Amy Fairchild

You're probably here because things aren't going well right now, they haven't in the past, or you're worried about the future, maybe all three. That's okay - everyone has problems to overcome at some point in their life. In fact, I believe that these times when we struggle are our greatest opportunities for personal growth and enrichment. It can be daunting I know, overwhelming even, but I assure you that I am here to support you, and offer you the security and space to explore your thoughts and feelings.

I'm drawn to understanding you as an individual, what you see, hear and feel, and how you relate to the world around you. Therapy is a journey and you have already made the first step. I will help you travel on, following your directions, whilst gently pointing out the surrounding countryside and alternative routes. Through a combination of curiosity and compassion, I can help you navigate your path towards a brighter future.

Through a tailored approach - different for each individual - we will work through your concerns towards your desired goals. I believe that you have within you, the tools and the knowledge to discover who and how you want to be, and above all, to find an underlying sense of happiness and resilience that will serve you throughout your life.

I am fully insured and a registered member of the BACP - British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.

I work from my home practice in Ilfracombe and also online via Zoom, which is a free and easy to use app that I can help you set up. I offer both short and longer-term therapy with sessions typically being 1 hour long at a time to suit you. For online sessions you just need a quiet place where you won't be interrupted or feel overheard, a computer or tablet and WiFi.

Please note that due to COVID19 I am currently only working online via Zoom. This means that I can work with you wherever you live in the UK, however, if you request only face-to-face sessions I am unable to accommodate until further notice.

We will have either chatted on the phone, exchanged emails or texts before your first session, and usually I will have sent you my contract to read through, which outlines how I work. During the first session you can tell me what you are looking for from therapy, and what you feel are the main reasons why you are seeking help right now. 

I understand that it can be nerve-racking to start therapy. It's only natural and is actually a positive sign as it usually means that you know you are prepared to open up in a way you may not have previously. Hopefully, by the end of the first or second session, you will feel confident in me and that trust will grow further as we go on.

For many people, the opportunity to talk freely and confidentially feels like such a relief that a lot of words and emotions pour out right away, for others it takes a bit longer. I will work at your pace and there are no hard and fast rules about how the process unfolds.