Elaine Ray

Monday and Tuesday - days / evenings

Saturday - mornings

Psychological and emotion distress can be reduced when a person talks with a therapist who is trustworthy, caring, accepting and non-judgemental. A therapist who is there for you but who will also offer different perspectives if you are open to this. As a therapist I endeavour to provide this and to deeply listen to you to help you make sense of whatever is causing your distress. I can offer thoughts and ideas about how to look after yourself and cope with stress and difficult situations in your life. My genuine wish is to provide a therapeutic space that helps reduce your distress.  Therapy can also help facilitate personal development/growth which can bring about positive changes in your life.

Sometimes people's distress isn't necessarily caused by a specific event or situation. It may be a culmination of things. It may be something you have felt for a long time, but can't get to the bottom of. Therapy can help you to explore these things, gain some clarity and understand yourself better. Therapy cannot alter your external situations or stressors, but it can help you to cope with them better.

I have been employed as an Employee Assistance Programme counsellor for the last 8 years which includes 4 years experience working with health insurance company referrals. I have worked with a wide range of issues, life events and situations.  I have worked with bereavement and loss, ill-health, relationship difficulties and anxiety and depression. 

I am an Accredited Person-Centred Counsellor and Psychotherapist working with adults and practicing for 12 years.

I am a recognised provider to AXA Health, Aviva and Vitality Health.

The majority of my sessions are delivered online or by video.  I have access to a therapy room for face to face sessions if required.

Sessions are 50 minutes in duration.

Prior to your first session I will provide information about how my service operates and what you can expect.  This is an ethical requirement of all counsellors so that you can make an informed decision as to whether you wish to proceed.  You will be able to ask any questions before proceeding and there will also be time at the beginning of the first session if you want to discuss any concerns you may have.

Once you are happy to proceed we will start to talk about what has lead you to reach out for support and what you would like to achieve from the sessions.  We will discuss how many sessions you might need.  Sometimes people's situations are complex and could be more effectively helped by a different or specialist service.  We will discuss this should it become apparent during our sessions.