Rachel Deaton

I currently offer in-person counselling sessions Monday to Thursday from my practice in St. Albans Online sessions are also available for those who may prefer to attend remotely. 

Please get in touch to discuss availability and find a time that works for you. 

I offer a calm, confidential and non-judgmental space where you can talk openly about whatever feels important to you. My approach is collaborative and led by what you bring to each session. I will listen carefully for recurring themes, patterns and feelings, and together we can begin to make sense of how your experiences and relationships may be influencing the way you feel and respond in the present. 

I am a qualified counsellor and a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). My training is in psychodynamic counselling which explores how past relationships can continue to shape how we feel, behave and relate to others. Developing greater awareness of these patterns can help create the possibility for understanding and change. 

I welcome clients from all racial, cultural and national backgrounds and aim to offer a space where different aspects of identity and experience can be explored openly and sensitively. 

I work with clients aged 16 and over and support people at different stages of life. I particularly welcome young people and university students who may be navigating pressures around education, relationships, identity, independence, family or decisions about the future.

I work with a range of concerns including:

Anxiety and depression

Low self esteem

Lack of confidence

Family difficulties

Postnatal concerns

Relationship difficulties

School or university stress

Identity

Cultural identity, background and experiences.

You do not need to have a diagnosis or be able to clearly explain what is wrong before coming to counselling. Sometimes knowing that something does not feel right is enough of a place to begin. 

Sessions are 50 minutes and usually take place at the same time each week, providing a regular and consistent space. I offer open-ended counselling, so there is no fixed number of sessions and we can review the work together as it progresses.

I offer both face-to-face and online counselling. Sessions are £60 for 50 minutes, with a limited number of concessionary spaces available.

I offer a free 15-minute introductory phone call, which gives us the opportunity to briefly discuss what has brought you to counselling and to consider whether the way I work feels suitable for you. 

If we decide to continue, the next step is an initial 60- minute consultation, which costs £60. During this session, we will look in more detail at what is happening for you currently, as well as your background and past experiences. This helps me to gain a fuller understanding of you and what you may be hoping for from counselling. 

This initial consultation also gives you the opportunity to get a sense of how it feels to talk with me and whether you would feel comfortable working together.