You don’t have to have the right words before you get in touch.
I’m Nell Averill, a counsellor and psychotherapist. Thistlewick Counselling is a small private practice: me, my colleague Rafi, and two quiet rooms above a bookbinder’s on Larkhill Terrace. We see adults, one person or one couple at a time.
Most people arrive unsure whether their problem is “bad enough”. It is enough.
You don’t need a diagnosis or a crisis to come here. These are some of the things people often come about:
- Anxiety: the worry that follows you to bed, or the feeling of always bracing for something.
- Low mood: when things have gone flat, or you cannot quite remember what you used to enjoy.
- Grief: after a death, and also after losses other people may not see as losses.
- Relationships: the same argument again, a marriage changing, or loneliness inside a family.
- Burnout: being worn down by work or caring, and no longer sure how to stop.
- Big life changes: a move, a diagnosis, a child leaving home, retiring, or a separation.
Sometimes it is none of these, only a sense that something isn’t right. That is a perfectly good reason too.
Who this may not be right for
I would rather tell you this now than a month from now. We may not be the right fit if:
- you need support at short notice or between sessions, as we see people once a week by appointment
- you are seeking a formal diagnosis, a medication review or a report for a court
- you are under 18, as we work with adults only
- you would be better served by a team, for example for an eating disorder or heavy drinking or drug use
If that sounds like you, you have not done anything wrong by reading this far. Your family doctor can talk through local services, and if you write to me anyway I will do my best to point you towards someone who may be a better fit.
We meet at the same time each week, for fifty minutes. You bring whatever is on your mind, and we try to understand it together.
I won’t give you a list of instructions, and I won’t tell you what to do with your life. I listen closely, I notice patterns, and sometimes I will gently ask about something you passed over quickly. My training draws on person-centred and psychodynamic ways of working, and I use some cognitive behavioural ideas when they seem useful.
This kind of work can be uncomfortable at times, and I can’t promise how you will feel or by when. What I can offer is steady attention, honesty, and a place where you don’t have to look after anybody else.
What happens in a first session
- Before we meetI send a short note with directions or a video link, and a one-page agreement to read. There is nothing to prepare.
- The first minutesI will explain confidentiality, then ask what brought you here. You can start wherever you like, or tell me you do not know where to start.
- Most of the hourYou talk and I listen, with a few questions so I can understand the shape of things. I may ask a little about your health, your family and what you have tried before.
- The last ten minutesWe talk about how it felt and whether it makes sense to carry on. You do not need to decide in the room.
- AfterwardsIf you would like to continue, we agree a regular weekly time. If not, I am glad to suggest other places to try.
What it costs
| Individual session | 50 minutes | $90 |
| Couples session | 75 minutes | $130 |
| First session | 50 minutes, same fee | $90 |
| Sliding-scale places | 50 minutes | $40 to $70 |
What you tell us stays between us. We keep brief notes, stored securely, and we don’t confirm to anybody that you come here. There are a small number of situations where we may need to speak to someone else:
- if we are seriously worried about your safety or someone else’s
- if a child or vulnerable adult may be at risk of harm
- if the law requires it, for example a court order
Wherever possible we would talk to you first. Like all therapists, we also discuss our work with a clinical supervisor, without using your name.
Nell Averill
I came to this work after a first career in teaching. I see individuals, mostly around grief, burnout and long stretches of low mood.
Training: postgraduate diploma in counselling and psychotherapy, supervised clinical placements, further training in bereavement.
Rafi Belhaven
Rafi sees individuals and couples on Tuesdays and Thursdays, including evenings. He is often a good fit for relationship difficulties and big life changes.
Training: postgraduate training in psychotherapy, further training in couples work.
How many sessions will I need?
I do not know yet, and I would be wary of anyone who said they did. Some people come for six or eight weeks, others for much longer. We review how it is going together every so often, and you can stop whenever you choose.
What if I do not know what to say?
That is very common, and it is fine. Silence is allowed here too. I will help us find a place to begin.
Do I need a referral?
No. You can get in touch yourself. Some people are pointed here by their family doctor, and that is fine too.
What is the difference between counselling and psychotherapy?
The two words overlap a great deal. In practice, counselling often focuses on something specific, and psychotherapy may go more slowly and further back. We will talk about which fits.
Will you tell my family doctor?
Not without talking to you first, except in the situations described under confidentiality above.
Can I bring my partner to some sessions?
If you are seeing me individually, I would usually suggest a separate couples therapist. Rafi sees couples and can talk this through with you.
Send a short note
What happens next: I read every message myself and reply within two working days. I will suggest a short phone call, at no cost, so you can ask anything you like before deciding. You can also call (555) 016-3140 or write to hello@thistlewick.example.
I can’t respond quickly to messages, so please don’t wait for me. If you are in immediate danger, call your local emergency number. If you are struggling and need to talk to someone today, your family doctor or a local crisis line can help.