Abigail Paige-Seex

Please refer to the 'Get in Touch' page of my website for up to date availability.

I offer online sessions Monday through Friday when available and work in person with clients in the centre of Stroud Tuesday to Thursday. 

A bit about me:

Hi, I’m Abi, I’m a qualified and trauma-informed Psychotherapeutic Integrative Counsellor and Supervisor, which means that I'm trained in several different types of therapy. My core approach is person-centred because it is my absolute belief that you are the expert on you.

How I approach therapy:

​I like to think of therapy as a walk which you are choosing to share with me. My job is not to tell you which route to take or which path to follow, it is to walk by your side, every step of the way, and to draw your attention to some of the things you may usually not notice or not take the time to really acknowledge.

Some clients are fearful of therapy because even the thought of talking about difficult issues can feel upsetting but I will never expect you to talk about anything you are not ready to share.

Whilst I believe that our experiences, particularly in childhood, lay the foundations for the way we live our lives and you are invited to share anything without fear of judgement, I find that the use of both metaphor and the felt sense allows the work we do together to feel transformative but also safely held.

Many of my clients have experienced severe or enduring trauma which is often replayed in their relationships and impacts their self-worth, leading to anxiety, depression and distress. Many have complex coping strategies which may now become hard to manage so all sessions are led by client needs, and move at the speed of trust.

I am part of an Internal Family Systems community of practice and find parts work an incredibly helpful lens through which to view our protective strategies.

I welcome neurodivergent clients and am GSRD-affirming.

What next?

I’m very happy to have a no obligation chat over the phone or Zoom to find out more about what you are looking for and for you to check that you feel comfortable with me. To arrange this please drop me an email 

First sessions tend to be a ‘getting to know each other’ opportunity. 

If we are meeting in person I’ll make you a drink and invite you to get comfy, in whatever way you need. Whether that’s shoes off under a blanket on the sofa or sitting on the floor together, there are no sitting still in a chair rules in my room. 😊

Online sessions are usually much easier than expected in terms of creating a therapeutic relationship, but I do take a little longer making sure that you feel safe and centred at the end of our time as sharing feelings in your own home is different from leaving them with me in the counselling room. 

If our first session is just an avalanche of emotion, that’s fine, I’ve got you. If it’s 50 mins of silence, just getting used to holding space together, that’s also fine with me. 

If it feels okay I generally ask for some historical context for how life led you to this moment in time, looking for patterns and themes can help us to navigate our work together so it’s good to take some time on this, whether that’s talking, drawing or using tools to map out relationships, it’s a really useful starting point. 

Generally I offer supervision on a Friday but do have flexibility for some evenings and weekends. 

The reason I chose to become a supervisor is much the same as the reason I became a therapist; I’ve had really great ones, and really dreadful ones, so I know how it feels to have a lot to say and no idea how to say it.

Clients have told me I am warm, open, and kind, and this has allowed them to accept challenge whilst still feeling safely held. I hope to bring these same qualities to our supervision sessions.

I will strive to create an environment where you feel comfortable to bring whatever is on your mind, with no judgement or criticism. A safety net that allows you to let go safely, with space to explore not just how your client work is progressing but how it feels for you.

I love working creatively and try to tailor sessions so they feel like they really fit with you and your way of working. I use felt sense a lot in everything I do and believe our somatic experiences are just as important as our memories, this applies to counsellors as much as clients, sometimes what you feel in a session can offer much more than what you have read in a book.

My training incorporates the IDM and Seven Eyed models and includes specific emphasis on remote counselling, both online and phone.

As more counsellors are choosing to work remotely the BACP suggests that supervision should be experienced in the same way; you can be assured that my additional training has been designed with this in mind.

I have worked in private practice since 2013 and volunteered for a local counselling charity for a number of years prior to taking that step, an organisation that I have now returned to as a Supervisor.

Since 2015 I’ve also worked for a mental health and disability charitable trust, spending six years working 1:1 in the community with individuals whose mental health had caused extreme isolation.

I have been a part of the advisory board for the local ICS Community Mental Health Transformation project, and have had the pleasure of working with some amazing experts by lived experience who continue to inform my understanding of the medical vs social models of mental health.

I have a particular interest in early life trauma and it’s relationship to later life diagnosis of personality disorder and am IFS informed as part an exploratory group of IFS practitioners and community members.

I would be really happy to hear from you, if you think we would be a good fit for your supervision.

I currently work exclusively online or by phone.

Monthly 90 min sessions are £75 (or multiples of 30mins at £25)