Aneta Kolodziejska

I currently have availability for new clients.

I offer sessions Monday to Friday, with some evening appointments available. Sessions are held online, which allows you to access support from the comfort of your own space.

If I am away or fully booked, I will update this section. Please feel free to email me at:  aneta@dearselfcounselling.co.uk  to check availability or to arrange a FREE initial conversation.

I aim to respond to enquiries within 24–48 hours (Monday–Friday).

If you are contacting me during a period of annual leave, I will include return dates on my voicemail or email auto-reply so you know when to expect a response.

Do you find yourself worrying about everything, even things that seem small to everyone else?

Perhaps your mind races at night, replaying conversations or imagining what could go wrong. You want a good, lasting relationship — but somehow it doesn't feel easy. Maybe communication with your partner has broken down, or you feel misunderstood, even lonely, despite being with someone.

I specialise in supporting people with anxiety and relationship difficulties, and you're not alone in this — it doesn't have to stay this way.

Working together, you can learn to quiet the constant worry and feel more settled in your own mind. You'll develop a better understanding of what drives your anxiety, and practical ways to manage it day to day. In your relationship, you'll build the tools to communicate more openly and honestly — so you feel heard, understood, and genuinely connected again.

I understand this from more than professional training. I've been married for over 20 years, through different stages, which has taught me what real communication takes, especially when it doesn't come naturally. My partner lives with anxiety, so I understand it not just in theory, but in daily life — how it shows up, and what genuinely helps.

Before training as a counsellor, I worked for many years in social services, including as a leaving care worker supporting young people through some of the most unstable and uncertain periods of their lives. This has given me a deep understanding of what it means to feel unsafe, unsupported, or disconnected — and how much of a difference it makes to have someone who stays steady with you through it.

I've also lived in the UK for over 20 years myself, and I know what it means to make difficult choices, live with the weight of past decisions, and adapt to change.

If you're ready to feel calmer, clearer, and more connected — in your mind and your relationships — I'd be glad to help you get there.

Starting therapy can feel daunting. You may not know exactly what to say or where to begin — and that's completely okay.

 Many people arrive unsure and find that simply being able to speak without being rushed, judged, or interrupted is where things start to shift.

Many of the people I work with are thoughtful and capable, yet find themselves stuck in patterns of:

anxiety and constant overthinking

relationship worries or reassurance-seeking

emotional reactivity or anger

self-criticism and feeling not "good enough"

Together, we gently explore where these patterns come from and how they may have developed as ways of coping. Understanding this often reduces shame and self-blame.

Alongside deeper exploration, I offer practical tools to help you:

step back from unhelpful thought cycles

regulate strong emotions

respond differently in difficult moments

build healthier boundaries and self-trust

Having lived abroad for over 20 years, I also understand the emotional impact of relocation, cultural adjustment, and the feeling of being caught between identities.

Therapy with me is a space where you do not have to hold everything together. 

We work at a pace that feels manageable and respectful of your needs.

Booking a first session can feel like a big step — especially if you're someone who overthinks everything or worries about saying the "wrong" thing. You don't need to have the right words ready, or even know exactly what's wrong. You just need to show up as you are.

The first session is simply a chance for us to meet and see whether we feel comfortable working together. There's no pressure to commit beyond this — and no expectation that you'll have it all figured out.

We'll talk about what has brought you to therapy, what's been on your mind, and what you'd like things to look like going forward. I may ask a few gentle questions about your background to help me understand the wider picture, but you only ever share what feels comfortable — nothing more.

I'll also explain a little about how I work, talk through confidentiality, and answer any questions you have, so you know exactly what to expect going forward.

Some clients arrive with a clear issue in mind. Others simply know they don't feel like themselves anymore, without being able to put a finger on why. Both are completely welcome here.

The first session is charged at my standard rate, unless otherwise agreed in advance.

If, after meeting, you feel I'm not the right fit for you, that's okay too — I'll help you think through what might be a better next step.

Taking this first step can feel difficult, especially when anxiety makes even small decisions feel bigger than they are. But you don't have to have everything figured out before you begin. We can take it one step at a time, at your pace.

I look forward to hearing from you whenever you feel ready.  aneta@dearselfcounselling.co.uk