I also offer online counselling
via Zoom
You've taken the first step
By considering counselling, you’ve made a positive step towards feeling better.
Finding the right help can be a challenge,
especially when you’re dealing with painful and difficult experiences.
Counselling provides a safe environment where your behaviours, thoughts and feelings can be explored. Improving your relationship with the rich spectrum of emotions that are being human.
It could be a piece of the puzzle
that helps make sense of things and move forward in life.
I can provide a confidential and therapeutic relationship, respectful of your individuality.
Allowing you to express your experiences fully, without judgement, in a way that’s right for you.
The next step is to make contact through my form.
I’ll reply to organise a short introductory phone call, it’s free.
The aim of our conversation is to
help alleviate uncertainty you may have, clarify what kind of help you think you need, and how I can provide that help.
Get in touch.
Please let me know If you’d like me to consider particular safeguarding issues in my reply to your situation. ie: you may wish for me to use discreet language in the email subject or content.
Your safety and privacy are important. Submitted details are confidential and handled according to GDPR and BACP requirements.
You can view my Privacy Policy to understand how I’ll look after your info.
Are you in need of urgent help?
If you are in a crisis please contact emergency services.
To find a local NHS urgent mental health helpline in England, click here.
If you need to talk – Call 116 123 to talk to Samaritans.
or email: jo@samaritans.org for a reply within 24 hours.
Text “SHOUT” to 85258 to contact the Shout Crisis Text Line. or text “YM” if you’re under 19.
Talking to me
We’ll begin with an initial phone call of approximately 15 minutes.
At a time that suits us both.
It’s free of charge. Theres no obligation to take up counselling. However, it could start our working relationship, opening the door to discover the benefits of counselling.
How does the initial phone call help?
It’s aim is find out if we’re the right fit as counsellor and client. It’ won’t be a counselling session and you’re not under pressure share everything there and then. Simply a relaxed and friendly opportunity to hear each other, and make joint decisions about your requirements and options.
I’ll email you an agreement to sign before our first counselling session.
It’s simply some terms and conditions and we’ll discuss the specifics in the session.
What counselling is and why it can help.
Put simply, Talking.
But it’s not that simple.
We all have amazing capacity to know what we need, sometimes we’re a little lost or overwhelmed. Working through things alone gets hard. Sharing with another is an effective way to ‘offload’ and process your feelings. ‘Offloading’ is only one piece of the puzzle, and is only truly helpful when done in the right way.
Friends and family have an emotional connection to you. Their opinions could help or hinder – despite good intentions. You might be embarrassed to share sensitive details or want to avoid upsetting them.
As your counsellor, l’ll provide a neutral perspective. I won’t take your feelings personally or insist I know what’s right for you.
What to talk about?
You can talk about whatever is on your mind, there’s no right and wrong. It’s easier to open up gradually as you get comfortable with the process. It’s good to have a focus for counselling – working through things in smaller chunks helps with that.
Wether you’re currently experiencing distressing problems, affected by the impact of past experiences or interested in self development – You’re considering counselling for perfectly valid reasons unique to you.
It’s not limited to trauma, you may feel troubled in your career, personal circumstances or simply want to nurture your mental health to feel better.
We’ll sit on comfy chairs in a private room, or make yourself a brew and log on to Zoom – and for about an hour, I’ll encourage you to talk about the issues you have.
Counselling is helpful if you are stuck. An outside perspective can reveal a clarity that comes from having your words and feelings organised, reflected back, and occasionally gently challenged.
The interaction can also be ‘therapeutic’ by carefully allowing and exploring difficulties, we can process them in a steady and controlled way.
Our first counselling session together.
In the first hour, We’ll establish boundaries for working together – discuss the contract,
confidentiality, fees, and cancellation terms in detail.
You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and are invited to express your desires and expectations of the process. Starting to talk specifically about what has brought you for counselling. During this time you’ll be able to experience how I work as a counsellor.
More details about the process
How much does it cost?
£45 per hour paid in advance via bank transfer.
Concessions are available, please enquire for further details.
Availability.
Time slots depend on whether counselling is online or in-person. We will discuss this further in our initial phone call. I currently work Monday to Wednesday.
Unfortunately, I am unable to offer a mental health crisis service, and I don’t offer contact between sessions other than for scheduling and cancellations.
In-person counselling sessions.
Located in St Helens town centre in Merseyside. Sessions will be in a cosy Counselling room in our premises.
Remote sessions via Zoom.
