Pauline Forster-Fowler

Life doesn’t always give us time to pause — therapy does

Beginning therapy can feel like a big step. I offer a free 15–20 minute introductory call so you can share what brings you, ask questions and get a sense of whether working together feels right. 

You’re welcome to contact me by phone, email, text or WhatsApp. My voicemail is always on — please feel free to leave a message with your contact details and a convenient time for for me to call you back. 

Therapy can be short‑term, long‑term, time‑limited or even a single session — whatever supports you best. Our sessions can be a holding space whilst on a waiting list to HNHS services or to complement previous counselling that has been time focused.

I work with individual Adults (18+)

You can choose to work with me:

• In‑person sessions from my home in Sedgefield, County Durham (TS21)

• Online sessions from anywhere in the UK

Both options offer a confidential, supportive space where you can talk openly and be met with care and respect.

• Availability: Tuesday–Friday (08:30–18:00), with some Saturday mornings

• Flexible scheduling: weekly, fortnightly or spaced to suit your needs

Fees:

• Introductory call (15–20 minutes): Free – online or phone

• Initial session: £55 (60 minutes)

• Ongoing counselling: £65 (60 minutes)

• Supervision: £65 (60 minutes)

• Option of 30‑minute (£30) or 90‑minute (£90) sessions

For Fellow Practitioners:

I offer Clinical Supervision to counsellors, therapists (trainees and qualified), and professionals in supportive roles. My supervision style is collaborative, reflective and respectful of your experience and goals. Together, we ensure supervision strengthens your clinical work, professional development and wellbeing.

Life can move quickly, and it isn’t always easy to find space to pause and make sense of what you’re carrying. I provide a steady, confidential place to explore whatever feels overwhelming, confusing, or difficult to navigate. Whether you’re adjusting to university life, managing work pressures, facing a major life transition, or seeking support with your emotional wellbeing, you don’t have to do it alone.

I offer a calm, grounded therapeutic space where you can talk openly and without judgement. You don’t need to arrive with the “right words” — simply come as you are. Together, we work at a pace that feels manageable, helping you move towards clarity, resilience and a greater sense of balance.

I provide short‑term and long‑term therapy, shaped around your needs, goals and circumstances.

About Me

I am an MBACP Accredited Counsellor (qualified in 2004) and Clinical Supervisor, bringing over 20 years of experience across Higher Education, Adult Mental Health Services, Substance Misuse & Alcohol Recovery Services, CAMHS, Samaritans and Private Practice. My approach is Integrative and shaped around your individual needs. I work with warmth, steadiness and authenticity — and my style is gentle, intuitive and grounded.

My decade within Durham University has given me extensive experience supporting students, staff and trainee counsellors from diverse backgrounds, cultures and life stages. This has deepened my understanding of the complex pressures people face and the support they often need to move towards emotional calm and improved wellbeing.

Here are a few of the trainings attended as a core part of my role:

• Safeguarding Training

• Sexual violence, Domestic Violence & Stalking Training

• ASSIST Suicide Prevention Training

• Single Use & Compassion Focused Therapy

• Working with Addictions & Recovery

• Risk Assessment and Managing Crisis

 I maintain a high standard of Professional development and will continue to do so to support my practice.

If something matters to you, it matters here.

These are some of the areas I work with:

Students & Academic Life

With over a decade of experience in Higher Education, including many years within Durham University, I have a deep understanding of the pressures faced by students and those working in academic environments. I support clients with:

• adjusting to university or college life

• homesickness, imposter syndrome and academic pressure

• balancing study, identity, independence and wellbeing

• navigating relationships, transitions and uncertainty

• postgraduate stress, perfectionism and burnout

I also work with university staff, student‑support teams and professionals connected with academic settings.

Women’s Wellbeing & Life Transitions

I offer compassionate, informed support for women navigating:

• perimenopause and menopause

• identity shifts and emotional changes

• relationship pressures and family demands

• returning to work, career changes or life after significant events

• reconnecting with yourself during times of transition

My approach is grounded in understanding the complexity of women’s health, lived experience and the many roles women often hold.

Complex Life Challenges & Emotional Wellbeing

I work with adults experiencing:

• anxiety, stress, burnout and emotional overwhelm

• bereavement, grief and loss

• relationship difficulties, identity concerns and low self‑esteem

• workplace stress, redundancy and career uncertainty

• major life changes, crossroads and periods of instability

• cultural adjustment, spirituality and personal development

A Safe, Steady Space

My role is to offer a calm, grounded environment where you can explore your thoughts and feelings without judgement. You don’t need to prepare anything or arrive with the “right words” — simply come as you are. Together, we’ll work towards clarity, resilience and a greater sense of wellbeing.

What to Expect 

Starting therapy can feel like a big step, so I aim to make the process as calm and straightforward as possible. From the moment you get in touch, you’ll be met with warmth, clarity and a steady pace that suits you.

Before Your First Session

You are warmly invited to book a free 15–20-minute introductory call, this can be a video call or phone call. This is a gentle, no‑pressure conversation where you can share what’s bringing you to therapy, ask any questions, and get a sense of whether working together feels right for you or to arrange an Initial session.

You’re welcome to contact me by email, phone, text, WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger.

My voicemail is always on, please feel free to leave a message with your contact details and a convenient time for me to call you back.

Initial Session - Your first full session lasts 60 minutes. We’ll explore what you’d like support with, what you hope to gain from therapy, and what feels most important right now. There’s no expectation to share everything at once — we go at your pace. Together, we’ll begin shaping a way of working that feels safe, manageable and meaningful for you.

