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Professional, supportive and confidential counselling in Weston-super-Mare and online, supporting adults, couples, children and young people with anxiety, depression, stress, CBT and a range of emotional and personal challenges.
If you're considering counselling and would like to talk things through first, you can arrange a free, no-obligation 15-minute telephone conversation. Simply email us at: westonsupermarecounselling@gmail.com with your name, contact number and preferred time for a call back, and we'll get back to you. You can also call us on 07988888607.
Hi – it's great to meet you virtually. I'm Robbie, and welcome to Weston-super-Mare (WSM) Counselling.
I'm proud to introduce you to our website, which contains information, support and an outline of the counselling services I offer. My hope is that you'll find it useful whether you're considering counselling for the first time, looking for additional support, or simply wanting to understand a little more about how therapy works.
If you've made it this far, well done! Taking the time to explore whether counselling might be right for you can be an important first step towards positive change.
This website is much more than a booking service. Alongside information about my counselling services, you'll find practical resources, self-help materials, guided meditations, videos and other information that you are welcome to explore and use for your own personal wellbeing.
If you're new to counselling and would like some help understanding how the process works, my Quick Checklist and Support Guide provides a simple step-by-step introduction to becoming a new client.
What Makes WSM Counselling Different?
Choosing the right counsellor is an important personal decision. At WSM Counselling, I take a client-centred and integrative approach, recognising that no two people are the same and that there is no single therapeutic approach that works for everyone. Together, we explore what you are experiencing, what you would like to change and which therapeutic strategies are most appropriate for you. My aim is to provide a safe, respectful and non-judgemental space where you can feel comfortable being yourself and begin to explore what really matters to you.
My professional background also brings an additional dimension to my work as a counsellor. Before developing WSM Counselling, I worked in education for over ten years as a teacher and senior leader, supporting children, young people and families from a wide range of backgrounds. I worked alongside a variety of professionals, including educational psychologists, social services, healthcare professionals, occupational therapists and speech and language specialists. This experience has given me a broad understanding of the social, emotional and developmental challenges that can affect young people and their families. This experience is particularly valuable when working therapeutically with children and young people, where understanding the wider context of a child's life can be just as important as understanding the individual.
My work as a counsellor is focused on helping people understand themselves, their thoughts, emotions and behaviours, and the difficulties they may be experiencing in their lives. I am trained in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), as well as approaches for supporting stress, anxiety and depression, and I draw on a range of therapeutic strategies within an integrative approach. This allows us to work collaboratively and adapt therapy to your individual needs, personality and circumstances rather than trying to fit you into a particular model of therapy.
Whether you are looking for short-term support around a specific difficulty or longer-term therapy to explore deeper patterns and experiences, we can work together towards goals that are meaningful to you.
I use an integrative approach, drawing on different evidence-based therapeutic strategies and adapting them to suit your individual needs, personality and circumstances. Together, we can identify the goals you would like to work towards and consider whether short-term or longer-term therapy is most appropriate for you. Short-term therapy may focus on a specific difficulty or goal, while longer-term therapy can provide more time to explore deeper patterns, experiences and personal development. There is no requirement to commit to a fixed number of sessions; therapy is personal and individual, and we can review your progress and needs as we go. Your journey may be challenging at times, but with the right support, guidance and willingness to reflect, it can also be empowering and lead to meaningful and lasting change.
Therapy can sometimes ask us to look at thoughts, feelings, experiences and behaviours that may be difficult or uncomfortable to explore. This can include experiences from the past that have not been fully processed, as well as challenges we are facing in our relationships, work or everyday lives. We will work at a pace that feels appropriate for you, creating a safe, respectful and confidential environment in which you can explore these experiences without judgement. My role is to support and guide you through this process, helping you consider different perspectives and develop greater understanding of yourself and the changes you may wish to make. I don't see my role as someone who has all the answers or who tells you what you should do. Instead, I see myself as someone who can help you hold up a mirror to your thoughts, feelings, experiences and behaviours, so that you can begin to see yourself and your situation from different perspectives. Often, the answers and solutions we are looking for are already within us; therapy can provide the space, support and guidance to help you discover them.
