About Me &
My Approach to Counselling
Hi there, my name is Abi!
I have been working with people, mainly young adults, throughout my working life in education, social care and outdoor education. Based in West Cornwall, I enjoy supporting people to feel heard, improve their emotional wellbeing, build life skills and empower them to feel more confident in facing challenges independently.
After a bereavement I decided to draw on my professional skills, my personal experience with grief, and my own counselling journey to train as a counsellor. Wayfound reflects my intention to walk alongside others as they find their path forward with purpose and meaning, while honouring the experiences and people that make them who they are. You can read more about my person-centred approach to therapy below.
Outside of counselling sessions, I can be found in my van, walking the coast path, gardening, or reading a good novel. This connection to the outdoors shapes the way I work, and for those who prefer it, I offer walk and talk therapy and outdoor counselling sessions across West Cornwall, including around Porthleven and Hayle; on the coast path, at nature reserves and on beaches.
I am also a third culture kid (someone who grew up between cultures, in my case in Uganda), missionary kid and pastor’s kid with experience of international adoption within my immediate family. These experiences inform my understanding of identity, belonging and loss, and the complexity of the lives people bring to counselling.
My Approach to Counselling
As your therapist, I believe that offering support is not a one size fits all. My aim is always to really get to know you and adapt my approach according to what you need.
Person-Centred Counselling
My work is grounded in the person-centred approach. I offer you an empathetic and non-judgemental space to unload and freely explore your own thoughts, emotions and experiences at your own pace, whether that be about what is happening in the here and now or the past.
CBT, DBT & Other Approaches
I may offer ways of thinking from other therapies, such as CBT and DBT, which can be useful for changing our mindset or looking at things from a different perspective, as well as understanding and coping with the emotions we are feeling.
Solution-Focussed Support
For those moments you might feel stuck and unsure, I bring in a solution-focussed approach to help you find your own answers and next steps, without telling you what to do. I may ask more direct questions or make observations to help us look at things from a different perspective to help you do this.
Practical Support
I also provide more practical support if you need help figuring something out that is causing stress and anxiety. Maybe it’s how to fill in a form, how to apply for a course or how to fill in a job application. Bring it with you to our counselling session and we’ll look at it together.
The way we work together is always collaborative and led by you. My qualification in counselling and my background in education and social care means I offer a hybrid approach which is tailored to your needs. Every therapy session can look different and my aim is that you feel heard, empowered and confident as you move forwards from our sessions.
Qualifications & Training
I am a BACP registered and qualified person-centred counsellor in West Cornwall with professional insurance and an enhanced DBS check.
I have also completed courses in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and Solution Focussed Therapy.
If my journey and the way I work resonates with you, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to get in touch to arrange your first session where we can get to know each other and talk through what you would like me to support you with.