Trisha Parsons

I offer face-to-face counselling in my tranquil, light and airy dedicated therapy room.  I also offer outdoor sessions and online sessions via WhatsApp video or FaceTime. 

I only offer couple's counselling on a face-to-face basis.

Outdoor sessions take place under cover, in a private and quiet garden location, with overhead heating if necessary.  If strong wind or driving rain make this impossible, we will revert to online session instead.

I have worked as a counsellor for over thirty years and have been accredited by BACP for over twenty years.  I have experience of providing counselling within organisations and also to individuals and couples in my private practice.

I have provided counselling to several charities, employee assistance programmes, a film company, HM Coastguard, the Law Courts, Local Authorities, Parcelforce, Post Office, and Royal Mail.  I have a diploma in Gestalt Counselling and a Post-graduate Diploma in Organisational Counselling.  I have extensive experience with helping people from many walks of life, cultures, ethnicity, sexuality and ages.

Much of my work involves helping people heal from trauma and my approach is trauma informed.  This means a recognition that all trauma can have a long-term, profound effect on an individual's physical and mental health

I now mainly see individuals for personal therapy, both short-term and long-term, as well as couple's counselling.   I am a qualified and accredited member of the British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy. I am also qualified and accredited to work in the specialised field of sex addiction and sexually compulsive behaviours and am accredited with the Association for treatment of Sex Addiction & Compulsivity.  I do not work with people with sex-offending behaviours, but I am trained and qualified to work with partners of such people.

My principal way of working is Gestalt Therapy, although I have been trained in, influenced by and incorporated a number of ideas from other psychological theories too.  In Gestalt therapy, the client-therapist relationship is regarded as of significant importance.  The emphasis is not on goals, but on increasing and developing awareness so that the client can gain new or increased awareness and understanding about old ways of thinking, feeling and being, in a safe space to  explore their experiences without fear of judgement.

My private practice is based in a quiet residential area of Newquay, about a mile from the town centre, and close to cliff tops and beaches.  Bus and train stations are within a short walking distance, and there is free on-street parking in the immediate vicinity.

I have a dedicated therapy room.  I also offer face-to-face therapy outdoors, under-cover in my private, peaceful flower-filled garden where you might see free-range chickens pecking about.   The overall feeling is of peace and calmness.  For the discretion and confidentiality of my clients, there are no external advertisements or signs indicating that this is a therapy practice.

I have a small therapy-dog, Ziggy.  He is very friendly, non-moulting and hypoallergenic.  Research shows that many people find it comforting to have an animal to pet or stroke during therapy sessions.  Please let me know if you'd prefer not to have him around.

Before our first session I will email you a Questionnaire and request that you complete and return to me before we meet.   This will enable me to understand the challenges and difficulties that have led you to look for help.  I will also send you my Therapy Agreement, so that you can see how I work.  At our first session you will have an opportunity to see if I'm the right therapist for you.  I will do my best to make you feel welcome and put you at ease, as well as answering any questions you may have.  At this stage, I may not be able to give an indication as to how many sessions you are likely to need, and I may suggest we contract to six sessions and then review and discuss how to go forward.

If you are seeking therapy as a couple, I would like one or two sessions with both partners separately before embarking on work with you as a couple.