Felicity Botterill

Compassionate, trauma-informed counselling for young people (11+) and adults.

Life can feel overwhelming, confusing, or hard to manage, whether you are seeking support for yourself or because you are worried about your child. Many people reach this point after weeks or months of holding things together, unsure what help might look like but knowing something needs care and attention.

I offer trauma-informed counselling and psychotherapy for adolescents aged 11+, young people, and adults. I work in a calm, relational way, shaping therapy around the person rather than expecting them to fit a particular approach. My focus is on creating a space where you, or your child, can feel safe enough to begin talking, reflecting, and making sense of what is happening.

With young people, I work in developmentally appropriate ways that prioritise emotional safety, trust, and choice. Sessions may include talking alongside creative or reflective approaches to support expression when words are difficult to find.

With adults, therapy often involves gently exploring patterns, processing past or current experiences, and developing greater emotional safety and self-understanding. I work collaboratively and at a pace that feels manageable, recognising how vulnerable it can feel to open up.

I bring over 17 years of experience working with children, young people, adults, and families across therapeutic, educational, and community settings. I aim to offer therapy that feels human, supportive, and containing — a place where people feel comfortable, understood, and not judged.

Seeking counselling can feel like a big step, particularly when concerns have been building quietly over time. Many people arrive at this point unsure whether support is needed, or worried about taking up space when others seem to be coping. For parents, this often follows weeks or months of carrying concern about a child and feeling uncertain about what to do next.

I offer counselling for adolescents aged 11+, young people, and adults, supporting a wide range of emotional and psychological difficulties. These include anxiety and worry, low mood and depression, trauma, bereavement and anticipatory grief, emotional regulation difficulties, neurodiversity-related challenges, relationship difficulties, and significant life transitions.

Parents often contact me because they have noticed changes in their child and want a place where those concerns will be taken seriously. The aim is not to rush towards solutions, but to ensure young people feel supported and understood, and that parents feel steadied and less alone in navigating what can be an uncertain time.

Counselling sessions are available face to face, online, or through a combination of both, depending on what feels most supportive and accessible. This flexibility allows therapy to fit alongside family life, education, work, and other commitments.

If you are unsure whether counselling is the right step for you or your child, you are welcome to get in touch to talk things through and consider what support might be helpful.

I offer a free 20-minute consultation, by phone or online, before any therapy begins. This gives you the opportunity to talk things through, ask questions, and get a sense of whether working together feels right. There is no expectation to commit to counselling after this conversation.

If you decide to go ahead, the first counselling session is a separate appointment. This session is not about being assessed or judged. It is a chance for me to learn more about you, or about your child, and to understand what has led you to seek support at this time.

During the first session, we will talk gently about what has been difficult, what feels most important right now, and what you may be hoping for from therapy. With young people, this is done in a way that feels age-appropriate, respectful, and focused on helping them feel safe and comfortable.

I often complete a short assessment as part of this process. This is simply a way of helping us build a clearer picture of your experiences and, if helpful, to notice changes over time. Many people find this reassuring, as it helps us reflect together on how things are feeling as therapy progresses.

For parents seeking support for their child, there is space to share your observations and concerns, while ensuring the young person’s voice and emotional safety remain central.

It is very common to feel nervous or unsure at this stage. You do not need to have everything worked out — the first session is about beginning the conversation and taking things one step at a time.

New supervision is often sought at moments of growth, uncertainty, or increased complexity in practice. You may be in training, newly qualified, or working with material that feels emotionally demanding or ethically complex. I offer supervision as a collaborative, reflective space where your work can be explored with care, curiosity, and respect.

My approach to supervision is trauma-informed, integrative, and relational. I work in a developmental way, recognising that supervision needs shift over time and that different stages of practice bring different questions and pressures. I aim to offer a space where you feel supported and appropriately challenged, allowing for deeper reflection while maintaining emotional safety.

Supervision sessions often focus on case formulation, ethical decision-making, professional identity, and the emotional impact of the work. I draw on both formative and normative frameworks, holding client safety, supervisee wellbeing, and reflective practice at the centre.

I offer supervision face to face, online, or through a combination of both, depending on what feels most supportive and practical for your work and circumstances.

I provide clinical supervision for qualified counsellors, trainee therapists, and professionals working in therapeutic or supportive roles. I work with supervisees across a range of settings, including private practice, education, community services, and organisational contexts.

My supervisory practice is informed by over 17 years’ experience working with children, young people, adults, and families. I have particular experience supporting work involving trauma, loss and bereavement, emotional regulation, neurodiversity, and complex relational dynamics. This allows supervision to be grounded in real-world clinical experience as well as reflective theory.

Supervision is intended to support confidence, ethical clarity, and professional development, while also providing space to reflect on the personal impact of the work. Many supervisees value having a place where uncertainty can be explored openly and where they do not feel alone with difficult material.

I offer individual supervision, and welcome enquiries from both trainees and qualified practitioners. I also offer a free 20-minute initial consultation, by phone or online. This provides an opportunity to talk about your work, your supervision needs, and what you are hoping for from supervision, and to consider whether working together feels like a good fit.