Your counselling guide.

A SPACE TO TALK

What is counselling?

A private, supportive space to explore what is happening in your life — and how you feel about it.

Counselling offers time away from everyday demands to think, speak openly and be listened to without judgement. You might want to understand a difficulty, work through distress, find a sense of direction or explore a part of yourself that has been hard to put into words.

My role is to listen carefully and help you make sense of your experience. This is a collaborative process: I do not tell you what to do or make decisions for you. Together, we can explore different perspectives and the choices available to you.

There is room for sadness, anger, uncertainty and happiness. As trust develops, it may become easier to explore feelings and relationships you have not felt able to consider before. Counselling is voluntary, and the decision to begin belongs to you.

WHATEVER BRINGS YOU HERE

Areas of counselling.

Some people come with a particular problem. Others feel that something isn’t right, without knowing exactly why. I work with adults, young people, children and parents, and welcome enquiries about a wide range of experiences.

• Anxiety, panic and stress
• Depression and low mood
• Relationships, affairs and betrayal
• Separation and divorce
• Family and child-related issues, including bullying
• Bereavement and loss
• Attachment and early experiences
• Self-esteem and confidence
• Trauma and PTSD
• Physical, sexual and emotional abuse
• Domestic violence and bullying
• Pregnancy, miscarriage and termination
• Infertility and postnatal difficulties
• Sexuality and gender identity
• Anger and strong feelings
• Menopause
• Obsessions, compulsions and control
• ADHD, ASD, ADD
• Eating difficulties
• Addictions
• Self-harm
• Bipolar disorder
• Work, career and exam pressures
• Spirituality, identity and life changes

This list is not exhaustive. We can discuss what you are facing and whether my experience and approach are a good fit for your needs.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR EXPERIENCE

How I work.

The psychodynamic approach

Psychodynamic counselling explores how past experiences, including early relationships, may shape your feelings, expectations and relationships in the present. Sometimes these influences sit outside our immediate awareness.

We can look together at recurring patterns, ways you protect yourself and feelings that emerge in our sessions. The relationship we develop can offer a place to understand how you relate to others, with time to reflect rather than pressure to find a quick answer.

The aim is a deeper understanding of yourself and greater freedom in how you respond to life. This work is often open-ended, with regular opportunities to review how it is going.

Drawing on CBT where appropriate

Cognitive behavioural therapy explores connections between thoughts, feelings and behaviour. When useful, we may work towards specific goals, look at unhelpful thinking patterns or agree activities to try between sessions.

I will discuss the approach with you and take your needs and preferences into account. If I believe another professional would better meet your needs, we can talk about an appropriate referral.

EXPERIENCE & PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

About Annette.

I am an accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, MBACP (Accred). I am also a registered independent counsellor with the United Kingdom Register of Counsellors (UKRC). I have over twenty years of experience in a counselling environment and extensive experience supporting young people, children and parents.

My work spans private practice, charities, agencies, the police and schools. In educational settings I have worked with local authorities and with CAMHS involvement, facilitated groups and developed training and support materials for teachers and professionals. I have also served as a School Governor in my local area.

I have a particular interest in attachment, and have delivered workshops and talks on this area of my work. My practice is primarily psychodynamic, drawing on other approaches where appropriate.

I hold professional indemnity insurance, attend ongoing professional training and work within the BACP Ethical Framework. Regular clinical supervision supports reflection on my practice.

MBACP (Accred)
Registration number 021340

Visit the BACP Register ↗

WAYS TO MEET

A setting that suits you.

In-person counselling

Face-to-face sessions take place at 11 Falldor Way, Ampthill, Bedfordshire, MK45 2GD. Parking is available and the nearest station is Flitwick. Please discuss any access requirements when you get in touch.

Online counselling

Meeting by video can make counselling more accessible when travelling is difficult or you prefer to meet from home. We will discuss whether it is appropriate for your circumstances and agree the video platform and practical arrangements before your first session.

Choose a quiet, private space where you will not be interrupted. A reliable internet connection, a working camera and microphone, and time to settle in before the session can help. The first meeting is also an opportunity to check that the technology and way of working feel comfortable.

Telephone counselling

Telephone sessions offer a space to talk without a video connection or a journey to the practice. We will agree a time, discuss what you are seeking help with, and decide together on the frequency and arrangements for future sessions.

For both online and telephone work, we will discuss confidentiality, payment, cancellation arrangements and what to do if the connection is interrupted.

GETTING STARTED

Appointments & payment.

Our first meeting

The first appointment is an opportunity to talk about what you are looking for, ask questions and see how it feels to work together. It also helps me consider whether I am the right practitioner for your needs.

