Charlene Barlow

Many people are finding life increasingly difficult right now-and it's no surprise. The pressure of everyday life in the UK is rising, and this is having an impact on our mental wellbeing. 

If you're feeling overwhelmed, anxious or struggling with low mood, you're not alone-and it's ok to ask for support. 

My therapy door is open for you now, and I can offer you a space to explore what's going on and enable you to make sense of things in a way that feels manageable to you. 

Hello, I'm Charlie. I understand what it's like to live with anxiety and depression. I know how hard it can be to open up, especially when life feels overwhelming. I work with people who are finding life increasingly difficult, and it's no surprise! The pressures of everyday life are rising, and this is having a real impact on our mental health.

The ongoing cost-of-living crisis is overwhelming many people, with financial worries becoming a daily source of stress for some. High rent, rising food and energy bills, and housing insecurity can create anxiety. For others, workplace stress, long hours, burnout, and job insecurity are leading to depression & exhaustion. Loneliness and isolation lead to feelings of disconnect, with less time and energy for family, relationships, and time for ourselves.

As a therapist, I have successfully worked with many clients to enable them to reduce depression, anxiety and stress. Clients have come to me not being able to sleep due to anxious, racing thoughts & have lost all motivation in life due to low mood. When they leave, they often remark on how they have gained inner calmness, feel more energy, and are connected to themselves.

If you want to find a place where you can unpack whatever you are facing right now and work through your issues with an experienced therapist, then please do get in touch.

I believe real therapeutic change occurs not through techniques, manipulation, or interventions during sessions but through a meaningful and trusting relationship in which you feel truly heard, valued, and appreciated as a fellow human. 

During your 50-minute session with me, you will be free to bring anything you wish. I will be listening closely, not just to your words during our session, but to your felt experience beneath them. 

I will provide a space to work through discomfort and internal conflict naturally at a pace that works for you, without giving you advice and guidance.  I will hold the therapy space for you while encouraging you to take responsibility for the direction of your therapy and the depth of our interactions. I will provide you with a space in which you feel deeply seen and heard. 

I hold a Level 7 qualification and practice as a person-centred therapist.

With a rich tapestry of 25 years of experience, I have supported individuals and groups in enhancing mental health and well-being. I offer a client-led approach rather than using a prescriptive one-size-fits-all therapy model.

I have an enhanced DBS disclosure and have full insurance. 

I offer a complimentary 15-minute initial consultation before your first session. During this time, you are free to ask me any questions about the type of therapy I offer, and I will do my utmost to explain how I work, free from jargon and psychological babble. I will approach your reason for coming to therapy with curiosity & warmth.

Before our first session, I will send you any necessary paperwork and ask that you complete and return it before our initial meeting, so that it does not interrupt our first encounter. 

I will aim to make you feel as relaxed as possible during our first session, so please take your time and get comfortable. We won't rush or start a session together until you feel ready.  

Our first session together will last 50 minutes. Clients often tell me that they were very nervous at the thought of the first session & worried about how they would fill the time. However, most clients tell me that they realised they had nothing to fear, and in fact, can't quite believe how fast the time passed.