Ashleigh Dawson

My current in person availability is:

Tuesday daytime (including early morning)

Wednesday evening 

Thursday daytime and evening 

Friday afternoon 

Online sessions are available by arrangement. Please get in touch to discuss what might work best for you. 

Therapy is a confidential, impartial space where you can show up without having to wear a mask. It is a place to be heard without being rushed, to speak openly without fear of judgement and to begin making sense of what you are experiencing.

My approach is integrative combining talking therapy, reflection and other techniques, depending on what feels most fitting for you. I believe the therapeutic relationship is central to this work, and I aim to create a relationship grounded in trust, honesty, compassion and respect.

Our work together is shaped around identifying your needs and goals for therapy, whilst working at a pace that feels appropriate for you. Your autonomy is central to how I work. I’m not here to tell you how things are, but to understand how things are for you. I won't give advice or tell you how to live your life, although there may be times when it is helpful for me to gently challenge patterns of thinking or behaviour.

Therapy isn't about fixing you or rescuing you from difficult emotions. It can provide the space to explore what is happening, develop greater self-understanding and self-compassion, and find new ways of responding to life's pressures, difficult experiences, losses or changes.

I work with people who are often holding things together on the outside, while internally experiencing turmoil, stress or a sense of being overwhelmed. Some people can pinpoint why they are struggling, perhaps due to life-changing events or past trauma, whilst others are feeling emotionally distressed, stuck, or struggling to move forward. 

I work with anxiety, depression, overwhelm, stress, burnout, grief and loss, including where these are connected to relationships, work, trauma, bereavement, neurodivergence, domestic abuse or other significant experiences.

Alongside my private practice, I spend one day a week in my role as a volunteer counsellor at a Macmillan Cancer Support Centre. To be trusted with someone's emotional and psychological vulnerability at a time when they are facing one of the greatest threats to their life is something I hold with deep respect.

Before retraining as a therapist, I spent 15 years in senior roles within the corporate world. This gives me an understanding of what it can feel like to hold down a demanding job while navigating the challenges life can bring, continuing to function, meet responsibilities and keep things going on the outside, even when things feel wobbly, uncertain, unfamiliar or simply too much on the inside.

Whatever your reasons for considering therapy, you will be met with warmth, integrity and respect. My approach is tailored to you and what you need.

I feel that engaging in therapy is a courageous step, particularly at a time when you may already be feeling more vulnerable or overwhelmed. Whatever has brought you here, you will be met with warmth and without judgement.

I offer a 30-minute introductory session, either online, in person or over the phone. This gives you chance to share what has brought you to therapy, ask me questions and get a sense of whether working together feels right for you.

My hope is that you’ll leave that first session feeling supported, understood and clear about the next steps.

You can book your free introductory session directly through my profile, or get in touch via my website.