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.

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. Psychotherapy 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. Therapy 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 therapy or you have had therapy before, I will meet you where you are at and work collaboratively with you. This means that I see therapy 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. Before training as a counsellor I worked with people struggling with mental health or addiction, mainly within the homeless community.  Alongside private practice, I work as a Tutor and Lecturer in Counselling at East Sussex College and the University of Brighton. I also facilitate training workshops around managing vicarious trauma for frontline workers. 

I have an interest in working with somatic experience and creatively through sand tray and other means for those who are interested in this way of working.