Welcome to Samantha Shiel Counselling
A safe space to explore the challenges in your life
“Even the darkest night will end, and the sun will rise”
Victor Hugo
Hello, my name is Samantha, and I am a qualified and experienced counsellor based in Warrington, Cheshire. I adhere to the ethical guidelines of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and regularly engage in professional development to stay up to date in my field.
As a person-centred and relational therapist, I offer confidential and high-quality therapy for individuals, children, and young people (age 4+) on a short or long-term basis. I provide a safe, non-judgmental space for you to explore and understand your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. My goal is to support you in achieving your goals and understanding yourself better. I offer face-to-face sessions, as well as phone and online counselling.
Sometimes we face challenges that prevent us from living a fulfilling life and being our authentic selves. Professional counselling and psychotherapy can help you work through these challenges and reach your full potential. It may feel overwhelming to seek help, but my commitment to you is to work at your pace in a supportive and non-judgmental manner. Reaching out for help is the first step towards a healthier future where you can manage your own emotions.
I have assisted individuals with a wide range of issues, but I have a particular focus on working with trauma, adoption, and neurodivergence. I am also qualified to provide clinical supervision for other practitioners.
For more information about how I work, see my ‘Working with me’ page.
Work place Counselling
I have over 12 years of experience in offering short-term counselling to support staff through both work and personal challenges in a variety of organizations, including the NHS, social care, and education services. I have worked as part of the Occupational health team for a large NHS foundation trust since 2013.
Emotional Freedom Technique (Tapping)
EFT "Tapping" is a mind/body self-help method which combines gentle tapping on the hands, face and body, combined with mindful and vocal attention to thoughts and feelings. We gently use our fingertips to tap on ourselves whilst focusing upon an issue we wish to resolve. EFT allows us to release uncomfortable feelings such as hurt, guilt, anger or fear, which may be affecting our wellbeing. It can also help change our thoughts and beliefs around emotional experiences. Ofen after a few rounds of Tapping , people report feeling lighter and calmer. EFT can be particularly useful to help with fears and phobia's.
Person-centred, Relational therapy
As a person-centred and relational counsellor, I focus on the impact of relationships on an individual's life. I work with clients to gain self-awareness by exploring their thoughts, feelings, and emotions. In a supportive and empathetic environment, we'll establish a collaborative relationship with clear boundaries to lay the foundation for future healthy relationships. When needed, I also help clients navigate a healthy ending of therapy, especially if they've experienced negative endings in the past. My approach is beneficial for those struggling with emotional distress and trauma related to relationship wounds, as strong, healthy relationships are crucial for emotional well-being.
Therapy for Children and Young people
I am highly skilled in working with children and young people, ages 4 and above. My qualifications include a BA (Hons) in Early Years, Certificate in counselling children and young people, dyadic developmental psychotherapy parts one and two, and extensive experience addressing a wide range of issues such as bullying, anxiety, developmental trauma, attachment wounds, bereavement, separation, and friendship problems. I have experience working in specialist school provisions and I employ a variety of creative therapies, including art, crafts, nature-based activities, sand tray work, and clay, to help children and adults effectively express and process their emotions.
Parenting Support
Sessions
I also offer parenting support sessions, from an attachment focused perspective (DDP) These sessions can be exclusively for the parent/s or can include the child/Teen as the therapy progresses if deemed appropriate. Parenting can be particularly challenging if we have our own attachment wounds from our own childhood experiences. Or we may find ourselves single parenting and overwhelmed or caring so children which we are not biologically related to. We may feel lost, wanting to do better but unsure where to start, or feeling we are unskilled and fear repeating parenting patterns which we have experienced and witnesses in previous generations. These are bespoke sessions tailored to each individual families needs and are not delivered as a parenting course.
Adoption Support
I am a qualified and experienced adoption support specialist with over six years of experience working with children, adults, and families within this specific specialism . My expertise includes supporting parents with adoption-related concerns, guiding adults through the adoption process, and helping parents, young people and children overcome post-adoption challenges. I have completed advanced training in Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP), an attachment-focused therapy, and hold a certificate in adoption support counselling. I am also an approved Barnardo's link therapist and have experience delivering DDP (attachment focused parenting/caring) to groups of carers looking ater children within residential settings.