If we decide to continue, we will agree a regular appointment time, fees and the arrangements for our work. Sessions are usually 50 minutes, once a week. The first appointment costs £25.

Appointment hours

All sessions are by appointment only. Please contact me about current availability or if these times are difficult for you.

Fees

Individual daytime counselling is £75 for 50 minutes. Early morning and evening sessions are £90 for 50 minutes. Weekend sessions and group work are priced by arrangement. Clinical supervision is £90 for 60 minutes.

Paying for sessions

Please arrange an initial consultation before purchasing counselling sessions. We will confirm your appointment, the appropriate fee and how to pay. Fees are normally settled at the beginning of each session; online and telephone sessions are paid for in advance.

Bank transfer or other payment arrangements can be discussed. Please get in touch if you wish to use medical insurance, a direct payment scheme or another self-funding arrangement.

Cancellations & breaks

Planned breaks are not charged. Cancellations and missed appointments are charged because your session time is reserved for you. If you need to change an appointment, I will do my best to offer another time, although this may not always be possible.

Please contact me as soon as you know you cannot attend, and make sure your cancellation has been acknowledged by text or email. We will agree the full arrangements at the beginning of our work.

YOUR QUESTIONS

A little more clarity.

TRUST & PRIVACY

A confidential space.

Privacy is an important part of feeling able to speak freely. We will discuss confidentiality and its limits at the start of counselling, including circumstances involving safeguarding concerns or legal obligations.

Where possible, I will discuss a concern with you before taking action. My clinical supervision focuses on my work as a counsellor, without using information that identifies you.

I may make brief notes to support our work. We will discuss how your information is handled, stored and retained as part of our agreement. You are welcome to ask about this at any stage.

FOR COUNSELLORS & PROFESSIONALS

Clinical supervision.

Supervision offers a reflective space to think about clinical work, explore the therapeutic relationship and gain another perspective on what may be happening in practice.

I offer one-to-one and group supervision for counsellors, psychotherapists and selected professions. Sessions can support professional development, reflection and safeguarding practice.

Individual supervision is £90 for 60 minutes. Group fees depend on the arrangements and number of participants. Please contact me to discuss your experience, setting and supervision needs.

CLIENT EXPERIENCES

In their own words.

The following client feedback has been used with explicit consent. Some names have been changed to protect confidentiality. Everyone’s experience of counselling is individual.

“Talking to someone who was objective and outside my family, empowered me. Faith in myself as a person has been restored.”

Michelle

“When I started counselling with Annette I was at an extreme low in my life. Talking to somebody who would not judge me and who took their time to help me through what was a very difficult time was exactly what I needed.”

Peter

“This has been my first ever experience of counselling and I have found it to be a very positive one.”

Siobhan

“I am so grateful to Annette, the counselling sessions that I have had with her have not just given me the tools to make positive changes in my life but considerably helped to change how I feel about myself in general.”

Helen

“I found talking to Annette very easy. She is calm, measured and a very good listener who does not judge. Thank you so much for everything that you have done for me.”

Jennifer

“Annette has helped me so much with coming to terms with the loss of my partner, something that I thought would not be possible.”

Margaret

“Initially I did not think that I needed counselling, but just talking through the issues that I was facing helped in so many ways. It was much better to vocalise my problems rather than just thinking about them.”

Simon

“Working with Annette has been truly life-changing. She’s given me invaluable advice and guidance to help me through my divorce and to manage my family life with much more understanding and calm. Through her sessions, I’ve been able to rewire my thinking, strengthen my emotional intelligence, and finally understand why certain things have happened in my life.

Annette has helped me to live more in the present and even to move on and form new, healthy relationships. She genuinely goes above and beyond for her clients - it’s clear how much she cares. I always felt I could open up to her without any judgment, and she provided me with a clear, practical plan for how to move forward and improve my life.

I can’t thank her enough for the difference she’s made. I’d recommend Annette Piper Therapy to anyone who wants real, lasting change and a therapist who truly listens and empowers you to grow.”

James

FURTHER READING & SUPPORT

Useful resources.

These organisations offer information about counselling and different kinds of support. External services are independent of my practice.

Books from my reading list

• Recovery of Your Inner Child — Lucia Capacchione
• Rescuing the “Inner Child” — Penny Parks
• Homecoming — John Bradshaw
• Adult Children — John Friel & Linda Friel
• An Adult Child’s Guide to What’s “Normal” — John Friel & Linda Friel
• S.U.M.O. Your Relationships — Paul McGee
• The Courage to Heal — Ellen Bass & Laura Davis
• The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook — Edmund J. Bourne
• Mind Over Mood — Dennis Greenberger & Christine A. Padesky

We can discuss whether any reading might be useful for you and when it feels appropriate.