Zara Pearson

I am only offering therapy through Five Valleys Counselling Practice in Stroud at the moment. I have a couple of spaces. Please contact Five Valleys directly to arrange a free initial appointment:  01453 297040 or head to their website to complete the query form: https://fivevalleyscounselling.co.uk/Contact. 

Thank you

Seeking therapy can stir up many feelings. For some people it might feel unsettling or even frightening; for others it comes as a relief, a sense that something might finally shift. You might feel several things at once.

However you find yourself arriving, my intention is to offer a warm, empathic and confidential space where you can bring whatever feels important.

What matters most to me is that we build a relationship that feels safe enough for us to explore your world together, at a pace that feels right for you.

Training & Qualifications 

I am fully qualified and hold a Diploma in Integrative Counselling from the Minster Centre.

I am a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and follow its code of ethics.

Additional trainings include:

• Death & Bereavement
• Working with Erotic & Sexual Charge
• The work of Carl J. Jung
• Skills for Trauma
• Childhood Sexual Abuse
• Transference & Counter-Transference
• Family & Belonging
• Time-Limited Therapy (or short-term therapy)
• Integrative Formulation (Diagnosis & Treatment)
• Severe Presentations
• Introduction to CBT Skills
• Research Methods & Ethics

I am an integrative counsellor, which means I draw from several therapeutic traditions.

I’m particularly interested in how our early experiences shape how we learnt to survive, relate, and protect ourselves. These strategies may once have been essential, but sometimes they continue long after they’re useful. Therapy can help us understand these old patterns and make room for new ones.

I pay attention to what happens in the body, knowing that each person’s physical experience is entirely individual. Sensations, tension, numbness and breath often tell a story alongside words.

I’m also curious about dreams and the unconscious. Using imagery, music, movement, or nature can be very helpful. There is no single “right” way to work - together we find what resonates for you.

I offer a free first session where we will do an assessment of what is bringing you to therapy, and what you hope to get from it. I will ask you questions, you can ask me questions, and we will see if we feels like a good fit.