Counselling in Newton Abbot Candlewood Counselling
Counselling in Newton Abbot When life feels hard, finding a starting point for change can leave you stuck..You could start here..
Life can feel hard at times, and finding a way forward isn’t always easy—especially when you’re unsure how to begin making changes. You might be feeling anxious, low, or stuck in a place you can’t quite untangle. What’s happening around you may be leaving you feeling weighed down..
You don’t have to carry the weight of these feelings alone.
I’m Samantha, a private, experienced counsellor at Candlewood Counselling, and I’m here to help.
If you’re looking for counselling in Newton Abbot, or online, we can work together in sensitive, authentic ways to explore what you’re feeling, and consider the steps that may help you to start moving forward.
Professional Counselling in Newton Abbot Walking alongside you
I understand how confusing and sometimes isolating it can be when you’re struggling with unwanted feelings or harsh, negative thoughts. As a qualified, experienced therapist, my role is to walk alongside you and offer a steady hand, as we explore a route forward together.
From my therapy room in Newton Abbot, I provide a private, confidential space for individual, in-person counselling. Or, if online sessions suit you better, we can arrange this too. Taking that first step to ask for some professional support is often the the hardest- the biggest hurdle. But you can contact me here to begin to explore some of the ways I might be able to help you. Together, we can start to look more closely and honestly at what’s been troubling you.
“ 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 for a range of emotional difficulties
Perhaps you already know the type of counselling support you’re looking for, such as help to manage your struggles with trauma, depression, anxiety, low self-confidence, or stress. You can read more about how I help with these issues on the counselling services page.
You might be seeking help with a personal relationship that’s feeling strained right now, leaving you feeling tense, or with a sense of being unheard or unseen. Our interpersonal relationships can have a huge impact on how we feel- I can help with exploring what’s not sitting right for you at the moment.
Going through a major life upheaval or sudden change in your life can leave you feeling lost and overwhelmed with it all, and wondering how you’ll cope. In counselling, we can look at the specific impact of the changes you’ve experienced and how to begin to acknowledge and adapt to them.
Private Counselling in Newton Abbot A safe space to talk
A safe space to talk, to work out why you feel the way you do, could be helpful to you right now. Sometimes it’s hard to share your inner thoughts and feelings with friends or family, even if you’re close to them. Sometimes we try to ‘protect’ those close to us from our painful emotions.
I can provide attentive, empathetic therapy to help you explore whatever challenges you’re facing in a safe, confidential space. Together, we can begin to bring some clarity to the situations that may have left you feeling sad, overwhelmed, burnt out, or a bit lost.
If you’d like to begin this process, you’re welcome to get in touch.
Your first step towards feeling lighter could begin today.
Counselling in Newton Abbot and online
Many people prefer to meet their counsellor in person. Candlewood Counselling’s Newton Abbot office is centrally located and within easy reach of Torbay by car or public transport. It’s close to main bus routes and just a short walk from the train station.
Others feel more comfortable having their counselling sessions online, and this can easily be arranged if it suits you better.
If you’re considering private counselling in Newton Abbot or the surrounding areas, you may find it helpful to explore the different types of support I offer.
- Find out about my approach to counselling
- Read about some of the issues and challenges I can help with
- Look at more information about how therapy can help you
- Or get in touch via the contact page
Visit my Facebook and Instagram pages for updates from my counselling practice. Send me an enquiry or message on Whatsapp.
Candlewood Counselling is located here
Professional Memberships
" Difficult paths often lead to beautiful destinations " - Ziglar
Private counselling in Newton Abbot Why private counselling can help
Life doesn’t always unfold in the ways we imagined.
Experiencing a major change in your life, noticing you’re feeling stuck in familiar patterns, or sensing that something isn’t sitting right anymore can be hard to deal with. It’s understandable that unexpected events and emotions can leave you feeling unsure about what to do next.
Now you’ve found yourself here, that may mean you’re already exploring the possibility of individual counselling support — and that’s a positive step. I’m here to offer private counselling support to help gain some insight, explore your options and move forward.
