Lara Parkinson

I offer counselling face-to-face in Chelmsford, as well as online and by telephone for adults across the UK.

I work Monday to Friday, with evening appointments available throughout the week. Early online appointments from 8am can also be arranged where needed, and I offer Saturday appointments until 3pm.

Availability can vary, so please get in touch to discuss your preferred day and time.

You can contact me on 07568 745862 or email lara@arrowofhopecounselling.com.

I understand that taking the first step towards counselling can take courage. If you would like to find out more about how I work, I would be very happy to hear from you.

Finding your way forward starts with being heard.

Perhaps you are struggling with anxiety, low mood, difficult experiences, relationships, loss or a period of change. Maybe you feel stuck, overwhelmed or know that something in your life needs to change, but don’t know where to begin.

I’m Lara, founder of Arrow of Hope Counselling, my private practice in Chelmsford.

I believe counselling should give you somewhere you can be honest about how things really are. A place where you don’t have to pretend you’re fine, have all the answers or know exactly what you need before you begin.

I offer a warm, compassionate and non-judgemental space where we can make sense of what you’re experiencing and begin to understand yourself more deeply.

I work integratively, drawing on different therapeutic approaches according to you, your circumstances and what you want from counselling. I don’t believe there is a one-size-fits-all approach. You are the expert in your own life, and my role is not to tell you what to do or to ‘fix’ you. Instead, I will work alongside you to explore what may be happening beneath the surface, understand patterns that may no longer be helping you and consider what you would like to change.

I have experience supporting adults with anxiety, depression, bereavement and loss, relationship difficulties, life transitions, trauma and addiction.

Addiction and recovery are particular areas of experience and interest for me. I can support you whether you are thinking about cutting down, stopping or maintaining your recovery, while exploring the thoughts, feelings and patterns behind addictive or compulsive behaviours.

I offer short- and longer-term counselling, depending on your needs, circumstances and goals.

I believe therapy works best when we create it together. Your choices, experiences and pace matter. My aim is to help you feel heard, understood and more able to choose the direction you want your life to take.

At Arrow of Hope Counselling, I offer a confidential space to pause, breathe and make sense of what is happening in your life.

Sometimes there is a clear reason for coming to counselling. At other times, you may simply know that you’re not feeling like yourself, that something feels stuck or that the way you’ve been coping isn’t working anymore.

Therapy can give you the opportunity to step back from the noise of everyday life and explore what is really going on beneath the surface. Together, we can look at your experiences, thoughts, feelings, relationships and patterns of coping, helping you develop greater self-understanding and find healthier ways forward.

My approach is collaborative and individual to you. I adapt the way I work rather than expecting you to fit into a particular model.

Whether you are coming because of something that has happened recently, something you’ve carried for a long time, or simply because you want life to feel different, you don’t have to have everything worked out before you begin.

Starting counselling can feel daunting. You may wonder what you’re supposed to say, whether you’ll know where to start or what your first session will be like.

My aim is to make that first step feel as comfortable as possible.

Our first session gives us the opportunity to get to know one another and explore what has brought you to counselling. I’ll ask some questions to help us understand what you’re experiencing, what you may be hoping for and whether there are particular things you’d like to work towards.

You don’t need to arrive with everything worked out. You can simply start with what feels most important to you.

I’ll explain how I work and give you the opportunity to ask questions, so you can decide whether you feel comfortable working with me. We can then agree together how you would like your counselling to look.

Most importantly, you remain in control of what you share. There is no pressure to talk about anything before you are ready, and we can build our work together gradually.