Ongoing Sessions - Each session is tailored to your needs. Some people come weekly, others fortnightly, and some prefer sessions spaced further apart depending on availability, finances or emotional capacity. 

I offer supervision as a collaborative, reflective space where we can speak openly, with curiosity and courage, about your therapeutic work. As a BACP Accredited Counsellor (qualifying in 2004) and Clinical Supervisor (since 2022), I bring over two decades of experience to my supervisory practice. Much of the last ten years has been spent at Durham University, supporting trainee counsellors, volunteers on placement, and qualified therapists within an elite collegiate environment. My background also includes Adult Mental Health Services, Substance Misuse and Alcohol Recovery Services. I now bring this breadth of experience, energy, and commitment into my private practice.

Supervision with me is a place where it feels both nourishing and safe to explore the full spectrum of your client work — celebrating what goes well while also having the courage and support to look at the more complex or challenging moments. It motivates me deeply to use my experience and expertise to help you thrive in your therapeutic role.

I recognise that therapeutic work can sometimes feel isolating, so I place great value on creating a positive, reliable support network. I offer a supervisory relationship grounded in collaboration, non‑judgement, and genuine curiosity.

My approach is Integrative and Reflective, drawing on my training and experience while remaining rooted in the Person‑Centred values that first drew me into this profession. These values continue to guide me as I sit alongside supervisees with empathy, respect, and authenticity.

I offer both in‑person and online supervision from my home in Sedgefield, a beautiful market town on the edge of County Durham.

Why Choose Me as Your Supervisor

Choosing the right supervisor is an important part of feeling supported, confident, and grounded in your therapeutic work. Supervisees often choose to work with me because I offer:

• Depth of experience – Over twenty years in practice, including a decade supporting trainee and qualified therapists within an elite university setting, alongside experience in Adult Mental Health, Substance Misuse and Alcohol Recovery Services.

• A collaborative, non‑judgemental space – I create an environment where you can bring the full breadth of your client work — the successes, the uncertainties, and the more complex moments — knowing you will be met with curiosity, respect, and compassion.

• A Person‑Centred foundation – My work is grounded in the core conditions that first drew me into this profession. These values continue to shape how I sit alongside supervisees: with empathy, authenticity, and a genuine belief in your capacity to grow.

• A tailored approach – I adapt supervision to your unique style, goals, and developmental needs. Whether you are in training, newly qualified, or an experienced practitioner, our work together will be shaped around what supports you best.

• A gentle yet grounded style – I bring warmth, steadiness, and a touch of quirkiness to the supervisory relationship. Supervisees often describe feeling both held and encouraged — supported to reflect deeply while also feeling safe enough to stretch and develop.

• A commitment to ethical, reflective practice – I work in line with the BACP Ethical Framework, supporting you to navigate your work with integrity, clarity, and confidence.

If you are looking for a supervisor who offers a thoughtful balance of support, challenge, and genuine collaboration, I would be very happy to speak with you.

I offer supervision as a collaborative, reflective space where we can speak openly, with curiosity and courage, about your therapeutic work. As a BACP Accredited Counsellor (qualifying in 2004) and Clinical Supervisor (since 2022), I bring over two decades of experience to my supervisory practice. Much of the last ten years has been spent at Durham University, supporting trainee counsellors, volunteers on placement, and qualified therapists within an elite collegiate environment. My background also includes Adult Mental Health Services, Substance Misuse and Alcohol Recovery Services. I now bring this breadth of experience, energy, and commitment into my private practice.

Supervision with me is a place where it feels both nourishing and safe to explore the full spectrum of your client work — celebrating what goes well while also having the courage and support to look at the more complex or challenging moments. It motivates me deeply to use my experience and expertise to help you thrive in your therapeutic role.

I recognise that therapeutic work can sometimes feel isolating, so I place great value on creating a positive, reliable support network. I offer a supervisory relationship grounded in collaboration, non‑judgement, and genuine curiosity.

My approach is Integrative and Reflective, drawing on my training and experience while remaining rooted in the Person‑Centred values that first drew me into this profession. These values continue to guide me as I sit alongside supervisees with empathy, respect, and authenticity.

I offer Clinical Supervision to counsellors, therapists (trainees and qualified), and professionals in supportive roles. My supervision style is collaborative, reflective and respectful of your experience and goals. Together, we ensure supervision strengthens your clinical work, professional development and wellbeing.

• Availability: Tuesday–Friday (08:30–18:00), with some Saturday mornings

• Flexible scheduling: weekly, fortnightly or spaced to suit your needs & availability

You can choose to work with me:

• In person sessions from my home in Sedgefield, County Durham (TS21)

• Online sessions from anywhere in the UK

Both options offer a confidential, supportive space where you can talk openly and be met with care and respect.

Fees:

• If you would like an informal discussion, have any questions, or wish to book an initial session, please feel free to contact me. You are warmly invited to book a free 15–20-minute introductory call, this can be a video call or phone call. This is a gentle, no pressure conversation where you can share your journey so far, ask any questions, and get a sense of whether working together feels right for you or to arrange an Initial session.

• Initial session: £55 (60 minutes)

• Supervision: £65 (60 minutes)

• Option of 30 minute (£30) or 90 minute (£90) sessions 

* Student rates available-please ask. 

I’m always happy to offer further information that may support your decision.

I will provide you with all relevant information about session timings, fee’s & payment system, Confidentially Contract & Privacy Notice.

I will happily discuss all such processes and can answer any questions of queries you may have as/ when required.