Rachel Chapman

I offer face-to-face counselling from a peaceful and private garden room in Southport, conveniently located between Birkdale and Ainsdale and within easy reach of Formby.

Online sessions are also available if you would prefer to access counselling from home.

I work with adults, teenagers and young people, offering both short-term and longer-term therapy. Appointments are available on selected weekdays, with daytime and some early evening availability.

Please get in touch for current availability or if you'd like to ask a few questions before booking.

People come to counselling for all sorts of reasons. You might be struggling with anxiety, low mood, grief or a relationship that has become difficult. You may be dealing with a significant change in your life, feeling overwhelmed by everything you're carrying, or trying to make sense of something that has happened to you. Sometimes, you simply reach a point where managing things on your own no longer feels possible.

Whatever has brought you here, I offer a warm and relaxed space where you can talk openly about what is going on without worrying about being judged, interrupted or told what you should do. There is no pressure to have the right words, to know exactly where to begin, or to have everything neatly worked out.

I'm particularly interested in emotions and what they can tell us. Sometimes feelings can seem confusing or overwhelming, while at other times we may struggle to recognise or express them at all. Together, we can gently explore what might be happening beneath the surface and begin to make sense of your experiences.

I work with adults, teenagers and young people and have experience supporting people through a wide range of difficulties and life experiences. I also have particular experience working with neurodivergent children, teenagers and adults. This includes people who are curious about or exploring whether they may be neurodivergent, as well as those adjusting to a later diagnosis of ADHD or autism. Whether or not someone wants to pursue a formal diagnosis, I offer a space to explore their experiences, understand themselves better and consider what might help them thrive.

Before becoming a counsellor, I spent 21 years working as long-haul cabin crew. It was a very different career, but one which gave me a genuine appreciation for people, their stories and the fact that life rarely goes to plan.

Most importantly, I want counselling to feel like a space where you can be yourself,  without having to hold everything together for everyone else.

My approach is Person-Centred Experiential, which means that rather than following a set programme or telling you what you should do, we work together to understand what is happening for you.

I believe that our emotions can give us important information, even when we don't always understand them. In therapy, we can slow things down and pay attention to what you are feeling, thinking and experiencing, helping you make sense of what is happening beneath the surface.

Sometimes we can know something logically but still feel completely differently inside. Therapy can offer a space to explore that gap, without rushing to fix or change things before you're ready.

Alongside talking therapy, I also offer creative approaches such as imagery, drawing and other experiential techniques. These are entirely optional and can be explored if you feel they might help you express or explore something in a different way. And no, you definitely don't need to be 'good at art'!

My aim is to create a genuine therapeutic relationship where you feel heard, understood and able to explore things at your own pace.

Taking the first step towards counselling can feel daunting, so I offer a free, informal introductory call before you decide whether you'd like to work with me. It usually lasts around 15–20 minutes and gives us a chance to talk about what has brought you to counselling, for you to ask any questions, and to see whether I feel like the right person for you. There is no obligation to book.

If you decide to go ahead, your first counselling session is a chance to begin exploring what is going on for you. You don't need to prepare anything or know exactly where to start,  we can begin wherever feels right for you and take things at your own pace.

Specialist therapy for pilots and airline crew, from someone who understands.

I spent 21 years flying long haul as cabin crew before retraining as a therapist. I know the realities of the job: early starts, jet lag, time away from home, passenger pressures, performance monitoring, and the constant expectation to stay calm and composed no matter what’s happening. You won’t need to explain roster fatigue, Galley FM, difficult passengers, or the pressures of a highly pressurised environment, I genuinely get it.

Now, as a Person-Centred Experiential therapist, I offer a confidential, supportive space for crew and pilots to talk openly with someone who understands both the culture of aviation and its emotional impact. I’m mindful of the fears many crew have around stigma or potential career implications. While EAPs can be helpful, it often feels more comfortable to seek support completely separate from your company.

Therapy with me is a space where you don’t have to be the strong one, the calm one, or the responsible one. It’s just for you - to reset, reflect, and strengthen your wellbeing in a way that feels sustainable.

I am a qualified counsellor with a First-Class degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy, combining professional training with lived experience of the aviation lifestyle.

I specialise in supporting pilots and airline crew, alongside people facing a wide range of emotional and life challenges. My work is grounded in a Person-Centred Experiential approach, meaning therapy is shaped around you - your pace, your needs, and your experience.

I have particular experience supporting perinatal women and have carried out research in this area. I understand how complex this period can be - emotionally, physically, and practically. For those returning to flying after maternity leave, balancing parenting, unpredictable rosters, guilt, exhaustion, and identity shifts can be intense. This is a space where mixed feelings can be spoken about openly and without judgement.

I also work with relationship and family difficulties. Flying can strain partnerships, co-parenting, and extended family dynamics. Together, we explore communication patterns, conflict, disconnection, or quiet resentments that build when life feels out of balance.

In airline crew roles, pressure around appearance can be intense. Constant visibility, uniform standards, and comparison can affect your relationship with food, your body, and your self-worth. I offer a grounded, compassionate space to untangle these pressures and feel more at ease in yourself.