Stepping into the Unknown
When you’ve not experienced counselling before, seeking counselling help can feel like stepping into the unknown — Where do I start? How will it help me?
Even if you’ve had some counselling before, 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. As an experienced counsellor, I offer a steady and supportive approach.
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 how 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. This is at the heart of my approach to professional counselling in Newton Abbot.
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 find 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
When you feel ready to take the next step, or if you’re just curious about what counselling might feel like, reach out. I’m here to support you whenever you’re ready.
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
Professional Counselling Newton Abbot: How Can Therapy Help You?
As an experienced counsellor, there are a range of issues that I can help you with.
To find out how therapy could help with a particular issue or problem, click on one of the section headings below.
Anxiety & Depression
Anxiety & Depression
Anxiety and depression can show up in different ways. If you’re anxious, you might feel on edge, feel restless, or be caught in loops of worry. Depression can cause your energy and motivation to slip away, leaving you with the sense that everything feels harder than it should. Sometimes anxiety and depression are both are present, and then you can feel pulled between tension and exhaustion. These experiences are not signs of a weakness, but signs that something inside needs some care and attention. Counselling offers space to look at what’s been driving these feelings. It can help you understand the patterns that keep them going, but also help to find small, realistic ways to support yourself day to day. If you’re experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression or both, visit the Anxiety & Depression page for more information about how I can help with anxiety and depression.
Relationship Difficulties
Individual Relationship Issues
At best, relationships can bring us feelings of happiness, connection, and promote our personal growth — but they can also become sources of tension, isolation, or pain. There may be times when you find it hard to communicate, either with friends or family, or others in your life. Feeling disconnected, or unable to show how you really feel, can leave you feeling unseen and alone. If your relationship with a partner feels unsettled or uncertain, this can be distressing and often confusing. Counselling can offer the space to explore what’s happening. With individual support, you can start to consider ways of rebuilding trust and connection, firstly with yourself and then with those around you. We can re- evaluate what you really want and need from your work, family or partner relationships and take steps to look at how your needs in a relationship can be met.
Trauma
Trauma
Trauma can come from many different experiences — a difficult childhood, loss, abuse, accidents, illness, or major life changes. The word ‘trauma’ itself can be misunderstood, because it’s not just about what happened to you, but about how it made you feel at the time and afterwards. Trauma is how your experiences continue to affect your sense of safety and trust in your everyday life. Trauma responses such as anxiety, hypervigilance, emotional numbness, or flashbacks are completely understandable reactions to distressing experiences. But many people find their responses to people and situations difficult to understand, to manage or to explain.
In counselling, we gently explore these responses at your own pace, only exploring what you’re comfortable to explore. In time, counselling can help you to understand more fully what’s going on for you, so that you feel more grounded, present, and in control.
Visit the Trauma page for more information about how I can help you to begin to process trauma.
Low Confidence
Confidence
It’s hard to feel at ease when you’re constantly doubting yourself. Maybe you hold back from speaking up, question and mistrust your choices, or feel uncomfortable in your own skin. Low confidence and self-esteem can quietly influence so much of daily life — from work and relationships to how you see your place in the world. Those who experience low self-esteem or self worth don’t always present as someone who lacks confidence in themselves; many have learned to mask these feelings behind a bright, confident exterior. For some people, low confidence can be masked by working too hard, quietly worrying about others’ opinions or perfectionism.
Counselling offers a calm space where we can look at what’s behind the mask or the feelings that weigh on you. With gentle support, you can begin to rebuild a steadier sense of self-worth — one that feels real and lasting.
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
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. If you’d like to read more about my apporach to helping with grief and loss, visit my counselling for grief & loss page.
“I sat with my anger long enough until she told me her real name was grief.”
— C. S. Lewis
Early Experiences
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. In adult life, the effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences can show up in many ways — anxiety, low confidence, people-pleasing, perfectionism, or a sense of shame or emptiness that’s hard to explain. 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
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. Read more about how I can help with stress here
Have Any questions?
Do you have questions about beginning counselling?
Look at the FAQ Page to find answers to questions that people frequently ask