Life can sometimes become overwhelming, and we all experience periods when our usual ways of coping no longer feel enough. Seeking counselling is not a sign of weakness; it can be a positive and courageous decision to seek support and begin understanding what is happening. Together, we can identify the challenges you are facing, explore the thoughts, emotions and behaviours connected to them, and consider what you may want to change. We can then develop practical strategies, practise new ways of responding and reflect on what you learn, gradually applying this understanding to the wider context of your life. My aim is not to provide you with all the answers, but to support you in developing the awareness, confidence and understanding to find your own way forward.
Our Vision:
“A client-centred journey affecting positive change.”
At WSM Counselling, I believe that meaningful change begins with feeling heard, understood and accepted as you are. Counselling is not about telling you who you should be or giving you a set of answers to follow. It is about creating a safe and supportive space where you can explore your thoughts, feelings, experiences and behaviours, develop greater awareness of yourself and begin to recognise the choices available to you.
My aim is to work alongside you as you navigate your own journey, offering professional support, therapeutic knowledge, encouragement and gentle challenge when it may be helpful. Change does not always happen quickly, and it can sometimes feel uncomfortable, but small steps can gradually lead to greater understanding, confidence, wellbeing and a different way of experiencing life.
Ultimately, I believe that the most meaningful and lasting change is change that belongs to you. My role is to support you in discovering your own understanding, recognising your strengths and finding a way forward that feels authentic to who you are and the life you want to live.
Professional Memberships and Qualifications:
Professional Memberships:
I am an accredited member of the Accrediting Board of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (ABCAP) and an accredited member of Accredited Counsellors, Coaches, Psychotherapists and Hypnotherapists (ACCPH). I am also a verified counsellor with Psychology Today.
Counselling and Therapy Training:
Level 4: Counselling, CBT Therapy and Psychotherapy
Level 3: Counselling – Stress, Anxiety and Depression
Additional Professional Qualifications and Training:
Level 6: First Class Honours Degree in Education (BEd Hons)
Level 7: Masters-level equivalent qualification in Senior Leadership (NPQSL)
Level 7: Masters-level equivalent qualification in Senior Middle Leadership (NPQML)
Safeguarding / Keeping Children Safe in Education
Enhanced DBS Check
Is counselling right for me?
You don't need to be at crisis point to consider counselling. Sometimes we simply reach a point where the things we have been managing on our own no longer feel as manageable as they once did. You may be experiencing anxiety, low mood, stress, difficulties in your relationships, problems with confidence or self-esteem, or simply feel that something in your life needs to change.
Counselling provides a confidential and non-judgemental space to talk about what is happening in your life and explore the thoughts, feelings and behaviours connected to it. You don't need to have all the answers before you begin, and you don't need to know exactly what you want from therapy. Sometimes the first step is simply having the opportunity to talk openly with someone who will listen and help you make sense of what you are experiencing.
My role is not to tell you what you should do or give you ready-made solutions. Instead, I will work alongside you to explore your experiences, consider different perspectives and help you develop a greater understanding of yourself and the situation you are facing. Like holding up a mirror, counselling can sometimes help us see things that are difficult to recognise when we are caught up in them. It can also help us find a sense of direction when life feels uncertain or overwhelming — rather like finding a lighthouse when we have lost sight of the shore.
Counselling can be challenging at times, but it can also be reassuring, enlightening and empowering. As you develop greater awareness and understanding, you can begin to recognise choices and possibilities that may previously have been difficult to see. The aim is not simply to help you get through a difficult period, but to support you in developing the understanding, confidence and tools to move forward in a way that feels right for you.
If you're unsure whether counselling is right for you, that's okay. You are welcome to get in touch for an informal conversation about what you're experiencing and whether I may be able to help.
“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.”
Alan Watts
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