Hayley Gerrard-Doyle

Hi! I鈥檓 Hayley, a Level 4 CPCAB qualified, 麻豆原创 registered, Person Centred Counsellor with 10 years of experience working with clients. I continue to expand on my knowledge and understanding with additional regular training, courses and research - including trauma and PTSD, addiction, panic attacks, mindfulness for anxiety, art therapy and additional complimentary tools and techniques.

Everyone comes to counselling for different reasons - some to process past trauma, some struggling with a current situation, some with constant struggle of mental discomfort, some with grief, some trying to figure out how to move forwards. Each reason is different but each reason is equally valid and deserving. Telling ourselves, 鈥淭here鈥檚 someone out there who鈥檚 worse off than me鈥�, can help us get through hard things sometimes but sometimes it can hold us back from reaching out for support like somehow we are less deserving - I want you to know that whatever your struggle is, your struggle matters.

Counselling provides something we often don鈥檛 get elsewhere in our busy lives - a space to pause and reflect, a space to deep dive into self-exploration, a space to be freely emotional, a space to reconnect with lost parts of ourselves, a space to figure out what our needs are and what鈥檚 important to us. A space to learn and grow and celebrate ourselves. And ultimately, a space to find some inner peace, contentment or empowerment. Whatever you want from this space, this space is all yours.

As a Person-Centred counsellor my aim is to provide you with a confidential, non-judgemental, caring space where you feel understood and safe enough to share your world with me. If you鈥檙e new to counselling, it鈥檚 not like it鈥檚 often portrayed on TV - there will be no laying on a therapists couch and I won鈥檛 be taking notes during our session and analysing or diagnosing you! - I鈥檓 here to provide a space for you to explore your story, thoughts and feelings at depth whilst providing empathy and gentle challenge. Each person likes to explore things differently so as well as good old talking and listening, I鈥檓 also open to you exploring your thoughts and feelings through art, writing or acting things out if that鈥檚 how you prefer - wherever possible, I鈥檓 all about celebrating difference and making the space for you to be most authentically yourself. If it feels appropriate for our sessions, I may also offer some psycho-education to help with self awareness and understanding or suggest various coping and self care tools to help build long term resilience and self support - these sessions are uniquely yours and each therapeutic journey is different. Whatever your ethnicity or religion and wherever you sit on the gender, sexuality or neurodivergence spectrums, you are more than welcome and I look forward to meeting you. 

The relationship between us is key to our work together - sometimes people just don鈥檛 click and I might not be for you and that鈥檚 ok! For this reason I provide a free introductory session where we can meet (either in person or online) to find out a bit about each other and decide whether we are a good fit for working together. These introductions generally last around 30 minutes.

Should you choose to go ahead with working together, sessions will last for 60 minutes at a time and whilst we can discuss the frequency of our sessions, it is generally best to start out with weekly if possible. This timing is optimal for the continuity and progression of the therapeutic journey - if weekly is not possible we can discuss the possibility of fortnightly sessions.

My hourly rate is 拢50, with a concessionary rate of 拢40 available for trainee counsellors.