Abigail Baker

I work psychodynamically, which means when we work together we look at what’s going on for you at the moment and what's gone on in your past. We look at your relationships with others and your relationship with yourself, and by doing this you can gain insight and understanding to the reasons for current problems and work towards increasing your capacity to cope with difficulties...current and future. Working this way can help to unravel some of the more deep-rooted feelings that aren't always in our conscious awareness, and in turn, help to resolve them.

I work with people who have a wide range of problems including relationship issues, anxiety and panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, depression, and mental, physical and sexual abuse in childhood as well as bereavement and loss. I also have experience working with people who have diagnosed mental illnesses such as generalised anxiety disorder.

It maybe that you have a specific reason to seek counselling or that you find yourself in the same position again and again, unable to see a way forward and there. My aim is for us to work together to gain a deeper insight and understanding around the reasons for your problems, and to use that insight to learn how to cope with current and future difficulties.

Stonebridge Studios is nestled in a peaceful, historic building just off the bustling High Street in Christchurch town centre.  My therapy room offers a tranquil retreat for individuals seeking comfort and support. Despite being in the heart of the town, the space is quiet and offers a sense of calm and privacy.

For your convenience, there are several car parks nearby within a short walking distance of my therapy room, and Christchurch also has excellent bus links with several routes stopping nearby too. Additionally I am only a 15 minute walk from Christchurch Train Station. 

​Initial Telephone Consultation:

I offer a free 20 minute telephone consultation in which we can have a chat about what has been going on for you at present and whether counselling would be helpful for you at this moment in time. It will give you an opportunity to ask me about what therapy I offer and would give you a feel of what it would be like to work with me. At this stage, if you want to proceed, we will book an initial assessment.

Assessment:

In an assessment I usually invite you to tell me more about what is currently going on for you, a bit about what it's been like in the past for you and what your hopes are from the therapy.

By the end of this session we can then decide together how best to proceed; whether I feel that another initial assessment session is necessary, or if the therapy should be open-ended or whether we agree on a number of sessions, or even if I feel that it would be more appropriate to offer a referral to another service. The assessment appointment lasts for about an hour (an hour and a half for couples). These sessions cost £70.

Individual Sessions:

After the assessment, and in agreeing to work together, we will arrange a regular weekly session time on the same day each week. These sessions last for 50 minutes. These sessions cost £60 per session​.

Couple Sessions:

We will have 4 assessment sessions on total: the first is where I meet you both together and we talk through what has been going on for you as a couple in the present, in the past and what your hopes are for the future, this session will last about an hour and a half. This initial session costs £120.

Then I like to meet you both separately to find out more about you as individuals, we then come back as a group to decide together how best to proceed;  if the therapy should be open-ended or whether we agree on a number of sessions, or even if I feel that it would be more appropriate to offer a referral to another service. Each hour session is charged at £80per session thereafter