Tonya Orvis

I aim to respond to messages within the following timeframes:

Weekdays (Monday–Friday): between 9:00am and 6:00pm, I usually reply within the same day.

Weekends (Saturday–Sunday): responses may take a little longer, typically within 24–48 hours.

Counselling messages are not monitored outside these hours. If you ever need urgent support, it’s important to reach out to appropriate emergency or crisis services rather than waiting for my reply.

Welcome - I’m Tonya, and I’m really glad you’re here.

I offer therapy for people who hold everything together - until they can’t anymore.

You might be the one others rely on: the calm one, the organiser, the peace‑keeper. On the outside, you seem steady. But inside, it can feel very different. Your mind may be busy all the time. You might replay conversations, worry about small things, or feel anxious without knowing why. You may not have the words for what’s going on - you just know something feels off.

Many of the people I work with grew up in homes that felt confusing, unpredictable, or emotionally overwhelming. They learned to stay small, keep quiet, or take care of other people’s feelings. As adults, this can show up as anxiety, people‑pleasing, self‑doubt, or feeling constantly “on alert.”

What it might feel like day‑to‑day:

• Your mind is busy even when life looks calm

• You overthink texts, conversations, or small decisions

• You feel responsible for keeping everyone happy

• You’re tired from being “the strong one”

• You know something isn’t right but can’t explain it

• Your body feels tense, tight, or on edge

I work online only, so you can talk from a space that feels familiar and safe. My approach is gentle, steady, and centred around you. You set the pace, and I walk alongside you - listening without judgement, keeping things free of jargon, and offering space to explore what’s been hard to carry. You don’t need to arrive with the right words; we can find them together.

Clients often describe our sessions as calm and grounding - a space where they can finally breathe out and be themselves without pressure.

Starting therapy can feel daunting, especially when you’re used to coping alone. I offer a free 20‑minute consultation so you can get a sense of what it might be like to work together. My aim is to offer a steady, supportive space where you can make sense of your past, reconnect with yourself, and begin to feel more grounded in your day‑to‑day life.

My way of working is simple and human. I don’t sit as “the expert.” I sit with you. Many of the people I support have spent years looking after others, keeping the peace, or trying to stay in control. On the outside they seem fine, but inside they feel anxious, overwhelmed, or worn out.

In our sessions, we slow things down. We look gently at how your past relationships and early experiences may still be affecting you today - how you think, how you feel, and how you relate to others. You don’t need to have a clear story or explanation before you start. We take it step by step.

Who I work well with:

Adults who:

• grew up around emotional ups and downs

• feel anxious, on edge, or easily overwhelmed

• struggle to say no or put themselves first

• find it hard to relax or switch off

• carry old relationship wounds into the present

• feel responsible for other people’s feelings

• look like they’re coping but feel exhausted inside

• don’t have the words yet - just a sense that something needs to change

Over time, people often notice small but important shifts - feeling steadier, less overwhelmed, or more able to pause before spiralling into worry. These changes often show up in the body too: softer shoulders, easier breathing, a sense of grounding.

I support adults with:

• Attachment and relationship wounds

• People‑pleasing, perfectionism and self‑abandonment

• Growing up with emotionally inconsistent or immature caregivers

• Feeling on edge, overwhelmed or shut down

• Big emotions, conflict anxiety and relationship struggles

• Anxiety, worry and constant overthinking

My role is to offer a steady, supportive space where you can understand yourself more clearly and feel more grounded in everyday life. If you’re tired of holding everything together alone, this can be a place where you don’t have to. 

Our first session is there to give us a steady starting point. We’ll spend most of the time going through a gentle questionnaire together. This helps me get a clearer picture of you, your background, and what’s brought you to counselling. It’s simply a way for me to understand you better so I can support you in a way that feels right for you.

This first session isn’t about diving straight into difficult things. It’s about slowing down, building safety, and making sure we have the context we need. By the end, you’ll have had space to share what feels important, and I’ll have a better sense of how to walk alongside you in the sessions ahead.

At the moment, I offer weekly sessions. Meeting weekly gives counselling a steady rhythm, which can be especially helpful when you’re working with anxiety, relationship patterns, or the impact of earlier experiences. It helps us build trust at a gentle pace and gives you regular space to process what comes up.