Dawinder Shinhmar

I currently offer face-to-face counselling sessions near Reading town centre, with weekday daytime and evening sessions, as well as Saturday morning sessions.

You’re welcome to contact me with any questions and to talk about whether working together feels right for you. I aim to respond to enquiries as promptly as possible.

Any planned time away will be updated here in advance, and I look forward to hearing from you.

I offer a calm, supportive and confidential space where you can talk things through at your own pace. You might be feeling overwhelmed, stuck, anxious, low, or unsure how to move forward in yourself or in life. Whatever has brought you here, you don’t have to make sense of it on your own.

I am a qualified and BACP-registered counsellor, and I work with adults experiencing anxiety, stress, low mood, low self-esteem, and life changes or challenges. Often, people come to therapy when things have started to feel heavy, confusing, or difficult to manage, and together we can gently explore what has been happening for you and the impact on you.

My approach is mainly person-centred, which means I focus on you and what matters most to you. I won’t tell you who to be or how you should feel. Instead, I aim to meet you where you are, with openness, care and respect, so you can feel more understood and begin to get a bit more clarity on your own experience.

As we work together, we can begin to make sense of things at a pace that feels manageable for you, gently noticing patterns, thoughts or feelings that may have been hard to put into words before. Over time, this can create more space for clarity, self-understanding, and the possibility of meaningful change when you feel ready for it.

I work in a warm, steady and responsive way, and I’ll always adapt my approach to suit what you need from your sessions, while offering a steady and consistent way of working together.

I offer counselling for adults experiencing anxiety, stress, low mood, low self-esteem, or life changes and challenges. Sessions take place in person near Reading town centre, in your own counselling room within a building used by other counsellors and therapists, with excellent transport links and nearby parking.

Sessions last 50 minutes and can be short-term, long-term, or open-ended, depending on what feels right for you. Some people come with something specific they want to focus on, and others prefer longer-term support as things unfold. We can take things at your pace and see what feels most helpful for you as we go.

I offer appointments Monday to Friday, including daytime and evening availability, as well as Saturday mornings.

Starting counselling can sometimes feel like a big step, and I’m here to make it as comfortable as possible. You’re welcome to a free, no-pressure 15-minute phone or video call to ask questions, share what you're looking for, and see whether working together feels right for you.

If you decide to begin, we will work at your pace, focusing on what feels most important for you. I aim to offer a consistent, supportive space where you can feel heard and take time to explore things in a way that feels manageable.

Before our first session together, I offer a free, no-pressure 15-minute phone or online call. This is a chance for you to ask any questions, share a little about what’s bringing you to counselling, and get a sense of whether I feel like the right person for you to work with. It also gives me the opportunity to explain a bit about how I work and how counselling might support you.

If you decide to continue, our first session is a space to get to know each other and explore what has been going on for you. You’ll have the chance to talk about what you’re hoping for and the areas where you’d like support with.  Some people come with something specific they want to focus on, while others prefer longer-term support as things unfold. Together, we’ll take things at your pace and see what feels most helpful for you.

I’ll also go through a shared working agreement with you, so the way we work together feels clear from the beginning.

Sessions are usually 50 minutes and take place weekly, normally at the same time each week.