Freedom Counselling
Let your healing begin…
“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending”.
C.S. Lewis
Adult Counselling
Adult Counselling can improve your mental health, and a qualified counsellor can help with low self-esteem, reduce stress...
Couples Counselling
Relationship and communication difficulties can lead to avoidance, conflict and intimacy problems...
Internet-based Counselling
Since COVID impacted us all, online counselling continues to help clients from all walks of life and around the world...
“I am so blessed to have found Hayley as my Therapist. Therapy is seen as a stigma within my close circle, I was very apprehensive about attending my first session. However, Hayley made our initial session a bliss. She was highly attentive to my needs and interjected when needed. I felt so safe in our conversation that I was able to talk freely for the first time in my life. Through this journey I was able to unearth one of my biggest issues that was hampering my relationships. With Hayley’s professional recommendation of a workshop, [interventions] I was able to work on my issue and improve my relationship with my close circle and more importantly myself. Thank you so much Hayley, you have been a blessing for me”.
Client’s Testimonial (with permission)
I work with individuals and couples on a short-term or long-term basis, either face to face or online.
Why come to counselling?
People come to counselling for all sorts of reasons and at Freedom Counselling you will find support to make sense of your experiences. As humans we are wonderfully unique and incredibly complex and you are invited to bring all aspects of yourself, including those hidden and secret parts of you that may feel embarrassed, fearful, angry, guilt and shame. It is an opportunity for you to be seen, feel heard, validated and ‘held compassionately’ within a confidential, shame-free environment.
Counselling can help you to process and work through any difficult experiences from the past or are going through now, which are impacting your life. I often help people who have experienced losses, sadness, neglect, trauma, abuse (sexual, physical, emotional, religious), rape, low self-esteem, as well as many other mental health issues. My aim is to help empower you toward change, embrace healing and inner peace.
I use a Holistic, Integrative approach, drawing on various ‘tools’ and methods. I work with people from all walks of life, ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations and religious/spiritual beliefs and those who have none. I invite you to share your unique story, concerns and worries and I will tailor the counselling sessions to help bring the changes and freedom you are looking for. I am passionate about helping you to find your true worth and empower those parts of you that are struggling.
If you have experienced any kind of past or current trauma, you will understand first hand how it has changed, shaped and impacted your life. When trauma has not been processed or dealt with within a safe environment, it can unconsciously play out in self-sabotaging behaviours, affecting relationships, friendships, family life and may eat into our self-worth.
“Your help and counselling have been truly life-changing and really put me on a good path. A lot more to learn and develop in myself but I feel I’m well equipped, from all your help, to tackle this by myself now. I believe I’m in a good place to take steps by myself with the tools I have and awareness I have gained. I would like to say a huge thank you for your help. I wish you all the best and please keep up the work you do at helping people like myself”.
Client’s Testimonial (with permission)
It can feel confusing and overwhelming when we react in a certain situation or when our bodies respond in a certain way. If our autonomic nervous system known as the fight/flight/freeze response is ‘triggered’ then our senses (sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell) become activated and on high alert. We may experience anxiety, panic attacks, anger, dissociation or depression and feel confused about what is happening to us. We hold implicit memories in our bodies, even when our cognitive memories has been suppressed and not in our conscious awareness. In essence our ‘body memory’ is stuck in the past trauma.
If you need help with relationship issues or are struggling with your mental health, please get in touch with me at Freedom Counselling today.
I look forward to hearing from you!
My story
My career started out in office work, which included working for various finance companies, as well as roles within the States of Guernsey and although I worked alongside some wonderful colleagues, my heart has always been to help people in a caring capacity. This desire led me down a different career path and I became involved with charities based in the UK initially and then Abroad.
In 2018 I took the decision to train as a Counsellor, which began an incredible journey of three years training off island, whilst continuing to work full-time in Guernsey. This was challenging on many levels and although I was juggling quite a few different balls, my passion and energy to do this work gave me the determination to keep going and to finish. This time was a deep learning experience and a time of personal growth for me.
During my training as a Counsellor, I was able to gain a wide level of experience working with people from all walks of life, different ethnic backgrounds, with a variety of presenting issues. I trained and worked alongside the Trauma Recovery Centre (TRC) in Guernsey for a short time, using play therapy with younger clients. Furthermore, I did some training with Relate Guernsey/UK to gain experience in working with couples. I have since developed my knowledge and skills in this area by attending more courses.
After I qualified as a Counsellor, I set up in private practice based in Guernsey called Freedom Counselling, as well as working alongside a counselling charity part-time, as their service manager. This included supporting ‘The Board’ and the Counsellors on the team. After working with the charity for a year and a half, I made the leap to go full time as a Counsellor in private practice. I have now achieved my Accredited Registrant qualification with the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS).
