Maria Stride

My current availability is as follows:

Monday evening

Tuesday evening

Thursday morning

Saturday morning

I do have flexibility for telephone and video sessions

My counselling is tailored to you.

We will go at a pace which suits you and this can be short or long-term there is no time limit as to when you will feel ready to end counselling. By learning who you are we can move forward to where it is you want to be, whether this is accepting yourself or coping with particular emotions or situations.

I believe there is no one size fits all. By working in this way I can adapt to you and offer you the type of counselling you need rather than what I think will work which may include creative work, worksheets and mindfulness. You are the one who knows what to bring and you are my guide in your inner world

My name is Maria and the aim of Taking Strides Counselling is to offer you a warm and compassionate space where we can work together to explore your inner world. We can look at ways of coping with difficult thoughts, feelings and emotions and/or situations you may be struggling with.

By searching for a counsellor you have made a step toward healing yourself or you may just want to learn coping strategies, whatever it is counselling may help. I have a wealth of personal life experience and although I may not know how you feel because each of us feels differently these helps me to understand more of what you are bringing to our sessions.

Through my professional career, I have learnt the importance of developing a relationship with my client. The relationship once established helps you to open up and explore your world knowing that you are unjudged and that I am right beside you. It helps to build trust in your counsellor and this can help you feel at ease.

Our first session is a space where we can discuss what it is you would like to work on and the way in which you would prefer to work. This is a space where you can learn more about me, how I work and my experience if you wish to discuss this.

During our first session we will complete an assessment which helps me to understand your needs. We can also discuss coping mechanisms to help support you until our next session.

This first session is £15.