Mary Watkins

I see clients on Wednesdays at my counselling room in Blackwood. My working hours are 10am to 5pm.  I also offer limited online appointments throughout the week. 

Getting in touch

You can contact me on 07415 014690. I may not be able to answer straight away, but if you leave a message, I'll get back to you as soon as I'm free. 

Hi, I'm Mary.

Anxiety, depression, and intrusive thoughts are horrible feelings; they can impact all areas of your life. They can be caused by bereavement, job loss, family and relationship problems, or sometimes, seemingly out of the blue. It can feel like there is no escape. I've been where you are (still find myself there on occasion) and know how difficult it can be when things get too much.

I have personal experience with intrusive thoughts and health anxiety, which I feel gives me a solid understanding of what you might be going through and how it can be overcome. I draw on elements of CBT and ERP to help with these problems. You are not alone. There is help.

My counselling experience

Alongside my private practice, I have worked as a counsellor with:

2wish – providing counselling to families following the unexpected death of a child or young person under the age of 25

New Pathways – providing specialist counselling and advocacy to people affected by rape and sexual abuse

Mind Mental Health Charity

Cruse Bereavement Care – providing grief counselling 

I hold the following qualifications and training:

Level 5 Diploma in Trauma Informed Counselling – New Pathways

Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling

ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training)

Cruse Bereavement Care training

The first 10 minutes of our initial session will be spent on essential admin. 

How I work

My role is to listen, understand, and help you make sense of what you are experiencing. Sometimes, having someone genuinely listen and try to understand can be so important. There is no one way to 'do' counselling. 

Clients often tell me they don't know where to start. You don't have to explain everything perfectly, and you don't have to know what you want from counselling right away. You can start anywhere.

I work on a Thursday between 11.30am to 5.45pm

I know from personal experience that anxiety and depression are horrible. They can be caused by traumatic events from the past which keep resurfacing.  It could be the situation you are experiencing at present causing you to have these feelings; or just seemingly appear for no apparent reason.

I cant promise an overnight recovery but I can work with you to overcome and understand these feelings. 

I work from a person centred perspective. I use elements of CBT and ACT (acceptance commitment therapy) 

Counselling is not about giving advice and telling you what I think you should do. It's about me listening, reflecting on what you say and helping you to find your own answers and ways of dealing with your problems. 

Counselling could be the best gift you ever give yourself.

The first session is for you to decide if I am the therapist for you. You can ask me whatever you'd like to know and I will do my best to answer your questions. 

If you decide you'd like more sessions, we will arrange a day and time suitable for both of us.

Sessions can be weekly or fortnightly. The choice is yours.