Sharon Poole

I offer in person sessions in Backwell on a Tuesday and Thursday afternoon and evening.

Online and remote sessions are avaliable Monday to Friday mornings via Zoom, Facetime and telephone. 

I can offer some early morning sessions before work and also some later evening sessions. 

I can sometimes be flexible with appoitments times as I have my own personal counselling room, therefore if these hours don't quite fit, please get in touch and we can discuss what may be possible. 

I also offer a free introductory telephone call before your first counselling session. This gives you the opportunity to ask any questions, tell me a little about what has brought you to counselling and see whether working together feels right for you.

If you are a student, work shifts, have caring responsibilities or simply need an appointment that fits around a busy schedule, please do ask about current availability.

Hello, I’m Sharon, a BACP registered integrative counsellor based in Backwell, near Bristol, offering in-person, online and telephone counselling for adults.

I work particularly with women experiencing anxiety, overthinking, overwhelm, burnout, low self-worth, relationship difficulties, trauma, people-pleasing and major life changes. I also have a particular interest in supporting highly sensitive and neurodivergent women, including those exploring ADHD, autism, masking and identity.

I particularly enjoy working with students and understand that university life can bring its own pressures, academic pressure, stress, anxiety, relationships, identity, confidence, loneliness, uncertainty, and the challenge of balancing many demands,

You may appear to be coping on the outside while feeling exhausted, anxious or disconnected underneath. Perhaps you spend a lot of time worrying, putting other people first, struggling to switch off or feeling responsible for everyone around you.

You might find it hard to rest without guilt, struggle to say no, stay busy to avoid difficult feelings or notice yourself losing touch with what you need.

Relationships, separation, divorce, trust, attachment or past experiences may also be affecting how you feel about yourself and others.

Therapy can offer a space where you do not have to look after anyone else. You can slow down, talk openly and begin to understand yourself with greater compassion.

You do not need to arrive knowing exactly what is wrong or what you want to talk about. We can begin with whatever feels most important to you.

I work integratively, drawing from person-centred, psychodynamic, relational and CBT approaches. This means I can adapt the way we work to you as an individual rather than expecting you to fit one particular style of therapy.

My approach is warm, grounded, compassionate and collaborative. I aim to offer a calm, non-judgmental space where you can feel heard, accepted and able to explore what is happening at a pace that feels manageable.

I believe the relationship between counsellor and client is an important part of therapy. Feeling genuinely seen and understood can be especially meaningful if you have spent much of your life feeling responsible for others, misunderstood or unable to express what you really need.

I support clients with anxiety, social anxiety, overthinking, burnout, perfectionism, low self-esteem, people-pleasing, boundaries, relationship and attachment difficulties, separation and divorce, trauma, PTSD, childhood trauma, sexual trauma, grief, depression, work stress and life transitions.

I also work with neurodivergent clients and those exploring ADHD, autism, masking, sensitivity and identity.

Together, we can explore patterns that may be keeping you stuck, understand where they come from and help you develop a stronger sense of yourself, your needs and the choices available to you.

Starting counselling can feel like a big step, especially if you are used to managing things on your own or putting other people first.

I offer a free introductory telephone call before booking your first counselling session. This gives you the opportunity to tell me a little about what has brought you to counselling, ask any questions and get a sense of whether working together feels right for you. There is no pressure to decide immediately.

If we agree to work together, your first session is a chance for us to begin getting to know one another. We can talk about what is happening in your life, what you are finding difficult and what you would like support with. You do not need to prepare anything or know exactly what you want to say.

I may ask some questions to help me understand your situation, but there is no expectation that you tell me everything straight away.

We can also discuss practicalities, confidentiality, how often you would like to meet and what you hope counselling might offer you.

Sessions are available in person in Backwell, near Bristol, or online via Zoom, FaceTime or telephone. I offer weekly and fortnightly appointments depending on your needs and circumstances.

The most important thing is that you feel able to begin at your own pace. We can simply start with where you are now.