sessions are usually either mornings or afternoons. Some early evening availability.

I’m Samantha, an experienced integrative counsellor in private practice in Newton Abbot, offering face-to-face and online therapy.

Choosing the right counsellor can feel like a bit of a minefield, but it’s the first step on the way to finding the support you’re looking for. So, here’s some more information about me that might help you to decide if I sound like a good fit for you.

Integrative Approach to Counselling

As an integrative counsellor, I’ve been trained in a number of different counselling approaches, which I combine and adapt to suit what we think you need.

I work in a person-centred way, meaning I see our relationship as central to the counselling process- you are the expert in your own life, and my role is to meet you with openness, honesty and without judgement — to truly see and hear you, so that you feel understood.

It’s a collaborative way of working, rooted in compassion, curiosity and respect for your lived experience-these are the foundations of a therapeutic relationship that can help you with whatever you’re facing.

Over time, I hope you’ll gain a sense of me as the real person behind the ‘counsellor’ label, just as I’ll look to help discover and celebrate the authentic ‘you’.

Sometimes it can take a while to feel comfortable with the counselling process, and, for a range of reasons, it can feel risky to open up in counselling. I understand this, so together, we’ll focus on what feels most important for you to explore, at a pace, and in ways that feel ok for you.

As part of the counselling process, we will regularly review our work together to make sure you’re happy with the direction we’re going in, and to decide if and how you might want to continue. For some people, therapy can be short-term and may come to an end after an agreed number of sessions. For other people, longer-term therapy is more suitable, so therapy can be open-ended, with no fixed date to end. After talking it through, you can decide what works best for you.

Ways I Can  Support You

Life doesn’t always unfold in the ways we imagined

You might be adjusting to a major change, feeling stuck in familiar patterns, or simply sensing that something isn’t sitting right.

If you’ve found yourself here, then maybe you’re already exploring the possibility of support- and that’s something I can help with.

Seeking counselling help can feel like stepping into the unknown — Where do I start? How will it help me?

It’s natural to feel a little anxious about opening up, especially when what brings you here might be woven through your early experiences, painful memories, or the stories you’ve carried about who you are and how life should be.

At Candlewood Counselling, I support people who are navigating life’s changes and challenges, who might be re-assessing their direction, or feeling stressed and over-stretched by the demands of everyday life.

Meeting You Where You Are

Wherever you are right now, whether you’re living with anxiety, trauma, or a sense of uncertainty about who you are or things could be different, I’ll meet you with acceptance and respect for what you’re experiencing. I offer a calm, validating space where you can slow down, and start making sense of what’s going on for you.

Counselling isn’t just about talking — it’s about building a safe, unique connection with your therapist. It’s about how we explore the world through your lens, understand how your past and present shape each other, and about finding ways forward that feel authentic and sustainable.

I can provide a reflective space for you to experience your feelings, express them safely, and think about what living well really means for you.

If you feel ready to take the next step, or if you’re just curious about what counselling might feel like, reach out.

I’d love to hear from you, chat about your situation, and see how we might work together.

When you get in touch, I’ll arrange an initial, free 20-minute chat to explore what brings you to therapy and how I may be able to help.

At this stage, I’ll take some brief details and complete an initial assessment form. This helps us establish what you’re hoping to achieve from therapy.

Once we agree to move forward, we’ll schedule your first session and I’ll confirm this by email or text.

I’ll also send you some paperwork by email for you to look over. This gives you a chance to read it before we discuss it in your first session.

Sessions last 1 hour and take place in a safe, confidential setting.

What happens in the first session?

When you come for your first session, I’ll begin by welcoming you and taking some time to get to know what’s brought you to therapy and what you hope to achieve.

We’ll go over how we’ll work, including confidentiality, session length, and any practical details, so you know what to expect. This is a 2-way process though – you may have a certain way of working or have specific goals you want to work towards. This is the time that we can discuss these things.

The first session is often more about understanding your story and what you’d like from counselling, rather than going more deeply into an issue straight away.

I may ask some questions to help me get a clearer picture of your needs and how I can best support you. It’s also a chance for you to see how you feel about working with me and to ask any questions you might have. Together, we’ll decide whether continuing feels right for you and, if so, arrange our next session or series of sessions.