Welcome to Emma Sanders Counselling
Life’s challenges are where we grow the most as long as we can find that support to help carry us through.
I am here to help you do that and value yourself as you are.
Does this sound like you?
- "I hate the way my boss makes me feel!"
- "Will I ever get over this grief?"
- "All my relationships seem to end, is it me?"
- "I cannot decide whether to go ahead with my wedding."
- "I feel really low and have been feeling like this for so long."
- "I’m dreading Christmas with my family!"
- "I wish I could get on better with my mum now I have children."
- "Why am I so anxious?"
- "Why am I so angry all the time?"
- "I am finding it difficult caring for my elderly relative whilst having teenagers."
- "I’ve lost my father and he meant the world to me."
- "I’m so exhausted now I’ve reached menopause, I don’t know how I will manage."
- "I feel so isolated, other parents don’t know what it is like with a child with special needs"
- "I’m so depressed now my children have left home."
- "I’ve recently retired and don’t know who I am or what my purpose is."
Any reason can bring you to counselling, it is an opportunity for you to work on yourself with someone who is willing to listen and not judge you for the first time in your life.
About me
My name is Emma and I am a qualified counsellor working in the Earley and surrounding Reading areas. I am a member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) and comply with their ethical framework. I am also committed to ongoing regular training and development. I work with adults of all ages covering a wide range of issues. I see clients face to face in my own private practice in Earley or online.
My journey with counselling started over 20 years ago after becoming bedridden with burnout. In desperation I reached out for counselling and it was frankly, life changing. I was able to see that the way I was living was unsustainable, over working, over studying and putting far too much pressure on myself to ‘succeed.’ I had been living according to the expectations of others: to be clever, caring, cheerful etc and I realised I had forgotten who I was and what I wanted.
The kindness and developmental relationship I experienced through my counsellor, made me realise the power behind being listened to without being judged. I finally found ‘myself’ and my own voice and could never go back to the ‘old me.’
I have worked within Education as a primary school teacher for 25 years whilst also raising a family. The skills I have acquired help me to utilise imaginative ways of working with clients who sometimes find accessing feelings difficult. I am an empathic person with a good sense of humour who puts my clients at ease, especially as coming to counselling for the first time can make clients nervous.
I have a child on the Autism Spectrum and have a good understanding of the hurdles parents have to navigate through the education system to get their child’s needs met. I am particularly passionate about supporting parents through this process.
I have learned that through counselling a negative experience can be the ‘making of us.’ Life’s challenges are where we grow the most as long as we can find that support to help carry us through. I am here to help you do that and value yourself as you are.
What is counselling?
Counselling is essentially a talking therapy, where you regularly meet each week to talk about what is troubling you.
My counselling space is quiet and confidential, and I create a safe environment for you to explore any issues or concerns. I will help you reflect on your thoughts, feelings and behaviours in order to better understand yourself.