Rosie Downes

I currently have availability for new clients on Wednesdays and Fridays in Stevenage.

Please get in touch to discuss appointment times.  

Hi I'm Rosie. I'm a psychodynamic counsellor working with adults. 

I'd describe myself as warm, thoughtful and down to earth. I'm naturally curious about people and what makes us who we are. I believe that building a trusting relationship is an important part of counselling, and I hope to offer a space where you can feel comfortable being yourself. 

Before training as a counsellor, I spent around 30 years in a career working closely with people, often building relationships that lasted for many years. Listening to people and getting to know them has been part of my life for a long time, and these experiences have helped shape the way I work today. 

As a psychodynamic counsellor, I'm interested in what is happening in your life now, but also what might lie beneath it. Together, we can explore earlier experiences and relationships, and how these may be influencing the way you feel about yourself, relate to others or respond to situations today.

Sometimes the ways we learned to cope earlier in life can leave us feeling stuck as our circumstances change. My role isn't to tell you what to do, but to offer a space where we can think together and make sense of what may be happening for you. 

You may be feeling overwhelmed, low or stuck, or noticing that the same patterns keep repeating in your relationships or in how you feel about yourself. You might be coping with loss, change, family difficulties or simply feel that something isn't quite right. 

Sometimes we know what is troubling us, while at other times our feelings can be harder to understand or put into words. You don't need to have everything worked out before coming to counselling.

I offer a warm, thoughtful and non-judgemental space where you can slow things down, talk openly and begin to explore what may be happening beneath the surface.

Working psychodynamically, we can think together about your experiences, feelings and relationships, including patterns that may have developed earlier in life. There maybe things you've carried for a long time without fully understanding why.

Over time, this understanding may help you recognise patterns that have been keeping you stuck, develop a deeper understanding of yourself and your relationships, and open up new possibilities for change.

I work with adults of different ages and backgrounds, offering both short-term and longer-term counselling. I have a particular interest in longer-term work, which allows time to explore experiences, relationships and patterns more deeply.  

We can begin with whatever feels most important to you and work at a pace that feels manageable.

Making that first contact can sometimes feel like the hardest part. I offer a free 15 minute telephone call before you decide whether you would like to book a session. This gives you an opportunity to tell me a little about what has brought you to counselling, ask any questions and get a sense of whether you feel comfortable talking with me. 

If you decide to continue, our first session lasts 50 minutes. We can begin by talking about what has brought you to counselling and anything from your background that feels important. There's no expectation that you need to tell me everything straight away or know exactly where to begin.

Our first session is also an opportunity for us to get to know one another and begin to explore what you might be hoping for from counselling. It's important that you feel comfortable, and there is no pressure to make a decision about continuing immediately. 

Sessions take place weekly, last 50 minutes and cost £65.

I offer both short-term and open-ended counselling, allowing us  to think together about what feels right for you and explore things more deeply as the therapeutic relationship develops. 

Your regular weekly appointment is reserved especially for you. Missed or cancelled sessions are normally charged, although holidays agreed in advance and sessions I cannot offer are not charged. If you need to rearrange, I'll try to offer an alternative time where possible.

If you feel counselling might be helpful, you're very welcome to get in touch.