Anna Bailey

I offer daytime/ evening sessions

I believe that everyone deserves access to the mental health care and support they need to be able to not just survive but thrive. I provide a therapeutic and inclusive service based on hope and opportunity and a transformative healing relationship with personalised care based on collaboration.

I specialise in working with neurodivergent children and young people and their parents and wider family through neuro informed and affirming counselling. I have lived experience of being a parent carer to my own neurodivergent children which coupled with my professional background gives me a unique insight into the specific and often complex difficulties and challenges faced and the nuanced approach needed for neurodivergent individuals to enable access to therapy which sees the whole person with implicit understanding.

Every individual and their family is unique and I work in a client led way providing individualised, bespoke, needs led counselling which aims to support holistic wellbeing and help everyone to better understand and support each other and create an environment in which to do this.

Together, we can explore difficult experiences and emotions to work through and find a way forward. I will acknowledge and value your experiences without judgment, ensuring you are really heard and listened to, helping you to move to a place where life becomes more liveable.

Although neurodiversity is my particular specialism, I also have experience of counselling clients and family members facing cancer, and supporting women with pregnancy complications and perinatal mental health, and I can support with any presenting issues you may be facing.

If it matters to you then you deserve the space and time to explore what that means and how we can move forward to where you want to be. You can find the clarity, understanding and strategies you need to overcome the obstacles causing you difficulties or unhappiness in your life.

Work directly with the child or young person

Your child may be at the beginning of their journey wondering if there is something ‘a bit different’, on a diagnostic pathway, or already have a diagnosis- all of which may be creating uncertainty about what they are facing and what it all means. They may be experiencing associated mental and emotional health difficulties such as anxiety and feeling out of place, struggling to navigate a world not designed for them. Together we can work to break down barriers to wellbeing by accessing the RIGHT support, building emotional resilience without judgement in a safe space, working through their feelings to gain a better understanding of themselves, build self-esteem, and learn to cope with the stresses of growing up so that no child is left without the support they need.

Work directly with the adult

Counselling isn’t just about focusing on the challenges related to your child's needs- you also deserve the time and space to feel heard and be supported in a space where you can process your own emotions, gain perspective, and build resilience- you may also be experiencing your own journey with neurodivergence. As a parent, taking care of your own mental and emotional health is crucial and seeking support can make a big difference, allowing you to explore how you feel as an individual outside of being a parent.

Work with both

It's important to find what works for you as a whole family and get the right kind of support. Parenting a child with additional needs can be emotionally draining and significantly impact family dynamics. Differences in perspectives can lead to a disconnect in relationships creating emotional distance, confusion and distress. I can work with you and your child, guiding you to work with and not against each other, building everyone’s emotional understanding enabling you to reconnect by removing barriers blocking this, supporting you to find your way back to a connected relationship and strengthen existing bonds.

We can start with a free and informal 15 minute chat to find out what has been going on for you, what has led you here and how I can help.

It's also a chance for you to ask anything you need and get an idea of who I am, what I can offer and how I can best support.