Candlewood Counselling

Counselling in Newton Abbot and online

When life seems hard..

It’s not always easy to see a way forward. You might be anxious, depressed or feeling ‘stuck’ – maybe you’re just not feeling ok at the moment, but you’re not sure why.

Candlewood Counselling can help

I understand how confusing and sometimes isolating these thoughts and feelings can be. I’m a qualified therapist, who can offer in person or online support -a steady hand to walk beside you as we explore a way forward together.

“ One person who is truly understanding, who takes the trouble to listen to us as we consider a problem, can change our whole outlook on the world.”
— E. H. Mayo

Support

Perhaps you’re looking for support with depression, anxiety, low self-confidence, or grief.
Maybe your relationships feel strained right now, leaving you feeling unheard or unseen.
It might be that you’re simply need a safe space to talk — especially if it’s hard to share with friends or family.

Candlewood Counselling provides attentive, empathetic therapy to help you explore the challenges you’re facing. Together, we can bring clarity to the thoughts, feelings, and situations that can feel overwhelming.

Counselling in Newton Abbot and online

For in-person therapy, Candlewood Counselling is within easy access of Newton Abbot and Torbay.

In addition, if you prefer online support, that’s also something I can arrange.

Take a moment to find out more about the support I can offer near you.

Read about my approach to counselling

Read about some of the problems I can help with.

Read about how therapy can help you

Or Get In Touch

Your first step towards feeling lighter could begin today.

" Difficult paths often lead to beautiful destinations " - Ziglar

Ways To Support You

Life doesn’t always unfold in the ways we imagined

You might be adjusting to a major change, feeling stuck in familiar patterns, or simply sensing that something isn’t sitting right.

If you’ve found yourself here, then maybe you’re already exploring the possibility of support- and that’s something I can help with.

Stepping into the Unknown

Seeking counselling help can feel like stepping into the unknown — Where do I start? How will it help me?
It’s natural to feel a little anxious about opening up, especially when what brings you here might be woven through your early experiences, painful memories, or the stories you’ve carried about who you are and how life should be.

At Candlewood Counselling, I support people who are navigating life’s changes and challenges, who might be re-assessing their direction, or feeling stressed and over-stretched by the demands of everyday life.

Meeting You Where You Are

Wherever you are right now, whether you’re living with anxiety, trauma, or a sense of uncertainty about who you are or things could be different, I’ll meet you with acceptance and respect for what you’re experiencing. I offer a calm, validating space where you can slow down, and start making sense of what’s going on for you.

More Than Just Talking

Counselling isn’t just about talking — it’s about building a safe, unique connection with your therapist. It’s about how we explore the world through your lens, understand how your past and present shape each other, and about finding ways forward that feel authentic and sustainable.

I can provide a reflective space for you to experience your feelings, express them safely, and think about what living well really means for you.

When You’re Ready

If you feel ready to take the next step, or if you’re just curious about what counselling might feel like, reach out.
I’d love to hear from you, chat about your situation, and see how we might work together at Candlewood Counselling.

” The first step towards

getting somewhere is to

decide you are not going to

stay where you are”

— J. P. Morgan

How Can Therapy Help You?

Anxiety & Depression

“When you’re lost in those woods, it sometimes takes you a while to realize that you are lost.”— Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat Pray Love (2006)

Anxiety and depression can shape how we see ourselves and the world around us. It can make everyday life feel heavy, drain the colour from things that once brought joy, and leave the mind restless and uneasy. Anxiety can feel like thoughts are constantly spinning, leaving you feeling panicked or drained. Depression can feel like moving through fog — everything around you is still there, but it’s harder to see clearly or feel a sense of connection. These experiences aren’t a reflection of weakness—they’re signals that your mind and body are working through something that needs attention. Counselling can help you understand the root of your anxiety or depression, and help you to develop tools to manage it. We can explore your triggers, build coping strategies, and work towards creating the space where you feel calmer, brighter and more in control.

Relationship Issues

Our relationships play a huge part in how we feel day to day. When there’s anger, tension, or a sense of disconnect and distance, it can leave us with feelings of frustration and insecurity – a sense that we are not seen and heard. Conflict, communication breakdowns, changing priorities, or the weight of unspoken expectations can leave people feeling misunderstood or alone, even when surrounded by others. These difficulties might appear in partnerships, friendships, or family dynamics, and often echo patterns learned earlier in life.