Connect with me from the convenience and comfort of your home. All you need is a quiet and private space and some time afterwards to process the session. A remote counselling session is designed to make therapy more accessible and convenient for you.
Sessions last for one hour. They can be weekly, fortnightly or occasional.
What you want and need from counselling determines how long your process is. The most important point is – ultimately it’s up to you.
You’re not under any pressure to set an amount. From a single session to a few, they can span weeks or months, depending on your needs. You may want to dip in and out of counselling. From one session to the next, we’ll review your progress.
I work ethically to avoid encouraging an over-dependence on counselling.
For scheduling and practical purposes, fixing a day and time for your sessions is ideal, particularly if you are attending weekly.
You can end counselling at any point, and I’ll always respect your decision. A pre-planned final counselling session is preferable. That way we can discuss the support available to you – should you need it.
If it turns out I’m not the right counsellor for you, there’s no obligation to book further counselling. Perhaps you require specialist support or a different type of therapy – If I can’t meet your needs for any reason I’ll endeavour to sign post you to another service.
How do I know this is a professional service?
As a registered member of the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapists)
I adhere to their code of conduct and policies regarding confidentiality.
Your Information isn’t shared with a third party – other than in exceptional circumstances
such as safeguarding issues or if required by law.
You can view my Privacy Policy to understand how I’ll look after your information.
About Me
How can I help?
I'm qualified as an integrative therapist.
I provide in-person counselling in St Helens town centre, Merseyside. Alternatively, I offer remote online counselling, usually via Zoom.
What's an integrative therapist?
Evidence tells us no single type of therapy fits all. There are many specific approaches. Distinct psychological theories backed by evidence, accumulated throughout history, that have principles of how to use them to effectively help people.
Integrative therapy is centred around the belief that – an approach that works for others, may not work for you. I’ll use elements from different techniques to develop a ‘therapy toolkit’ uniquely tailored to you.
I am trained in Person Centred Counselling, which places a strong emphasis on your ability to find your own solutions. You know you better than anyone else, I hope to provide the guidance, encouragement and opportunity to unlock your potential to heal yourself.
I can incorporate cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and solution focused therapy to actively explore options with you, occasionally making suggestions, providing education or activities that work towards change – with the respectful mindset that we are a team working in service of you and your needs.
I’ve helped people with a wide range of issues including, but not limited to:
Anxiety & panic, depression, jealousy, worries, health issues, grief & loss, bullying, workplace issues, relationship problems, abuse, anger, childhood issues, life changes.
I am especially interested in working with those whose emotional wellbeing is being impacted by their own or another person’s physical health condition.
Alongside private practice I work part-time at a counselling agency. This affords me the opportunity to meet and work with an amazingly diverse range of people. Continually inspiring and enlarging my ‘therapy toolkit’.
A little more about me
I enjoy simple things.
Relaxing walks in nature with my husband and our little scruffy dog. Autumn trees and coastal paths are my favourite. Getting lost in a good book, or curling up on the couch for a film or period drama.
My own recent diagnosis of arthritis has brought into focus the body-mind connection, how pain influences mood and vice versa, managing chronic physical symptoms, and the challenge of how to accept change and limitations.
With this background, I am especially interested in working with those whose emotional wellbeing is being impacted by their own or another person’s physical health condition.
I try to take care of my health and wellbeing with regular exercise, stretching, yoga and the occasional bike ride on the canal tow paths. Last but not least, I love a good dance.
My Qualifications
Continuing Professional Development and Relevant Experience.
My professional roles before counselling were in health and social care. Including a decade providing cancer treatment. Experience as a care worker and allied health professional within the NHS has given me unique insight into how we cope with and grow from adversity.
• Level 4 Diploma – Therapeutic Counselling – (CPCAB)
• Certificate in Online and Telephone Counselling – (Counselling Tutor)
• Certificate in Couples Counselling – (The Therapy Institute)
• Single Session Therapy Workshop – (Windy Dryden, Online Events)
I’ve continually expanded my learning over the course of my career, taking opportunities to diversify my skills.
• Managing Anxiety and Panic/Phobia States – (The Christie Complementary Therapy Service)
• The Psychological Impact of Cancer Study Day – (The Christie School of Oncology)
• National Advanced Communication Skills Training Program – (National Cancer Action Team)
• Safeguarding Training – (NHS and Samaritans)
• Volunteered with The Samaritans supporting callers in distress
I'm here to help
Samantha White
48 Claughton St,
St Helens,
Merseyside,
WA10 1SN
Please be aware that appointments are required before visiting. Thank you.