Diane Stainton

I am currently available Monday to Thursday from 8am to 6pm. 

At the heart of my work is the therapeutic relationship. I aim to offer a steady, respectful space where we can explore together what has drawn you to counselling, what is happening in your life and inner world.

I work collaboratively, taking time to understand your experiences, feelings and concerns rather than applying fixed ideas or solutions. Through careful listening, reflection and shared exploration, we begin to notice patterns and meanings that may be contributing to distress.

My work is informed by a psychodynamic approach, which allows attention to both present difficulties and the ways earlier relationships and experiences can shape how we feel and relate now. My aim is to work at a pace that feels right for you. 

Coming to therapy can feel daunting -  I aim to offer a calm, confidential and respectful space where you can begin from wherever you are and listened to with care and attention. I aim to offer a steady and and reliable presence, helping you feel safe enough to talk openly and at your own pace about whatever is troubling you.

Our work together is collaborative rather than directive. I won’t tell you what to do or push towards quick solutions. Instead, we take time to understand your experiences, feelings and concerns, and to explore what may lie beneath them. This is often particularly helpful for people experiencing anxiety or depression, where patterns of thought, feeling and relationship can become entrenched or difficult to make sense of alone.

As therapy develops, we may gently explore emotional patterns, significant relationships and earlier life experiences, and how these continue to shape the present. My work is informed by a psychodynamic approach, with attention to both what you bring and what unfolds within the therapeutic relationship itself.

I work at a pace that feels right for you, being mindful of what feels manageable and meaningful. Sessions may involve reflection, careful listening, gentle questioning and making links over time, always guided by your priorities.

I offer sessions online, allowing you to engage in therapy from your own space. I pay close attention to creating a sense of connection, privacy and containment within online work, and support clients in settling into this way of working.

Above all, I aim to offer a thoughtful, compassionate and ethically grounded therapeutic relationship, where understanding can deepen and change can emerge gradually.

The first session is a chance for us to meet, begin a conversation, and see whether working together feels like a good fit for you. If this is your first experience of therapy, it’s natural to feel unsure about what to expect. There is no expectation to know what to say or where to begin — we can start wherever feels easiest.

The session will be mainly a conversation. I’ll invite you to talk about what has brought you to therapy and what you’re finding difficult at the moment, and I may ask some gentle questions to help build a picture of your situation. This includes a light assessment of how things are for you emotionally and what support you already have. You are always in control of what you choose to share.

We will also spend some time going through the practical and contractual aspects of therapy, so you know clearly how the work is set up. This includes session length, fees (£50–£55 per 50-minute session), confidentiality and its limits, cancellation arrangements, and how we would work together. You are encouraged to ask questions at any point, and nothing is taken for granted.

As sessions are offered online, we will check that you feel comfortable using Zoom and that you have a private, quiet space where you can talk freely. I can offer simple guidance if you are unfamiliar with online sessions.

Towards the end of the meeting, we’ll take time to reflect on how the session has felt for you and discuss possible next steps. There is no obligation to commit beyond the first session, and it’s fine to take time to decide whether you’d like to continue.

The aim of the first session is to help you gain a sense of what therapy with me would be like and whether it feels right for you.