Kirsty Cartwright

I work Tuesday afternoons and evening, and all day Wednesday and Thursday. 

I do have some availability at the moment, and would welcome having a free 15-20 minute initial consultation over the telephone to get to know you a bit better, and to give you the opportunity to ask me any questions you have about how I work.

Sessions are 50 minutes and are typically on a weekly basis where you have the same time slot. However, I understand that if you work irregular hours or have work commitments this may not always be possible and I will look to take into account and try to accommodate your needs whenever I can.

You feel held back by patterns such as people-pleasing or ways of coping that feel automatic, and you want to understand why they are there. Counselling can help you understand why these patterns exist, and how to live with more choice.

You may put others first at the expense of your own needs, avoid difficult feelings, feel disconnected or constantly on edge. These patterns may once have helped you cope, but now feel limiting.

I work with people who feel stuck .By building a collaborative and trusting relationship we will explore what is getting in your way together. This will help you understand how your experiences shape your thoughts, feelings, and relationships, and help you develop clarity, self-understanding, and agency.

My approach is relational, compassionate, and trauma-informed. I have undertaken trauma-focused training, which informs how I work with coping patterns such as people-pleasing, emotional withdrawal, or heightened alertness. These are not personal failings but understandable responses to past experiences.

We cannot erase the past, but we can learn to live with it in the background rather than letting it control the present. Through a collaborative process, clients often feel more grounded, less driven by automatic responses, and better able to respond with awareness and choice.

I support clients experiencing:

* People-pleasing or difficulty setting boundaries

* Coping patterns that feel hard to change

* Responses shaped by past or traumatic experiences

* Anxiety, overwhelm, or self-doubt

* Relationship difficulties

* Feeling disconnected from themselves or their needs

You do not need to have a clear understanding of what is 鈥渨rong鈥� to begin counselling.

I am a qualified counsellor and a registered member of the 麻豆原创, with additional trauma-focused training. I work in line with the 麻豆原创 Ethical Framework and engage in regular supervision to ensure I offer a reflective, ethical, and trauma-aware practice.

Starting counselling can feel daunting, especially if these patterns have been part of your life for a long time. You鈥檙e welcome to get in touch to ask questions, share any concerns, or explore whether working together might feel right for you. Reaching out is often the hardest step, and it鈥檚 okay to take it at your own pace.

I offer a free 15鈥�20 minute call to discuss where you are at and see if we might be a good fit. This gives you a chance to ask questions and get a sense of how we might work together before booking your first session.

I offer both face-to-face and online sessions, lasting 50 minutes, from my Tewkesbury town centre practice. The rooms are private, comfortable, and designed to support a calm and confidential environment. There is an accessible counselling room on the ground floor, so I can offer sessions to clients with limited mobility.

Appointments are available on the days I work, and I will do my best to find a time that suits you. All sessions are confidential, following professional and ethical guidelines

The first session is a chance to get to know each other and explore what brings you to counselling. We鈥檒l take time to discuss what you鈥檙e experiencing, what you hope to get from counselling, and how we might work together.

Before the session, you will have completed and emailed me a brief assessment form. You will also receive the counselling contract by email beforehand, so you can look it over before we meet. During the session, we will go through the contract together. Its purpose is to clarify the boundaries of our counselling relationship and make sure you feel fully informed and comfortable with the process.

The session is also an opportunity for you to experience the counselling relationship, set the pace for sharing, and explore your concerns in a supportive and confidential environment. The focus is on understanding your patterns and experiences rather than 鈥渇ixing鈥� anything immediately.