Grief and loss (recent or long past) are very much part of my work, including bereavement, relationship endings, pregnancy loss, and other significant life changes. I am also experienced in supporting survivors of sexual assault and rape, always working with sensitivity and ensuring you remain in control of the pace and depth of what we explore.

Alongside my Person-Centred approach, I am trained in Solution-Focused Therapy, so we can integrate practical, forward-looking work - identifying strengths, clarifying goals, and taking realistic steps toward change. Therapy can be short-term or longer-term, depending on what feels right for you.

All sessions are online, so we can work together wherever you are in the UK, around your schedule and roster. Before we meet, I’ll email you my therapy agreement to read and return. Payment can be made by bank transfer before the session.

In our first session, we’ll explore what you’d like support with and what you hope might feel different. There’s no pressure to explain everything perfectly or share more than feels comfortable. We go at your pace.

As a Person-Centred Experiential therapist, I won’t analyse you or tell you what you should be doing. I listen carefully and without judgement, helping you make sense of what’s happening beneath the surface - whether that’s anxiety, burnout, disrupted sleep, relationship strain, low mood, loss, or something harder to put into words.

If it’s helpful, we can draw on Solution-Focused Therapy to bring in practical, forward-looking work - identifying strengths, clarifying goals, and taking realistic steps toward change.

We can work short-term around a specific issue or longer-term for deeper exploration. We’ll review regularly to ensure the work continues to meet your needs.

I understand how unpredictable rosters can be, so I offer flexibility and can arrange sessions week by week.

** Please note: I can only provide therapy while you are physically in the UK due to legal and regulatory requirements. **

Specialist therapy for pilots and airline crew, from someone who understands.

I spent 21 years flying long haul as cabin crew before retraining as a therapist. I know the realities of the job: early starts, jet lag, time away from home, passenger pressures, performance monitoring, and the constant expectation to stay calm and composed no matter what’s happening. You won’t need to explain rosters, fatigue, Galley FM, difficult passengers, or the stress of working in a literally pressurised environment! I genuinely get it.

Now, as a Person-Centred Experiential therapist, I offer a confidential, supportive space for crew and pilots to talk openly with someone who understands both the culture of aviation and its emotional impact. I’m mindful of the fears many crew have around stigma or potential career implications. While EAPs can be helpful, it often feels more comfortable to seek support completely separate from your company.

Therapy with me is a space where you don’t have to be the strong one, the calm one, or the responsible one. It’s just for you - to reset, reflect, and strengthen your wellbeing in a way that feels sustainable.

I am a qualified counsellor with a First-Class degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy, combining professional training with lived experience of the aviation lifestyle.

I specialise in supporting pilots and airline crew, alongside people facing a wide range of emotional and life challenges. My work is grounded in a Person-Centred Experiential approach, meaning therapy is shaped around you - your pace, your needs, and your experience.

I have particular experience supporting perinatal women and have carried out research in this area. I understand how complex this period can be - emotionally, physically, and practically. For those returning to flying after maternity leave, balancing parenting, unpredictable rosters, guilt, exhaustion, and identity shifts can be intense. This is a space where mixed feelings can be spoken about openly and without judgement.

I also work with relationship and family difficulties. Flying can strain partnerships, co-parenting, and extended family dynamics. Together, we explore communication patterns, conflict, disconnection, or quiet resentments that build when life feels out of balance.

In airline crew roles, pressure around appearance can be intense. Constant visibility, uniform standards, and comparison can affect your relationship with food, your body, and your self-worth. I offer a grounded, compassionate space to untangle these pressures and feel more at ease in yourself.

Grief and loss (recent or long past) are very much part of my work, including bereavement, relationship endings, pregnancy loss, and other significant life changes. I am also experienced in supporting survivors of sexual assault and rape, always working with sensitivity and ensuring you remain in control of the pace and depth of what we explore.

Alongside my Person-Centred approach, I am trained in Solution-Focused Therapy, so we can integrate practical, forward-looking work - identifying strengths, clarifying goals, and taking realistic steps toward change. Therapy can be short-term or longer-term, depending on what feels right for you.

All sessions are online, so we can work together wherever you are in the UK, around your schedule and roster. Before we meet, I’ll email you my therapy agreement to read and return. Payment can be made by bank transfer before the session.

In our first session, we’ll explore what you’d like support with and what you hope might feel different. There’s no pressure to explain everything perfectly or share more than feels comfortable. We go at your pace.

As a Person-Centred Experiential therapist, I won’t analyse you or tell you what you should be doing. I listen carefully and without judgement, helping you make sense of what’s happening beneath the surface - whether that’s anxiety, burnout, disrupted sleep, relationship strain, low mood, loss, or something harder to put into words.

If it’s helpful, we can draw on Solution-Focused Therapy to bring in practical, forward-looking work - identifying strengths, clarifying goals, and taking realistic steps toward change.

We can work short-term around a specific issue or longer-term for deeper exploration. We’ll review regularly to ensure the work continues to meet your needs.

I understand how unpredictable rosters can be, so I offer flexibility and can arrange sessions week by week.

** Please note: I can only provide therapy while you are physically in the UK due to legal and regulatory requirements. **