Tonya Orvis

Response Times

I aim to respond to messages within the following timeframes:

Weekdays (Monday鈥揊riday): between 9:00am and 6:00pm, I usually reply within the same day.

Weekends (Saturday鈥揝unday): responses may take longer, typically within 24鈥�48 hours.

Please note that counselling messages are not monitored outside these hours. If you ever need urgent support, it鈥檚 important to reach out to appropriate emergency or crisis services rather than waiting for my reply.

Trauma鈥慽nformed counselling for young people (13+) and adults 鈥� a safe, attuned space to explore what feels heavy and reconnect with your voice.

Living with anxiety can feel exhausting. You might find yourself trapped in racing thoughts, unable to switch off, or constantly bracing for something to go wrong. Panic may come out of nowhere, leaving you shaky and unsettled. Everyday situations 鈥� work, relationships, even rest 鈥� can feel overwhelming or impossible to enjoy.

I鈥檓 Tonya, a therapeutic counsellor (DipHE Psychotherapeutic Counselling, Distinction, Registered Member of 麻豆原创). I set up You Matter Counselling because of both my lived and clinical experience of what helps. I know how heavy anxiety can feel, and I believe change happens when we have a space that feels safe, steady, and free of jargon.

My approach is person鈥慶entred and integrative, drawing on trauma鈥慽nformed methods such as CBT, DBT, polyvagal, somatic, narrative, and creative practice. I work with adults in person and online. My practice is ICO registered, professionally insured, and designed to be inclusive, flexible, and empowering.

Counselling with me is collaborative. I don鈥檛 sit as 鈥渢he expert鈥� 鈥� instead, I walk alongside you. Together we鈥檒l slow things down, build safety, and find strategies that help you feel calmer and more in control.

Clients often describe noticing small but powerful shifts: shoulders softening after a stressful day, breathing easier before a meeting, sleeping more restfully, or feeling steadier in situations that once triggered panic. These changes aren鈥檛 just insights in the mind 鈥� they鈥檙e felt in the body, giving a sense of relief, safety, and possibility. Over time, counselling can help you reconnect with your voice, feel more grounded, and move through life with greater confidence and ease.

I support clients with a wide range of anxiety鈥憆elated experiences, including:

Generalised anxiety 鈥� constant worry, racing thoughts, and difficulty switching off.

Panic attacks and panic disorder 鈥� sudden waves of fear, physical symptoms, and dread of recurrence.

Social anxiety 鈥� fear of judgement, avoidance of social situations, or feeling unable to connect.

Health anxiety 鈥� preoccupation with symptoms or fear of illness.

Trauma鈥憆elated anxiety 鈥� hypervigilance, nervous鈥憇ystem dysregulation, or feeling unsafe in everyday life.

Life transitions and stress 鈥� navigating change, uncertainty, or overwhelming responsibilities.

I know reaching out can feel daunting 鈥� but you don鈥檛 have to face it alone.

Our first session is designed to give us a strong foundation. We鈥檒l spend most, if not all, of the time completing a questionnaire together. This helps me gain a fuller understanding of you, your history, and what brings you to counselling. It鈥檚 an important opportunity for me to gather information so I can support you in the most meaningful way.

This session is less about 鈥渄iving straight in鈥� and more about slowing down, building safety, and making sure I have the context I need. By the end, you鈥檒l have had space to share your story, and I鈥檒l have a clearer picture of how best to walk alongside you in the sessions ahead.

Session Frequency At present, I offer weekly sessions. Weekly counselling provides consistency and momentum, which can be especially helpful when working with trauma, anxiety, or relational patterns. It allows us to build trust and safety more steadily, and gives you regular space to process and integrate what comes up.