Abby Perrins - Humanistic Psychotherapeutic Counsellor

I am a warm, down to earth and compassionate person, offering a safe, respectful and non-judgemental space, for you to explore whatever is of concern or importance to you. I offer in person counselling if you prefer to work face to face, or video sessions if you prefer this way of meeting. 

We can all find ourselves in times of difficulty, whether in a time of crisis, feeling stuck in repetitive patterns, feeling disconnected with ourselves or those around us, struggling to find meaning, or feeling like our true self has become buried. Counselling offers space to slow down and connect with yourself in the presence of another person, to be truly heard and to explore difficult thoughts or emotions. It enables reflection on helpful or unhelpful patterns of thinking, feeling and relating, and can lead to deeper self-acceptance and self-compassion. Counselling does not have to be all about our struggles of course, and drawing upon your dreams, strengths, values and what brings you joy can be valuable too. 

My approach

I believe all people are unique and therefore use my training, experience and intuition to work in a creative and flexible way that reflects this. Whether this is your first time coming to counselling or you have had counselling before, I will meet you where you are at and work collaboratively with you. This means that I see counselling as something that we do together, exploring together with curiosity what may be going on for you, a journey in which I will walk alongside you supportively, with openness and respect for you. I am aware that opening up can take time and be scary and will endeavour to go at a pace that is right for you. 

I have worked with people with a wide variety of struggles, from disordered eating to existential struggles, anxiety to relationship difficulties. I could list many other areas but what I believe is most important is that I would see you as a whole person rather than just as your problems. 

I value the unique identity and experiences of each person I work with, and invite you to feel free to bring all of who you are into the room. I welcome you and your sexuality, gender, ethnicity, culture, race, class, disabilities, faith and spirituality. I value the relationship I have with each client I work with and see it as an honour to walk alongside people in their journey.

Qualifications and experience

I am fully qualified as a Humanistic Psychotherapeutic Counsellor, with a post-graduate diploma from Brighton University. You do not need to understand what Humanistic counselling is to come see me! However, for those who would like to know more, I work from a person centred framework, with a particular draw to the process experiential and focusing approaches within person centred. My approach is grounded in relational psychotherapy and attachment theory, and I also draw upon Transactional Analysis and Existential therapies. I offer space to explore creatively through sand tray and other means for those who are interested in this way of working. 

Before training as a counsellor I worked with people struggling with mental health or addiction, mainly within the homeless community. In this role I found myself able to connect with people from all walks of life and see people beyond the labels given to them. I learnt the value in opening up to the ‘shadowy’ sides of ourselves that we can shy away from, and the healing that can come from bringing these parts of ourselves into the light of an accepting person. Seeing the way these therapeutic relationships enabled people to grow towards their potential and become more truly themselves led me to training as a counsellor. 

Alongside my private practice I work for the charity Release, facilitating therapeutic groups for new mums. I am a core tutor and lecturer in counselling on the BACP accredited foundation degree in person centred counselling at East Sussex College. I also facilitate training workshops for frontline workers,around self care and wellbeing. I previously specilaised in working with grief, for a pregnancy loss charity.