Rachel Chapman

Hi I鈥檓 Rachel, I鈥檓 a person centred experiential therapist. Before training as a therapist I spent 21 years flying for an airline as long haul cabin crew. This means I have an understanding of the realities of the job and the lifestyle. The early starts, time away from home, jet lag, passenger pressures, and the unspoken expectation to always stay calm and composed no matter what鈥檚 happening. I鈥檝e lived the lifestyle, loved it, but also felt its strain. Now, as a qualified therapist, I offer a space for airline crew and pilots to talk openly with someone who genuinely 鈥済ets it.鈥�

You don鈥檛 have to explain roster fatigue, performance monitoring, Galley FM, difficult passengers, or the toll of working in a pressurised environment- literally! Whether you鈥檙e dealing with anxiety, burnout, disrupted sleep, relationship strain, low mood, or anything else, we can work through it together in a supportive, confidential environment.

I鈥檓 particularly mindful of the fears many pilots and crew have around stigma or career implications when seeking help. EAP鈥橲 can be helpful but sometimes it may feel more comfortable seeking help that鈥檚 completely separate from your company.

Having the sky as your office can be amazing, but it also asks a lot of you. Therapy with me is a place where you don鈥檛 have to be the strong one, the calm one, or the responsible one. It鈥檚 a place just for you 鈥� to reset, reflect, and strengthen your wellbeing so you can continue flying, and living, in a way that feels sustainable and fulfilling.

I鈥檓 a Person-Centred Experiential therapist with a First-Class degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy, and years of experience supporting people through all kinds of life challenges. At the core of how I work is a simple belief: you don鈥檛 need fixing, just space - to be heard, understood, and supported as you work things through in your own way.

In our sessions, we work alongside each other. I won鈥檛 analyse you or tell you what you should be doing. Instead, I鈥檒l listen carefully and without judgement, helping you explore what鈥檚 really going on beneath the surface. Sometimes that means gently untangling difficult emotions, long-standing patterns, or self-doubt. Sometimes it means making sense of something that鈥檚 happened more recently. We can go at your pace.

I鈥檓 also trained in Solution-Focused Therapy, so if it feels helpful, we can bring in a more practical, forward-looking approach -identifying strengths, clarifying goals, and finding realistic steps towards change. Therapy doesn鈥檛 have to be one style; we can shape it around what works best for you.

We can work short-term around a specific issue, or longer-term if you鈥檇 like deeper exploration and ongoing support. We鈥檒l regularly check in about what feels useful.

I understand how unpredictable rosters can be and how hard it is to commit to the same weekly slot. I offer flexibility and am happy to arrange sessions week by week around your schedule wherever possible.

**However please note I can only offer therapy while you are in the UK, due to different countries laws and regulations ***

In my practice, I work with people facing a wide range of emotional and life challenges. I have a particular interest and experience in supporting perinatal women. I have carried out research in this area and understand how complex this time can be - emotionally, physically, and practically. For those in aviation, I deeply appreciate the unique challenges of returning to flying after maternity leave, adjusting to time away from your baby, managing guilt, exhaustion, identity shifts, and the ongoing juggle of parenting alongside an unpredictable roster. This is a space where those mixed feelings can be spoken about openly and without judgement.

I also welcome conversations around relationship and family difficulties. The demands of flying can place strain on partnerships, co-parenting, and extended family dynamics. Together, we can explore communication patterns, conflict, disconnection, or the quiet resentments that sometimes build when life feels out of balance.

In airline crew roles, the pressure around appearance can feel especially intense. When you鈥檙e constantly visible, in uniform, and working in an environment where presentation is emphasised, it鈥檚 easy for comparison and self-criticism to take hold. Over time, that pressure can impact your relationship with food, your body, and your sense of self-worth. I can give you a grounded, supportive space to help you untangle that pressure and feel more at ease in yourself.

Grief and loss , whether recent or long past ,are also very much part of the work I offer. This may include bereavement, relationship endings, pregnancy loss ,or other significant life changes. There is no 鈥渞ight鈥� way to grieve, and therapy can offer a place to process these experiences at your own pace.

I am also experienced and confident in working with survivors of sexual assault and rape. I approach this work with sensitivity, care, and respect, ensuring you remain in control of the pace and depth of what we explore.

I work online, offering a secure and confidential space that you can access wherever you are. Before we begin, I will email you a copy of my counselling contract for you to read, sign, and return. This outlines how I work, confidentiality, fees, and practical arrangements, so everything feels clear and transparent from the start.

I also offer a free 15-minute phone consultation with no obligation. This gives us a chance to briefly connect, discuss what you鈥檙e looking for, and see whether working together feels like the right fit. Choosing a therapist is important, and it鈥檚 essential that you feel comfortable.