Supervision
I have a Level 6 qualification in Integrative, Developmental Model (IDM) Clinical Supervision and have been in continuous practice since 2011, accumulating 13 years of experience as a counsellor. I am committed to my own clinical supervision and have current indemnity insurance. Registered member of BACP and ICO
Shohet's Seven-Eyed Model, which I utilize in my supervision practice, encompasses seven areas of focus: the client, the therapist, the supervisor, the relationship between them, and the wider systems in which they operate. As a supervisor, it is my role to educate, support, and monitor the quality of the supervisee’s work with clients, utilizing online, face-to-face, and asynchronous methods. Supervision is a structured process that involves informed consent and an agreement outlining the obligations of both the supervisor and supervisee. It is not intended to be short-term, but rather an ongoing support for both trainee and experienced practitioners.
I offer supervision to help you reflect on and develop your practice so you can provide the best service possible for your clients. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you are in need of supervision
Please see my ‘Supervision’ page for more details about working with me.
Issues I can help with
When I work with adults, children and young people, I can help with a wide range of issues.
Trauma
Anxiety
Abuse
Adoption
Anger
Attachment
Bereavement and loss
Identity
Low mood/Depression
Work related issues
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Self-esteem and confidence
Self-harm
Stress
Suicidal thoughts
Bullying
This list is not exhaustive, If you are struggling with an issue that isn’t listed above, please contact me to see if we can work together.
Sessions & Fees
Personal Counselling/Therapy for individuals
Clinical Supervision
Availability
About Me
With over 11 years of experience in the NHS, I bring a wealth of expertise to my role as a senior counsellor in an Occupational Health department, where I offer counselling services to NHS staff and other external Organisations. In addition, I work as an associate creative therapist for a leading organization in the Northwest, providing support to adoption families and vulnerable children in the care system or specialist school provisions as part of an emotional trauma support team.
I am well-versed in supporting individuals who are neurodivergent and have specialized experience counselling school staff in specialist schools. My private practice is thriving, offering counselling services for adults, children, and young people, as well as clinical supervision.
My Location
Enjoy a secure and serene therapy experience in my private practice located in Great Sankey, Warrington, Cheshire. Convenient street parking is available nearby.
I offer a limited number of face-to-face therapy sessions in my private practice located in Great Sankey, Warrington, Cheshire. Convenient street parking is available nearby.
Conveniently located for those in Warrington, Liverpool, Manchester, Skelmersdale, Wigan, Bolton, Stockport, Altrincham, Knutsford, and Northwich
Quotes
FAQ
This is entirely dependent on you and the challenges you are facing. If you are struggling with a specific or current issue, it may be that you only need support over the short term, but that depends. If you have issues that are rooted in past experiences, it may take time to work through your experiences and exploring them in detail to reach a place of greater self-awareness.
During a counselling or therapy session, you can expect to work with a trained professional to address your mental health, emotional, or personal issues. The specific format of the session may vary depending on the type of treatment you are receiving and the approach of your therapist or counsellor.
In general, counselling or therapy sessions are usually held at regular intervals (e.g. weekly) and last for a set amount of time (e.g. 50 minutes). During the session, you will have the opportunity to discuss your thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a safe and confidential environment. Your therapist or counsellor will listen and offer support and guidance as you work through your issues. They may also use various techniques or strategies to help you better understand and cope with your emotions and behaviours.
It is important to remember that therapy is a collaborative process, and your therapist or counsellor will work with you to develop a treatment plan that meets your specific needs and goals.
Counselling and therapy are often used interchangeably, but some people may use these terms to describe different types of treatment. In general, counselling and therapy refer to the process of working with a trained professional to address mental health, emotional, or personal issues. Counselling is often shorter-term and focuses on specific issues or problems, while therapy is more long-term and focuses on overall well-being and personal growth. Some people may use the term "counselling" to refer to less intensive forms of treatment, while "therapy" is used to describe more intensive or in-depth treatment. Ultimately, the main difference between counselling and therapy is one of perception, and different people may have different interpretations of these terms.
Get In Touch
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how therapy works, or to arrange an initial assessment appointment. This enables us to discuss the reasons you are thinking of coming to therapy, whether it could be helpful for you and whether I am the right therapist to help.
You can also call me on 07563627535 if you would prefer to leave a message or speak to me first. I am happy to discuss any queries or questions you may have prior to arranging an initial appointment.
All enquires are usually answered within 24 hours, and all contact is strictly confidential.