At Blossomgate we provide a compassionate approach to therapy that is about our clients feeling heard and understood. We believe empathy is key to the healing process and our therapists are here to offer support and guidance, whether you're navigating a crisis, wanting to get curious or seeking a space to find calm.
Our team offers short or long term therapy, works with both adults and young people and brings a wealth of experience in supporting neurodiverse minds. We work both in person and online.
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Neurodiverse Clients
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Here at Blossomgate we specialise in working with neurodiversity, whether you have a diagnosis, are awaiting one or are curious to explore these avenues. And we are not just here to focus on the diagnosis, we recognise that people with neurodiversity seek counselling for a variety of reasons, grief, trauma, relationship issues, depression and anxiety, to name a few. Being neuro-affirming means will work with you in a way that speaks to the way you connect to the healing process.
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You do not need to be neurodiverse to work with us and we welcome enquires from anybody who thinks therapy at Blossomgate would be a good fit. We would love to offer a space to people navigating a world with neurodiverse children who are seeking understanding in a non-judgemental space.
Who We Are
Blossomgate is jointly owned by Lou and Rachel, both NCPS accredited psychotherapists with neurodiverse ways. We are integrative counsellors with a philosophy grounded in person centred therapy. After studying together we decided to set up a counselling business that spoke to the way we view the world. We will help guide you to carve out a therapy that works for you because we recognise that there is space for difference in the counselling room.
Lou
Adult
Therapist
I have over 20 years of experience working with adults with learning disabilities and those who are neurodiverse. Retraining as a therapist has allowed me to bring this knowledge into my counselling work. My background informs my relational approach, supporting a one-to-one way of working that is compassionate, inclusive, and attuned to individual needs. ​
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Rachel
Adult and Young
Person Therapist
I retrained to be a therapist after working in education for over 20 years. I specialise in working with both neurodiverse adults and children. I offer traditional talking therapy but I also like to work creatively with my clients especially when talking feels either not enough or too much. I have a wealth of experience working with parents and children who are school avoidant and I understand the trauma often created from difficult school experiences.
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What We Offer
Individual Adult Therapy with Louise
(fee £60 per session)
I offer one-to-one counselling sessions, available in person, online, or by telephone. These can be short-term or long-term, depending on your needs. While I offer traditional talking therapy, we can also work somatically—taking a holistic approach that considers both mind and body in the therapeutic process.
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Individual Therapy for adults or young people with Rachel (fee £60 per session)
I offer one to one therapy sessions, either online or in person. I work with adults, children and teenagers. Together we will work out how you would like therapy to look, be it traditional talking therapy or a more creative therapy exploring principles of both art and play. Being neurodiverse, having a neurodiverse family and working with neurodiverse children, I understand that your way may look different to other people's and that will be met with kindness and acceptance.
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Working with Lou in the Counselling Room
Hi, I’m Lou (she/her).
You might be here because things feel difficult right now, or perhaps you want space to understand yourself better. Whatever has brought you here, I offer a supportive space where you can explore your thoughts and feelings at your own pace.
I’m an integrative counsellor with a person-centred, relational approach. My role is to provide a relationship that feels genuine, supportive, and accepting, where we can work collaboratively as you explore your experiences at your own pace.
I work with adults who may be facing different challenges, such as grief, loss, low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, or stress.
I have a wide and varied background in learning disability and neurodiversity, which has deepened my understanding of difference.
I am passionate about working collaboratively with neurodiverse clients in ways that feel respectful, inclusive, and empowering.
My own life experiences led me to counselling, where the significance of the relational approach created a space for me to feel heard and understood. I bring this awareness into each session, offering empathy and honesty as we work together to explore what feels most important to you.
I am a registered member of the National Counselling Society (NCPS), and I am committed to creating a safe, relational space where you can begin to trust your own process and move towards greater self-acceptance and growth.
Feel free to email me for more information, to book a therapy session or arrange a free consultation.
Working with Rachel in the Counselling Room
Working with Adults
First and foremost, nurturing a trusting relationship with my client is at the heart of my practice. I want you to feel fully accepted so you can relax and feel safe as even in therapy we can keep our thoughts and emotions guarded. I believe I do this by being a real person in front of you with lived experience and understanding. I will not judge you; I will listen empathetically and give you the space you need to explore your thoughts, feelings, past and future. This is because I am Person Centred at my core - I want you to feel deeply understood and supported. I am also an integrative counsellor, which means I borrow from other modalities such as CBT, DBT, art and play therapy and shape the therapy in the way you feel will be most helpful. This means when we want to explore certain feelings or themes we may reach for the craft supplies, a worksheet or practice grounding techniques. The therapy must feel accessible and I would never make you do something that makes you feel uncomfortable. You don't need to feel like you have to bring the heavy stuff each week to feel like you are doing the work. You don't even have to sit on the chair opposite and keep eye contact for 50 mins. Together we will map out how therapy looks for you and by doing so you can work through the painful parts and receive the support you need to grow your acceptance of yourself and how you move through this world.
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Why working creatively can help the therapeutic process:
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Sitting side by side and focusing on a creative activity can take the pressure off focusing on one person for 50 minutes.
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Art/craft is a mindful activity; working with our hands and eyes can help quieten the noise and calm over stimulation.
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Working creatively helps us focus on emotions and process them without having to verbalise them.​
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Creative work can be classed as bottom up work as it engages the sensory system and helps regulate our nervous system.
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Taking pleasure in creating helps increase our dopamine levels,
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For adults, creative art, craft and play can help connect you with your inner child.
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Therapy can be tough - adding a creative element can sometimes help make it feel lighter.
Working with children and teens
I have worked with children for over 20 years as my role as a teacher. During this time I have moved from mainstream to working 1:1 with students who no longer attend school, mainly due to special educational needs. When I first meet my students they are traumatised by trying to fit a system that doesn't work for them and my job is to help them fall in love with learning again by making the system fit them. I developed a therapeutic teaching style that revolved around trust, non-directivity and allowing myself to be vulnerable to shift the power balance in the room. When I re-trained to work as a counsellor for adults I realised that I didn't have to step away from working with children and I could combine my skills to offer sessions to children who would benefit from being in the room with an adult who understands their barriers. I work successfully with children with autism, ADHD, PDA, selective/elective mutism, and early childhood trauma. I will meet your child where they are at, creating a foundation of trust so they can build their confidence, self-esteem and joy again. The therapy involves using creative projects to help build an initial relationship and to make your child feel less in the hot seat, creating a shared and relaxed space for them to explore their emotions.
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Feel free to email me for more information, to book a therapy session or arrange a free consultation.
Fees per session. At Blossomgate we want to make counselling more accessible so we offer a few sessions at a reduced rate.
Session rate - £60 per 50 minutes
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Most clients choose to come weekly for either short of long term therapy. These sessions can also be arranged on a fortnightly basis.
Concession rate - £40 per 50 minutes
​​We have a few sessions available for clients who need to pay at the lower end and are happy to make sessions fortnightly or even monthly to suit your budget.
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