In our first counselling session, we will take time to gently explore what has brought you to therapy and what you would like to focus on. We鈥檒l talk about your hopes, expectations, and any aims you may have, while also allowing space for whatever feels most present for you that day. There is no pressure to share everything at once 鈥� we go at a pace that feels safe and manageable.

Specialist therapy for pilots and airline crew, from someone who understands.

I spent 21 years flying long haul as cabin crew before retraining as a therapist. I know the realities of the job: early starts, jet lag, time away from home, passenger pressures, performance monitoring, and the constant expectation to stay calm and composed no matter what鈥檚 happening. You won鈥檛 need to explain roster fatigue, Galley FM, difficult passengers, or the pressures of a highly pressurised environment, I genuinely get it.

Now, as a Person-Centred Experiential therapist, I offer a confidential, supportive space for crew and pilots to talk openly with someone who understands both the culture of aviation and its emotional impact. I鈥檓 mindful of the fears many crew have around stigma or potential career implications. While EAPs can be helpful, it often feels more comfortable to seek support completely separate from your company.

Therapy with me is a space where you don鈥檛 have to be the strong one, the calm one, or the responsible one. It鈥檚 just for you - to reset, reflect, and strengthen your wellbeing in a way that feels sustainable.

I am a qualified counsellor with a First-Class degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy, combining professional training with lived experience of the aviation lifestyle.

I specialise in supporting pilots and airline crew, alongside people facing a wide range of emotional and life challenges. My work is grounded in a Person-Centred Experiential approach, meaning therapy is shaped around you - your pace, your needs, and your experience.

I have particular experience supporting perinatal women and have carried out research in this area. I understand how complex this period can be - emotionally, physically, and practically. For those returning to flying after maternity leave, balancing parenting, unpredictable rosters, guilt, exhaustion, and identity shifts can be intense. This is a space where mixed feelings can be spoken about openly and without judgement.

I also work with relationship and family difficulties. Flying can strain partnerships, co-parenting, and extended family dynamics. Together, we explore communication patterns, conflict, disconnection, or quiet resentments that build when life feels out of balance.

In airline crew roles, pressure around appearance can be intense. Constant visibility, uniform standards, and comparison can affect your relationship with food, your body, and your self-worth. I offer a grounded, compassionate space to untangle these pressures and feel more at ease in yourself.

Grief and loss (recent or long past) are very much part of my work, including bereavement, relationship endings, pregnancy loss, and other significant life changes. I am also experienced in supporting survivors of sexual assault and rape, always working with sensitivity and ensuring you remain in control of the pace and depth of what we explore.

Alongside my Person-Centred approach, I am trained in Solution-Focused Therapy, so we can integrate practical, forward-looking work - identifying strengths, clarifying goals, and taking realistic steps toward change. Therapy can be short-term or longer-term, depending on what feels right for you.

All sessions are online, so we can work together wherever you are in the UK, around your schedule and roster. Before we meet, I鈥檒l email you my therapy agreement to read and return. Payment can be made by bank transfer before the session.

In our first session, we鈥檒l explore what you鈥檇 like support with and what you hope might feel different. There鈥檚 no pressure to explain everything perfectly or share more than feels comfortable. We go at your pace.

As a Person-Centred Experiential therapist, I won鈥檛 analyse you or tell you what you should be doing. I listen carefully and without judgement, helping you make sense of what鈥檚 happening beneath the surface - whether that鈥檚 anxiety, burnout, disrupted sleep, relationship strain, low mood, loss, or something harder to put into words.

If it鈥檚 helpful, we can draw on Solution-Focused Therapy to bring in practical, forward-looking work - identifying strengths, clarifying goals, and taking realistic steps toward change.

We can work short-term around a specific issue or longer-term for deeper exploration. We鈥檒l review regularly to ensure the work continues to meet your needs.

I understand how unpredictable rosters can be, so I offer flexibility and can arrange sessions week by week.

** Please note: I can only provide therapy while you are physically in the UK due to legal and regulatory requirements. **

Hello, I鈥檓 Rachel, I鈥檓 a qualified Person-Centred Experiential Counsellor. That means our therapy is tailored specifically to you 鈥� your feelings, your story and your needs.

This isn鈥檛 about 鈥榝ixing鈥� you. It鈥檚 about creating the right environment for you to understand yourself more fully, feel your emotions and move forward in a way that feels right for you. I work in a person centred and emotion- focused way, with you, as the client, choosing where we go. I enjoy working with metaphor and creative methods if that feels right for you. 

Reaching out and looking for therapy is a courageous step to take. I can offer a warm, empathic landing place, working face to face in my peaceful garden office. 

I have experience of working with adults, teenagers and children. I currently work as a school counsellor in a local High School, and in my own private practice, Lotus Counselling Therapy, in Southport. I have previously worked as a counsellor at a local family-based charity and a women鈥檚鈥� centre.