Yasmin Haq

I currently have availability throughout the week, with appointments available Monday to Saturday.

I am based in Leicester city centre, where I offer face-to-face counselling from my own dedicated therapy room. I also offer online and telephone sessions, giving you the flexibility to choose the format that feels most comfortable and accessible for you.

I understand that finding time for counselling can be difficult alongside work, family and other commitments, so I aim to offer a range of appointment times and will always try to find a mutually suitable day and time.

I offer a free 15-minute initial consultation. This is a brief opportunity for us to talk about what has brought you to counselling, what you may be looking for and any questions you might have. It also allows us both to get a sense of whether working together feels right for you.

If you would like to discuss availability, please feel free to get in touch.

Sometimes taking the first step towards counselling can be difficult. You may know exactly what you want help with, or you may simply know that things don't feel right and that you need somewhere to talk.

I believe counselling begins with having a space where you can feel genuinely heard, understood and accepted. My approach is warm, compassionate and non-judgemental. I don't believe you need to have everything worked out before you come to therapy, and I won't tell you what you should or shouldn't do.

Instead, I work collaboratively with you to understand your experiences and what is happening in your life. We can explore what feels important to you, at a pace that feels manageable, while keeping your individual needs and goals at the centre of our work.

I work in a person-centred and trauma-informed way and have experience supporting children, young people and adults with a wide range of difficulties, including anxiety, depression, trauma, low self-esteem, bereavement, relationship difficulties, self-harm and suicidal thoughts.

My experience has also taught me that people cannot always be separated from the wider circumstances of their lives. Family, relationships, culture, identity, education, work and past experiences can all shape how we feel and how we cope.

My aim is to offer a therapeutic relationship where you can be yourself without judgement, feel safe enough to be honest, and begin to make sense of whatever has brought you to counselling.

I am a BACP Registered Counsellor with several years' experience working with children, young people and adults across private practice, education and specialist services.

Since 2021, I have developed my own private practice, Hold Your Hand Counselling, and now work from dedicated premises in Leicester city centre. Alongside my private practice, I currently work across two secondary schools and a college, and have previously worked within specialist services supporting children and young people affected by sexual violence.

My experience includes working with trauma, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, bereavement, relationship difficulties, self-harm, suicidal thoughts and other complex emotional experiences. I work with each person as an individual, recognising that there is no single way of experiencing or responding to difficult situations.

I am of dual heritage and have spent many years working with and supporting people from diverse communities. I am also a mother, and I understand the importance that family, culture, identity and belonging can have in shaping our experiences. I welcome clients from all backgrounds, cultures, beliefs, identities, ages and walks of life.

For me, counselling is not about trying to change who you are or giving you a list of things you should do. It is about creating a genuine connection and providing a space where you can talk openly, feel understood and begin to explore what is happening for you.

Whether you are feeling overwhelmed, lost, struggling with something from the past, or simply finding life difficult at the moment, you don't have to make sense of everything before reaching out. We can start from wherever you are.

What to expect from your first session

Taking the first step towards counselling can feel daunting, so I offer a free 15-minute initial consultation. This gives us an opportunity to briefly talk about what has brought you to counselling, what you may be looking for and any questions you might have. It also gives us both a chance to consider whether working together feels right for you.

If you decide to continue, sessions last 50 minutes and are usually held weekly, either face-to-face in my Leicester city centre therapy room, online or by telephone. Sessions are arranged at a mutually convenient day and time.

My fee is £50 per 50-minute session for adults and £60 for children and young people under 18.

During our first full session, we will spend some time understanding what has brought you to counselling and what you would like support with. I will explain how I work, discuss confidentiality and boundaries, and make sure you have an opportunity to ask any questions before we begin.

When working with children and young people, I may liaise with parents or carers where appropriate. This will always be discussed openly and forms part of creating a supportive and consistent approach to the therapeutic work.

There is no expectation that you arrive knowing exactly what you need or where to begin. We can start from wherever you are and work together at a pace that feels comfortable for you.

I currently have availability for trainee and qualified counsellors seeking clinical supervision.

Supervision can be offered weekly, fortnightly or monthly, depending on your placement, caseload and individual requirements.

I currently have daytime availability, with limited evening appointments. Sessions are available face-to-face in Leicester city centre or online via a secure video platform.

If you are looking for your first supervisor, or are a qualified counsellor considering a change of supervisor, please get in touch. I welcome an initial conversation to discuss what you are looking for and whether I may be the right fit for you.

Please contact me for current availability.

My supervision style is warm, collaborative, reflective and appropriately challenging. I want you to have space to bring the difficult sessions, the questions, the ethical dilemmas and the clients who stay on your mind. You do not need to have everything figured out before you come to supervision.

I believe supervision should support you to develop your own clinical thinking rather than simply provide answers. I also value difference and diversity and approach conversations about culture, identity and lived experience with openness, curiosity and a willingness to listen and learn.

For me, good supervision is about creating a relationship where you can be challenged without feeling judged, develop your professional confidence and continue to grow as a counsellor.

If you are looking for your first supervisor or feel ready for a change, get in touch. We can have an initial conversation and see whether we are the right fit for each other.

Supervision with me is collaborative, reflective and tailored to your individual needs and stage of development.

I see supervision as more than simply reviewing client work or meeting placement requirements. It is a space to slow down, think, reflect and develop your confidence as a practitioner. Together, we can explore client work, risk, safeguarding, ethical dilemmas, boundaries, professional development and the impact of the work on you.

I will offer support, encouragement and appropriate challenge, while respecting that you are developing your own therapeutic identity and way of working. I am interested in helping you think through your decisions rather than simply providing answers, so that you can develop your own clinical judgement and confidence.

I welcome honest conversations about the sessions that went well, the ones that didn't, the clients who have stayed on your mind and the moments when you are unsure what to do next. You do not need to arrive with everything worked out.

My aim is to develop a supervisory relationship where you feel safe to be curious, question your practice, learn from your experiences and continue to grow as a counsellor.

Initial Conversation

I offer a complimentary 30-minute initial conversation before you decide whether to begin supervision with me.

This is an informal opportunity for us to get to know each other, talk about what you are looking for from supervision and explore whether we feel we would be a good fit to work together.

We can discuss your current placement or practice, the client group you are working with, your supervision requirements and anything you feel would be important for me to know. I can also explain how I work and answer any questions you may have about supervision.

I see this as a two-way conversation. It is important that you feel comfortable with me and my approach, and it is equally important that I feel I can offer the type of supervision and support you are looking for. We can also consider practicalities such as availability, frequency and whether face-to-face or online supervision would work best for you.

There is no obligation to continue following the initial conversation. If we both feel that supervision would be a good fit, we can arrange your first session and agree a supervision contract covering areas such as confidentiality, record-keeping, fees, frequency and responsibilities.

The initial conversation can take place face-to-face in Leicester city centre or online.