Counselling can help to look at what’s happening in your relationships and what you need from them. It can help you to understand emotional triggers, notice recurring themes, and explore new ways of relating that feel more balanced and authentic. Over time, therapy can support you in building healthier boundaries, clearer communication, and greater compassion — both for yourself and those around you.

“We have to make mistakes, it’s how we learn compassion for others.”
— Curtis Sittenfeld, American Wife

Trauma

“There are wounds that never show on the body that are deeper and more hurtful than anything that bleeds.”
— Laurell K. Hamilton

Trauma can come from many different experiences — a sudden event, a period of ongoing stress, or times in life that are overwhelming and too much to cope with. It might follow an accident, abuse, illness, loss, or growing up in an environment that didn’t feel safe or predictable. Trauma can make it hard to feel calm or connected and can set the body to a constant state of alert, even when there’s no real danger, Some people notice panic or exhaustion; others feel distant, shut down, or unsure why they react the way they do.

Counselling offers a space to start understanding what’s happening. It can help you piece together how past experiences have shaped the way you feel and respond , and over time, you can be supported to feel safer in your own body, more present in daily life, and more able to make choices that feel like your own. Healing from trauma doesn’t mean forgetting what happened; it means gradually reclaiming a sense of control, self-trust, and a belief in the possibilities of the here and now.

Confidence

“One of the greatest tragedies in life is to lose your own sense of self and accept the version of you that is expected by everyone else.”
— K. L. Toth

Low self-confidence can influence many aspects of our lives; it can make decision-making harder, create self-doubt, or lead to a recurring sense of “not being good enough.” Over time, it can narrow what feels possible — affecting how you express yourself, take risks, or trust your own judgment. For some, these feelings trace back to early experiences, whilst for others, they grow gradually because of rejection, burnout, or changes.

Counselling can help you to notice the patterns that hold you back and to understand where they come from. We can explore the stories you tell yourself about your worth and begin to see them differently. You won’t become a different person, but you can be helped to recognise your own strengths and find a firmer confidence in who you already are – that critical inner voice can become kinder.

Life Transitions

Life Changes

Experiencing change is part of being human, but that doesn’t make it easy. Changes and transitions can bring mixed feelings, stir up memories of things that still feel unresolved , and perhaps leave you unsure how to move forward. Whether you’re starting something new, facing loss, or adjusting to a different stage of your life, counselling offers the time to explore these changes and understand what they mean for you. You’ll be helped to find clarity and confidence in your own pace and direction — learning to live more comfortably and confidently with what your life looks like today.

“We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us.”
— Joseph Campbell

Grief

Grief can appear in different ways, often when something meaningful in our lives shifts or ends. Grief can be linked to the death of a loved one, but may arise from other situations, such as the end of a relationship; changes in health; children leaving home or ending a career or retirement. We may also grieve opportunities we never had, or the sense of a certainty and routine that life once offered. Whether you’re feeling sadness, anger, guilt, or numbness, you can be supported in making sense of your emotions and adjusting to life after your loss. There’s no right way to grieve—this is about finding your way through, at your own pace.

“I sat with my anger long enough until she told me her real name was grief.”
— C. S. Lewis

Early Experiences

Painful experiences in childhood can leave lasting emotional scars. They can shape how we see ourselves, how safe we feel in relationships, and how we respond to the world around us. Counselling can offer a safe, compassionate space to explore these wounds and begin healing. A strong therapeutic relationship can help you rebuild trust, process trauma, and develop a stronger sense of self. You may have carried a lot for a long time; therapy is a place to set some of it down.

“Though nobody can go back and make a new beginning… anyone can start over and make a new ending.”
— Chico Xavier

Stress

“I was diamond on the outside, and I would not break. Inside, though, I was already broken.”
— Shaun David Hutchinson

Stress shows up differently for everyone. For some, it builds gradually — a busy schedule that never seems to ease up, constant problem-solving at work, or the mental load of juggling too many responsibilities. For others, it can hit suddenly, triggered by a specific situation or change. If you’re stressed, you might notice it in your body — tense shoulders, headaches, a racing heart, or that constant tiredness that doesn’t go away even after a good night’s sleep. It can affect you emotionally too: feeling on edge, impatient, tearful, or finding it hard to concentrate or make decisions. Counselling can help you slow things down and make sense of what’s happening — to recognise your stress triggers, understand how your mind and body respond, and find small, realistic changes that can help you to feel calmer, clearer, and more grounded again.

Have Any questions?

Do you have questions about beginning counselling?

Look at the FAQ PAGES to find answers to questions that people frequently ask