Hi, I'm Tina -
Counsellor, Human and occasional metaphorical poker

About Tina – BACP Registered Counsellor

If you’re looking for a counsellor who is going to sit in silence and just nod at you… that’s not me.

I believe therapy should feel like a real conversation. Sometimes warm, sometimes challenging and sometimes even with a dash of humour. Because real life isn’t always tidy, and neither are we.

I am empathetic, grounded and human-first. I’ll listen deeply, but I’ll also gently poke at the bits you’re avoiding, so you can work through them. My aim is for you to leave each session not just feeling heard but standing a little taller – like you have achieved something, however small.

I work with adults and young people, supporting them through life’s twists, tangles and turning points. Whether you’re dealing with stress, loss, anxiety, relationships, or just feeling a bit stuck, we’ll face it together.

Therapy with me isn’t about ticking boxes – it’s about creating a space where you can be yourself (awkwardness, tears, laughter and all) and know that you will always be met with warmth, honesty and humanity.

If you’re ready for a counsellor who is real, relatable and entirely human, I’d love to hear from you.

How I Got Here

 My passion for mental health started years ago, back when I spent Friday nights at the Territorial Army Centre with my family. Many of my friends went on to serve in the Iraq War. When they came home, they were different. I didn’t know the word for it back then, but I later learned it was PTSD. Seeing people I cared about carry that level of pain is what first nudged me towards counselling.

And while we’re being honest, I’ve had my own experiences with mental health too. I know exactly how it feels when your mind decides to go off-piste without warning. So, when you sit in front of me and say, “I’m struggling”, I’m not imagining it from a textbook. I’ve walked parts of that terrain myself. (Don’t worry, I won’t unpack my life story in your session. I save that privilege for my own supervisor!)

During my training, I completed my placement with Herts Mind Network, and five years later, they still haven’t managed to get rid of me! I adore the variety. No to clients are the same, no two days are the same, and my therapeutic toolbox is now less “box” and more “Mary Poppins’ bottomless bag”.

Meet Otis and Banjo

You may also occasionally hear me mention Otis and Banjo, two important parts of my world outside of counselling.

Otis, my black labrador, brings warmth, enthusiasm and a wonderfully friendly nature. He is affectionate, playful and usually convinced everyone is his best friend. Banjo, my German shepherd, is calmer and quietly observant. He has a steady presence and a way of bringing calm to those around him.

Although they are not therapy dogs, both reflect something important about how I am counselling for feel: warm, safe, genuine and grounded in human connection.

My Approach to Person-Centred Counselling

I work primarily from a person-centred framework – which means you are always the expert on your own life. My job isn’t to tell you what to do or hand you a list of solutions. It’s to walk alongside you, help you make sense of your experiences, and support you in finding your own way forward.

Person-centred counselling is built on three core conditions: Empathy, unconditional positive regard, and congruence. In practice, that means you’ll always feel truly listened to, never judged, and always confident that I’m being honest and genuine with you, not just saying what you want to hear.

That said, I am not a passive presence. I’ll challenge you (warmly, of course) when I think it will help. Sometimes the most useful things a counsellor can do is gently shine a light on the thing you have been carefully avoiding. That’s the metaphorical poker bit.

Qualifications and Professional Membership

Who I Work with as a Qualified Counsellor in Ware

I work with adults, young people and couples facing a wide range of difficulties. No challenge is too big, too small or too unusual. Over the years, I have supported clients through:

• Anxiety, stress and burnout
• Depression and low mood
• Grief, bereavement and loss
• Relationship issues (including family, romantic and workplace)
• Trauma, PTSD and abuse
• Self-esteem and confidence issues
• Life transitions – redundancy, divorce, retirement, new parenthood
• Sexual identity and gender
• Eating difficulties and body image
• Work-related stress and career challenges

Whatever you are going through, you don’t have to face it alone. And you definitely don’t have to have it all figured out before you get in touch.

Why Did I Start Phoenix Talk Therapy?