FitzGeralds Counselling Cheltenham

02/09/2025

21/08/2025

Brilliant!

21/08/2025

As someone deeply committed to ethical, inclusive and professional counselling, I feel this is important to know.

While I don’t currently pay to be listed in the BACP public directory, I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). You can verify my membership—or any BACP therapist—via their official register: https://www.bacp.co.uk/search/Register

The BACP Register includes members who have met high standards of training, ethics, and professional conduct. It’s accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) through their Accredited Register programme, which recognises professionals in health and social care roles that are not subject to statutory regulation.

💬 Why does this matter?
Counsellor registration is more than a formality—it’s about protection for both clients and practitioners while assuring you that your counsellor is qualified, ethical and accountable.

I believe in transparency, trust and the amazing power of safe therapeutic relationships. If you ever have questions about my registration or approach, I’m always happy to chat.

20/06/2025

June is PTSD Awareness Month, and I had the opportunity to attend a Care First hosted webinar by Caroline Evers-Endacott.

It covered both and — conditions that can leave you feeling stuck, overwhelmed, and isolated. But there is hope. 💙 Treatments and support are available.

Mind offers a wealth of helpful guidance and resources.

Let’s keep the conversation going. You’re not alone.

Explains what post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is, including different types like complex PTSD and birth trauma.

26/05/2025

Autistic burnout touches all my areas of work. The phrase "the distress caused when someone exists in a state of incongruence," captures it so powerfully—for me, and I’m sure for many others too. Thank you to Heather Connolly-Smith and the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy for shedding light on this important topic 🙏

Gloucestershire Autism Support LLB Inclusive Employment

Heather Connolly-Smith explores understanding autistic burnout: the hidden struggle and how we can support change. BACP Member blogs.

09/05/2025

Grief is a unique and often complex experience. I have noticed that my culture tends to hide death away and lacks recognized practices for supporting the bereaved. This is in contrast to the Jewish community, which has the period of Shiva with established customs that offer comfort and support to mourners.

Having clear practices can also help friends and relatives. Many bereaved individuals feel ignored, which I believe stems from others' discomfort and uncertainty, or even a misguided attempt to avoid making the situation worse by mentioning the death.

Therefore, I am encouraged to hear about the opening of a grief center at the University of Bristol dedicated to researching grief (link in comments). Additionally, the Good Grief Festival offers support, events, and resources. These initiatives are positive steps towards better supporting people through this universal experience.

Click here to book now.

26/03/2025

I've said so many times that it's normal not to feel okay some of the time or lots of the time, yet mental health still carries a stigma. We don't worry about the repercussions of telling someone we've hurt our foot but we hesitate to say our mind is hurting.

So I agree with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy when they say that they are "disappointed that he [Wes Streeting, government Health Secretary] claimed there's an ‘overdiagnosis’ of mental health conditions", after all, we've never heard the government claim there's an over diagnosis of broken arms.

Mental health and physical health are equally important and inextricably linked.

Read more below.

News from BACP | Response to Health Secretary on rising mental health issues

17/03/2025

‘There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.’- John Green

Why come to counselling?

Counselling can help keep you on top of things, as well as support you when times are hard.

Often we struggle with more than just one thing in isolation, leading us to feel overwhelmed and unable to find a way forward.

You might be feeling some or all of these things:

Low
Lost
Despairing
Alone
Exhausted
Anxious
Trapped.

Or you might have specific problems such as addiction.

Counselling is a safe space just for you. The focus of our work will be you, and what brings you to counselling. In our work together I will use a personalised, integrative, person centred and holistic therapeutic approach so that together we can unpick what is troubling you and find a way forward.

Who am I?

I have a rounded disciplinary approach and as a member of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) I work to their codes of practice and ethics.

I also have a background in disability (particularly neurodiversity), marginalisation, addiction, chronic illness, eating disorders and trauma and all the psychological issues that occur as a result including depression, anxiety, stress, burnout and relational problems.

What can you expect from talking therapy?

Firstly it’s important to remember that not only is it okay not to be okay, but it’s also normal. We all need help sometimes.

Our sessions will be for one hour, when you can talk confidentially and openly about whatever is upsetting you.

I work in-person daytime, evenings, and weekends in a calm space with free parking. Please do contact me for a preliminary chat whether you’re looking for some space to reflect, would like some routine maintenance for your mental health or have a specific issue you’d like to work towards resolving.