Rowan Shingler

I am available daytime and evening on Monday and Tuesday in person and Online. 

I’m a relational integrative psychotherapeutic counsellor which sounds complicated but basically means three things.

Relational means I believe the connection between us is central to the work.  Evidence shows healing happens through a safe, respectful and genuine therapeutic relationship. What you feel with me, how you express yourself, and what unfolds between us can offer valuable insight into patterns that may also appear in your relationships outside the therapy room. Together, we pay attention to these moments with curiosity and care.

Integrative means I don’t believe one approach fits everyone. I draw from a range of therapeutic ideas and tailor the work to your individual needs, your pace and your lived experience. This allows us to explore what feels most supportive for you, whether you’re navigating anxiety, low self‑worth, trauma, relationship difficulties, emotional overwhelm or a sense of feeling stuck.

Psychotherapeutic means I understand that our past experiences shape how we see ourselves, how we relate to others, and what we feel able to think or express. Our work may involve exploring deeper feelings, memories and patterns so that lasting change becomes possible — always in a way that feels safe, steady and manageable.

In practice, I aim to offer a calm, inclusive and non‑judgemental space where you can be yourself, feel heard, and make sense of what’s going on beneath the surface. My intention is to support you in developing greater self‑understanding, emotional resilience and a more compassionate relationship with yourself.

Life can be incredibly challenging. Experiences such as bereavement, relationship breakdowns, work stress or major life changes can leave us feeling anxious, depressed, overwhelmed or alone. Many people also carry parts of themselves — emotions, memories, behaviours or needs — that were once judged, dismissed or unacceptable to those around them. To stay safe emotionally, socially or physically, we learn to hide these parts away. Over time, the experiences we’ve had to deny or silence can damage our sense of self, leaving us feeling ashamed, unworthy, disconnected or unsure of who we are.

Men can be particularly affected by this. Many of us grow up being taught not to show vulnerability or express emotion, and the pressure to cope alone can be devastating. The high rates of male suicide in the UK reflect how deeply this impacts wellbeing. You may recognise this in yourself — the sense of having to hold everything together, even when it feels too much.

Counselling offers a safe, confidential and compassionate space where these overwhelmed, hidden or painful parts of your experience can be explored without judgement. Together, we can gently understand how past experiences continue to shape your thoughts, feelings and behaviours today. This process can help you develop greater self‑awareness, emotional resilience and a more compassionate relationship with yourself and others.

As a relational integrative psychotherapeutic counsellor, I work with the whole of you — not just the difficulties you’re facing. I believe healing happens through a genuine, respectful therapeutic relationship where you feel seen, understood and supported. I draw from different therapeutic approaches and tailor the work to your individual needs, your pace and your story.

My aim is to offer a grounded, inclusive and compassionate space where you can reconnect with yourself, feel less alone and begin to feel more whole. 

I offer a free initial consultation by phone or Teams. This you an opportunity to explain why you are looking for counselling, ask questions and see if we feel like a good fit to work together. 

If we proceed, during the first session I will go through our contract, registration form and discuss confidentiality and under what rare circumstances it will be broken. 

This session can be used to get an overview of what is happening for you as well as discuss how I work in more detail. However, I will be guided by you, the client, and we can explore any pressing issue or concerns you have.