As my private practice continues to grow, I am always looking for new opportunities, interventions and skills to become a better equipped Counsellor for my clients. I have a special interest in Trauma and early childhood attachment. I am passionate about helping people who have experienced Trauma in their lives to facilitate healing, helping them to find inner peace and move forward into a better future. I regularly research and attend courses on the subject, so that I can better understand the affects Trauma has on us physically and psychologically.
I understand the courage it takes to ‘open up’ to a counsellor in a therapeutic space and to truly face the hidden, dark and secret aspects of ourselves. For this reason, I engage in my own development as a counsellor on a personal and professional level. This I believe, enables me to connect with and support clients in an honest and authentic way.
Away from counselling and for my own self-care, I enjoy walking Zeus my dog – a crazy spaniel (picture above)! I also enjoy sea swimming in the summer! I play guitar and write my own songs and sing. I find walking my dog Zeus, swimming and music very relaxing and therapeutic.
Therapies
Just some of the issues I cover:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Panic Attacks
- Abuse (Past and Current)
- Bereavement
- Trauma
- Coping Skills
- Domestic Violence
- Eating Disorders
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Anger
- Relationship Issues
- Bullying
- Self Esteem
- Self-Harming
- Sleep/Insomnia
- Spirituality
- Stress
- Suicidal Ideation
- Women’s Issues
Treatment approach
- Person/Client Centred
- Integrative
- Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Transactional Analysis
- Creative Therapy
- Gestalt
- Mindfulness-Based (MBCT)
- Play Therapy
- Psychodynamic
- Christian Counselling
- Sand Tray
- Trauma Focused
Example therapies and interventions
Outlined above are many of the successful therapies that I use, but these are two example interventions I occasionally use.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness meditation can be incorporated as part of an integrative approach within counselling. Using guided imagery, calming music and sounds of nature can positively calm the nervous system and reduce stress, anxiety, depression and more. Mindfulness meditation can be especially important during emotionally overwhelming experiences, as it can help individuals maintain a sense of control.
Mindfulness-based therapies might include breathing exercises and guided lessons to help you become aware of your body sensations, thoughts and feelings.
Creative Interventions
Using creative interventions can be useful when exploring emotions as they often can bypass the rational part of our brain. By using Russian (nesting) dolls, stones, shells, art, sand tray therapy, play-doh and letter writing (inner child work), clients can creatively explore their emotions, as well as thoughts and behaviours.
Creative interventions will not suit every client, but it can be helpful for some. Using mood cards and role play cards can also be a useful tool in individual work as well as exploring relationships in couples counselling.
FAQs
These answers may be of help to you, based on questions previously asked, but don’t hesitate to email or call if you have other questions.
HOW MANY SESSIONS WILL I NEED?
For some clients, talking with a trusted counsellor and getting things ‘out in the open’ can help, and a few sessions may be enough. For others, complex or deeper issues may require longer sessions. I usually offer weekly sessions, reviewing our work together regularly. It is important for the client to have full autonomy and feel in control at all times. The pace of the therapy is completely up to the client and what they feel comfortable to share.
IS COUNSELLING COSTLY?
Counselling is an investment of time and money, so it is important to consider this when thinking about starting therapy. It is very important to find the right counsellor. Investing in your mental health and well-being can bring freedom, change, hope and peace.
WHAT WILL THE FIRST SESSION BE LIKE?
The therapeutic relationship between the counsellor and client is very important so that trust can develop. In the initial session, we can discuss your goals for therapy and what has brought you to counselling at this time. I will also ask you to complete a ‘basic’ form requiring information such as your name and contact details, your GP, medications, etc. We can then decide whether working together is the ‘right fit’ and discuss the best way of working therapeutically together.
DO I OFFER INSURANCE COVER?
I am covered by the insurance providers below, so please do ask me about this when you get in touch. I ask that you contact your insurance provider to check that they will cover you for sessions with me and it is your responsibility to claim the fee back from them.
- WPA
- AETNA
- AXA – Global Healthcare
View my fees and session times.
ARE THE SESSIONS CONFIDENTIAL?
Yes! Counsellors have an ethical responsibility to keep confidentiality and to offer a safe place for the client to share whatever they want to. However, there are some circumstances whereby the counsellor may need to break confidentiality. For example, if the counsellor believes the client to be at risk to themselves or others if the client is involved in illegal activity such as fraud, money laundering, drug or people trafficking or terrorism. Furthermore, in some jurisdictions, there are legal obligations to report domestic violence abuse and safeguarding issues.
WHAT IF I MISS A SESSION?
If you cannot make an appointment for any reason, I ask that you contact me by telephone or email so that we can reschedule. I do ask for 24 hours’ notice otherwise full payment will be required,
WHAT ARE CREATIVE INTERVENTIONS?
Using creative interventions can be useful when exploring emotions as it often can bypass the rational part of our brain. Creative interventions will not suit every client, but they can be helpful for some. Learn more creative interventions.