No one in the therapy world can agree on this, which can be confusing for people trying to find support. Some people associate counselling with shorter issue-focused work and psychotherapy with longer open-ended personal development work. I use the terms interchangeably and will discuss with you what type of support you are looking for in our initial consultation.

Counselling offers the opportunity to sound off and off-load without judgement. It offers the chance to explore thoughts and feelings and to reflect back on past troubling events. It can potentially enable us to better understand ourselves, those around us and our relationships. We can step back and 'take the time to stand and stare'. To better assess where we are in our lives, how we feel about that and what if anything we want to do about it.

No matter what term you choose, undertaking counselling, psychotherapy or therapy can be enlightening and transformative. Our relationships with ourselves and others have the potential to become richer and more authentic. We can work towards a more fulfilling and intentional life. However on the flip side counselling can be a difficult and challenging process. The counselling relationship can be therapeutic itself. It offers the chance to experience a secure, trusting and healthy attached relationship with a safe, kind and boundaried person who is reliable, non judgemental and consistent.

I believe that a good relationship between therapist and client has a big impact on the effectiveness of therapy, so I offer a free 30 minute initial consultation to see if working together feels right for both of us. This gives you a chance to find out more about how I work and whether I am the right fit for you, and for me to get a sense of what you are looking for from therapy and whether I can support you with that, or whether another type of service might be more appropriate for you.

The initial 30 minute consultation is free, then sessions are charged at £45. I also have a limited number of low cost places available for people on low incomes - please enquire about availability. If that's beyond your budget, you might find it useful to search for local free or low-cost counselling services at Hub of Hope.

I offer sessions Monday to Saturday flexibly. My day usually starts from 10.00 and may end at 20.00. The first half of the week I work from my Southport office, while other days I am available for online and telephone appointments. Sessions are 60 minutes long and usually take place weekly or fortnightly. Sessions are usually booked on an ongoing basis with regular reviews of progress to make sure they are meeting your needs.

I hold a Postgraduate Diploma in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy from the University of Central Lancashire, a Graduate certificate in Advanced Counselling Skills, and a Diploma of Higher Education in Mental Health Nursing. In addition I have completed additional training in:

• - Pluralistic Counselling for Loss and Grief
• - Creative Therapeutic Methods
• - Polyvagal Informed Practitioner Training
• - Janina Fisher's Complete Trauma Immersion Training
• - Adult ADHD - Therapeutic Themes and Interventions
• - Essential Information, Strength-based skills, and Meaningful Interventions for Women with ADHD
• - Walk and Talk Therapy/Ecotherapy (coming soon)

I have also completed specialist training in supporting autistic and other neurodivergent clients via Addvanced Solutions.

I work integratively, which means that I draw on a variety of different therapeutic models, including;

• Person-centred Approach - which sees the client as the expert in themselves, and gently explores who the client is through looking at what has affected them during their lives, causing a split/loss of true self as they try to fit into the world around them.ƒ
• Existential therapy - thinking about meaning, purpose, choice and uncertainty in our lives.
• Psychodynamic therapy - focuses on unconscious process that were often formed in the past, and how they manifest in the clients present behaviour. The goal is to increase the clients self-awareness and understanding of the past on present day life and choices.
• Mindfulness-based and compassion-focused therapy approaches - exploring acceptance, self-compassion, and non-judgement towards ourselves, as well as considering how our social world and relationships impact on each of us, and how stress on our bodies affect our emotional experiences.
• Polyvagal informed theory - This is a neurobiological approach to understanding the link between our brain and body. It emphasises the importance of the Autonomic Nervous System in making us feel safe and connected.ƒ

It's totally fine if you have no idea what this all means or what type of therapy you're looking for! This is usually something that just evolves naturally following our first meeting.

There are many issues I may be able to help with through counselling. I am not limited to just these issues so please do contact me to find out if we can work together.

• - Confidence and Self esteem
• - Loss, Grief and bereavement
• - Late diagnosis of ASD/ADHD (neurodiversity)
• - Self criticism and inner gremlins
• - Family issues
• - Self acceptance
• - Relationship difficulties
• - Women's issues
• - Disconnection
• - Anxiety

The process of counselling itself is straightforward. Come and speak about whatever is on your mind. Seemingly small or unimportant discussions can often turn out to be essential aspects of therapy. Try not to worry about what to bring, relax and see what comes up. I can work weekly, and fortnightly if required.

I work relationally and your comfort and security with me is paramount. Our sessions will last 60 minutes and we will talk about whatever you wish to discuss. We will work at a speed set by you and what we talk about is entirely led by you. I will not make you talk about anything that you are not comfortable discussing.

Following your lead we can explore with curiosity what has brought you to counselling. We can look at what is happening here and now but also take into account past experiences that are continuing to impact you in the present. We can also consider how communication with people in your life affects you. The more you learn about yourself, who you are and what you want, the more you can understand what you need to be able to live the way you choose.

I only work with individual clients.

Anything you disclose during sessions will remain confidential, unless there is a risk to your safety or to someone else's, or disclosure is required by a court of law or a legal requirement. ​

As a registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, I work within their Ethical Framework. As part of my professional responsibility to you I regularly discuss my work with a qualified clinical supervisor to ensure that clients are receiving the best possible service. I discuss client work anonymously in supervision and will not share any identifying details about you to ensure that your confidentiality is maintained.

Yes, I am currently offering remote sessions via Zoom for people living in the UK as well as in-person sessions in Southport.

I try to make my practice as accessible as possible, unfortunately my office is based on the first floor and would not be accessible to wheelchair users. Should you still wish to pursue sessions with me please contact me to discuss alternative options as this may be possible to arrange on an individual basis.

In relation to neurodivergent clients I keep the lighting low, make fiddle toys and colouring available for clients to use during sessions, I am flexible around scheduling sessions, and encourage clients to make the therapy space comfortable for them.

However as everyone has different access needs I discuss these with clients when starting therapy. If you have any questions about accessibility do let me know using the contact form below.

Fill out the contact form at the bottom of the page and I will be in touch to let you know my upcoming availability. Or contact me via my email address or telephone number below:
Mobile Number ~ 07378 382938 Email ~ victoriamalin.counselling@gmail.com

Not at this stage however this is something I would like to offer in the future.

We will work together each week until you find the best point to leave. This may be after a few sessions or you may find you benefit from longer term work. You will feel when it is the right time for you to stop, and I will support you with this. I may ask you to fill in outcome measures and an evaluation to assist me in providing a better service to future clients.