Elle Petri

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, emotionally exhausted or unsure of who you are or where you’re heading, you’re not alone. Many of the girls and women I work with describe carrying a great deal - intense emotions, internal pressure, or a sense of needing to hold everything together. Therapy can offer a steady space to pause, reflect and begin understanding yourself with greater clarity and compassion.

I’m Elle, a Counsellor and CBT Therapist. Alongside my private practice, I work within CAMHS (NHS), supporting young people and families with a range of emotional and mental health needs. This experience informs my awareness of developmental stages, family dynamics and the broader systems that influence wellbeing.

My approach is trauma-informed, relational and integrative. I draw on CBT to help manage overwhelming thoughts and emotional cycles, psychodynamic perspectives to explore past experiences and recurring relational patterns, and ACT to strengthen self-compassion and values-led action. I work collaboratively, adapting sessions to your pace, emotional capacity and communication style.

I have particular experience supporting autistic and ADHD clients and practise in a neurodiversity-affirming way. I am mindful of masking, sensory sensitivity, burnout and cognitive fatigue, and aim to create an environment that feels regulated and accessible.

I support clients with emotional regulation, anxiety, identity and self-esteem, relationship dynamics, overwhelm and life transitions. Whether you are a teenager exploring who you are, a young woman navigating uncertainty, or moving through a new life phase, therapy can provide a grounded space to reconnect with yourself and build sustainable self-trust.

(If you message me, please check your junk folder)

In my practice, clients can expect a consistent, thoughtful and collaborative therapeutic relationship. I work in a way that is relational, meaning I pay attention not only to what you bring, but to how we relate within the room. I believe that change often happens through experiencing a safe, attuned and authentic connection.

I adapt therapy to your developmental stage, emotional capacity and communication style. With teenagers, this may mean working more practically and creatively to build emotional language and regulation skills. With adults, our work may involve deeper exploration of relational patterns, identity and internal narratives that have developed over time.

My approach is integrative and flexible. Some clients benefit from structured CBT tools to manage anxiety or overwhelming thoughts. Others prefer reflective, psychodynamic exploration to understand repeating patterns and early experiences. Often, therapy moves between both - supporting symptom relief while also building insight and self-awareness.

For neurodivergent clients, I adapt pacing, structure and sensory considerations. I am mindful of masking, cognitive fatigue and processing differences. Sessions can be adjusted to feel clearer, slower, more structured or more open, depending on what feels most regulating and effective for you.

I aim to work at a level that feels manageable but meaningful -gently stretching when appropriate, while always respecting your autonomy and pace. Therapy with me is collaborative; we regularly review what feels helpful and adjust accordingly.

Before committing to therapy, I offer a free 20-minute consultation call. This is an informal opportunity for us to briefly explore what has brought you to therapy, what you’re hoping for, and whether I feel like the right therapist for you. There is no pressure or obligation to continue - the call is simply a space to ask questions and get a sense of how it might feel to work together.

If we decide to go ahead, the first session is an opportunity for us to meet and begin to get a sense of whether we feel like a good fit. There is no expectation for you to arrive with everything figured out or to know exactly what you want to say. You are welcome to come exactly as you are.

We will spend time gently exploring what has brought you to therapy and what feels most important right now. You can share as much or as little as feels comfortable. If putting things into words feels difficult, we can take our time - therapy does not need to be rushed.

I will also explain how I work, discuss practical aspects such as confidentiality and boundaries, and answer any questions you may have. The first session is collaborative and paced around you. It is less about “diving deep” and more about beginning to build understanding and safety within the space.

Above all, the aim of the first session is to create a foundation - to start getting to know one another and to understand where you are emotionally, so we can move forward in a way that feels supportive and manageable.