Samantha Hillyer, MA MBACP Dip Hyp Cert Couples Counselling

Hello! Thank you for visiting my profile. I combine my training and professional experience with compassion, and life experience, to provide counselling and therapy in a welcoming, confidential and non-judgemental environment. I am a fully qualified counsellor in Nottingham and alongside my professional qualifications I also hold the BACP Certificate of Proficiency. I work as a counsellor in West Bridgford, which is easily accessible by car, bus and tram from surrounding areas such as West Bridgford, Mapperly, Arnold, Sherwood, Ruddington and East Leake. As well as good transport links, there is ample free unlimited parking on the road outside where I work. I am currently working exclusively online, via Zoom. I use a VPN for added security and have undertaken specialist training in both Canada and the UK in working therapeutically online. Please see my website for further information. WHAT CAN COUNSELLING AND THERAPY DO FOR YOU? You may seek counselling or therapy for a number of reasons. You may not know what brings you here, just that there is something not right, or missing. Or there may be so many thoughts and feelings inside you that you don't know what to feel or think anymore. I can work with you on an open ended basis or for an agreed time period, with the aim of enabling you to enhance your life and to live it more fully. ABOUT ME It is important that you feel comfortable with any counsellor you work with, so thanks for taking the time to read a bit more about me. Several years ago, when my daughter was very young, I was widowed. This brought about feelings and thoughts which seemed almost impossible to manage. I sought, and found a really good therapist. This changed my life and, eventually, helped me to decide to follow the path of helping others today. But I know how hard it can be to contact a counsellor. To feel that there is something really wrong with you because you need to do this; to worry that the counsellor may judge you, may not understand you or think that you are silly for feeling the way you do. It's OK.. I've been there. I have a special interest in the areas of grief, loss and change. But grief is not just about death. Grief can occur with the end of a relationship; a loss or change of job or home; your life not quite turning out the way you expected it to; children leaving home; or the arrival of a baby. Or you may be suffering from trauma as a result of abuse or neglect in childhood. Maybe you never felt heard or that you were important. Maybe you behave in ways that you don't understand and something has happened now that has made you realise you can't go on like this. Or you may be a couple whose relationship is struggling. It may be that even though you talk every day about everyday things; who's going to do the dishes etc, you never really talk anymore. You can't remember the last time you went out together like you used to and you feel so alone. Or it may be that one of you has has an affair or is seriously tempted to and the feelings around this are terrible. All of these, and many other life events can cause a change of identity and status that can bring feelings that are difficult to manage. In our society, there is a pressure to push our feelings aside - to "get on with it". Yet, ultimately these feelings will surface elsewhere. I believe strongly that mind, body and spirit are linked - we may become ill because of the 'dis-ease' which we feel at the things that have happened to us. It doesn't have to be this way. I have worked supporting people in various agencies for several years; from the Probation Service to Social Services, and within the last few years have worked as a Counsellor for Age Concern, Connexions and Relate. If you have any questions - any at all (it doesn't matter how trivial or silly they seem to you), email me or phone me, and we can talk with no obligation on your part. I offer a FREE initial telephone consultation to help you and I decide if I am the right counsellor for you. My counselling practice is based in West Bridgford. I work from a peaceful and calm room with large, comfortable sofas for you to sit on, with a hot or cold drink ready for you on arrival if you wish. Currently, I am providing all my sessions online. Please see my website for more information about this.