Thanks for your help over the past few months.  I have to say that if you'd suggested counselling to me this time last year I wouldn't have believed it could work but it has really helped me massively. I really felt that I didn't know what to do to improve things at home but now it all feels "normal".
Age 44

     Counselling has helped me to express my feelings.  I really enjoyed it!
Age 9

 I have known Amy for approaching two years and she is someone of the highest professional standards and ethics. At all times I have found her to be supportive, considerate, kind and showing a high degree of empathy and the utmost confidentiality throughout. She is someone who has helped myself tackle some very difficult personal battles, together with suggesting coping strategies, whilst never appearing judgemental or uncaring she provides the highest pastoral care imaginable. The bond that I have developed with Amy has helped me to look forward in my life and I would strongly recommend her to anyone requiring support and counselling during significant life challenges.
Age 45


At first I never had plans for the future thinking had nothing like I wasn't going to be here and wanting to end my life now I have plans about getting a Job moving away getting married and having kids.  I used to self harm because I thought that was the only thing I could do.  I had no one to talk to and then Amy came in and spoke to me.  She's helped me through knowing I had someone to talk to to make me stop and now I have made a challenge for myself to stop self harming because I don't want to look in the future and see all the scars and look back at what happened.  That's why I'm stopping self-harming.
Age 14

 I did not know how I was going to cope and now I am.
Age 19  

If I'd known what the benefits of having counselling were I would not have deliberated for so long over booking a session!   Part of my deliberations centred around the notion that counselling must be the last resort for tackling some of my issues and challenges. In reality I struggled on unnecessarily. I found the process of having counselling to be liberating, fascinating and it offered me a new perspective and approach to navigating my way around some complicated thoughts and problems.
     I also believed that it would be impossible for someone to fully empathise with my situation and therefore I was a little sceptical from the offset. Amy immediately made me feel at ease and was incredibly empathic throughout all my sessions. In addition to being very skillful and professional, Amy was also very kind, non-judgemental and genuine.
     I highly recommend Amy, her approach to counselling and am glad that I took the plunge to meet with her.
Age 38

  Nearly two years ago, my lovely wife Sally was diagnosed with a virulent form of cancer.  The diagnosis was made in the December, and by April Sally was dead.  She deteriorated rapidly. and within months, the lovely, dynamic, beautiful woman that I had known for a soulmate for 37 years was physically destroyed.  What wasn't destroyed was her wonderful spirit and courage.  I nursed Sally at home, and was present at her death.  When Sally died, I was left with a feeling of utter helplessness, and uselessness.  I was very angry with myself, because for all my efforts, I could do nothing to stop this horrible disease. 
     I could not remain at home on my own, in the house where Sally had died, so 2 weeks after her death I returned to work. To enable me to express my feelings, I felt I needed counselling, and was referred to Amy Smythe.  Amy has kept me sane.  She has listened to me in a completely non-judgemental way, and brought a sense of normality to my life.  Friends that I had known for years were too emotionally affected by Sally's death.  The same applied to members of my and Sally's family.  Discussing my feelings was painful for them and for me.
     When I returned to work, I arrived just in time for a major restructure, where a number of staff lost their jobs.  The counselling service has enabled me to keep my feet on the ground.  It has given me a sense of purpose, and diffused my feelings of self-pity and anger.  I owe a great deal of thanks for Amy's patience, significant insight, listening skills and professionalism.  Nearly 2 years later, I still value my counselling sessions.
Age 62

I feel as though someone now knows me and has seen the real me and that feels good. I don't want to hide in my corner any more.
Aged 11.

I don't know how I got to the other side.  But...I am trying my best to keep it this way because this is how I want my life to be right now.
Age 22

When you get active with a Worry it deletes it.  There is one less thing to clog up your mind.
Age 12