Alongside you in all weathers
Welcome to Linda Henderson Counselling
Counselling and therapy for individuals
Welcome, and thank you for visiting Linda Henderson Counselling
My name is Linda and I am a fully qualified and experienced integrative Counsellor providing a space of safety, warmth, empathy and acceptance. I offer an environment where you can be truly heard, be yourself and talk through your difficulties without fear of judgement.
My approach is down to earth and compassionate and my aim is to help you to recognise and use your inner strengths. I will work alongside you to increase your self awareness, helping you to gain clarity, understanding and a way forward.
I offer face to face counselling from my custom built therapy room in Plymouth, Devon and work online with clients in all parts of the UK.
I have 6 years of counselling experience working with a wide range of adult clients in many different settings.
I have experience and theoretical knowledge of Autistic Spectrum Condition and neurodivergence including ADHD. It has been a privilege to use my knowledge and experience to help and empower many clients struggling with aspects relating to these. I also have knowledge of Multiple Sclerosis and experience of counselling those living with this condition.
My experience includes counselling for MIND, MS-UK, within Primary Care in a GP surgery and for a Community Economic Development Trust in Plymouth. I am also a trained Samaritan and have Social Prescribing experience and extensive knowledge of national services relating to mental health, wellbeing, autism and neurodivergence.
How can counselling help?
Counselling gives you the opportunity to explore whatever you wish to bring in a supportive, empathic environment, free from judgement. Having this space can help us see our life more clearly. Through exploration, we can increase awareness in ourselves, recognise any changes we want to implement and begin to see a way forward.
I work holistically and am an integrative counsellor meaning I tailor the sessions to suit you, using techniques from different therapies. I work to bring awareness and increase connection between your thoughts, feelings, the wider environment and other people which can increase our overall sense of well being and belonging.
The person centred approach is at the heart of my work and I pride myself on building up a strong therapeutic alliance with those I work with. I also incorporate Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Solution Focussed Therapy, Gestalt, Transpersonal and Mindfulness into my practice.
How We Work Together
At the beginning of our work together, I will explore what you would like to gain from counselling and how you would like to proceed. I will then work with you using different therapeutic techniques in a way that will support, empower and gently challenge you to gain awareness and move forward. You set the pace of the therapy and I work in a trauma informed way meaning I have an understanding of how past trauma can impact an individual.
A Problem Shared...
In addition to exploring your difficulties with me, I can offer psycho-education and strategies where appropriate to help you understand, challenge and work with what you are experiencing. I can also offer signposting to national services regarding many issues including mental health support, wellbeing, autism and neurodivergence.
Moving Forwards
As a counsellor, I don't advise or tell you what to do and I can't change your situation. What I can do is walk alongside you, offering support and empathy as you explore aspects of your life and any difficulties you may have, helping you to see things more clearly. We know ourselves better than anyone else and I believe everyone has their own answers within them. Working with a counsellor can be an enlightening process uncovering these and working out what we need to move forwards.
What issues can counselling help with?
Counselling can help with many different aspects of life including:
Feelings of anxiety or depression
Feeling lost and uncertain of the future
After a bereavement, loss or life change
Relationship difficulties
Lack of confidence
Wanting to become more self aware and understand more about ourselves
Difficulties coping with a long term health condition
Confusion over identity
Exploring difficulties at work
It could simply be that you need a confidential, non-judgemental space within which to talk about whatever is on your mind.
Get in touch
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how counselling works, or to arrange a complimentary 20 minute phone or online consultation. This enables us to discuss the reasons you are thinking of coming to counselling, whether it could be helpful for you and whether I am the right therapist to help.
You can also call me on 07485 736476 if you would prefer to leave a message or speak to me first. I am happy to discuss any queries or questions you may have prior to arranging an initial appointment.
Frequently asked questions
Counselling is usually a good way to help with a current problem; something that can be discussed and - hopefully - resolved within a limited number of sessions. Over a certain number of weeks the understanding of the problem improves and away forward becomes clear. Therapy often describes work that goes a bit deeper, towards more substantial life issues and problems having a deeper effect on the client’s life. Therapy often requires a long-term approach, so the number of sessions can be open-ended.
Which option is most suitable depends on the client and the difficulties they are facing. In some cases counselling works well as an ongoing, longer-term option - or therapy can manage to resolve an issue in just a few sessions.
How long a period of counselling lasts will vary from person to person and depend on the depth of the issues they are facing. For some people a couple of sessions helps to bring their problems into focus, and they feel ready to move forward; other problems may require more of an open-ended approach.
Before we begin any work we will agree on the number of sessions we’ll undertake, and at the end of that number review our progress. As long as we both agree further therapy will be of benefit to you, sessions can continue.
My aim is to offer a first appointment - known as an initial assessment - within 1-2 weeks. Then we would arrange a set number of counselling sessions to take place at the same time every week, that is convenient for you and where I have availabity. How quickly these sessions can begin will depend on the availabity of that free ‘slot’.
Everything that is said within the counselling room is private - this is one of the main ways counselling and therapy differ from talking to a friend or relative. Once you are comfortable with the format of weekly sessions and the safe space they provide, you will find the freedom to speak in confidence is of great value.
Note that there are some situations where you may be a risk to yourself or others, and there the law requires that I notify an authority; in these cases I may not be able to keep total confidentiality. Breaking confidentiality is very rare though, and only happens after the person concerned has been informed.
Usually I am asked this question by people who are nervous about entering into counselling, or when they are looking for support in coming to see a therapist. This anxiety is understandable, but a key aspect of therapy is that you should feel free to talk about any issues you feel are important to you. Having someone else with you who can be connected those issues makes this opening-up more difficult, so for this reason I do not see clients accompanied by friends or family.
My location
I am based in Plymouth and easily accessible from the surrounding areas.
I also provide counselling online throughout the UK.
Fees & availability
Counselling sessions for individuals last 1 hour, usually taking place on a weekly basis, and cost £50 per session. I also provide a limited number of spaces for those on low-income or for students; contact me to enquire about availability.
I work online and over the phone all across the UK.
I also work face to face from Plymouth, Devon from my custom made counselling cabin.
I offer a free 20 minute consultation over the phone or online where you have the opportunity to see if you would like to work with me and ask any questions you may have.
Note that if you want to cancel an appointment I require 48 hours’ notice; otherwise you will still need to pay for any sessions missed.
I accept payment in cash or by bank transfer.