Counselling in Reading, Basingstoke & West Berkshire
If you have ever wondered why you react the way you do, or why the same patterns keep showing up in your relationships, you are not alone. Many of us reach a point where we want to understand where those patterns began, and to decide for ourselves what we keep and what we change.
I’m Natalie, a counsellor working with adults, and I offer a private, unhurried space where nothing is too small or too difficult to say, and where you can be curious, rather than critical, about yourself.
I believe we can only change what we understand, and that understanding begins when someone is listened to closely and without judgement.
In-person in Basingstoke, Tilehurst (West Reading) and Mortimer (West Berkshire), and online UK-wide.
Book a free 15-minute consultation
How I Can Help
About
About me and how I work
How I work
I work in a relational and integrative way, which simply means I shape our sessions around you. I can support you with what is happening now and, where useful, with understanding how the past may be affecting you too. I draw on person-centred, psychodynamic and CBT ideas, and I will always explain what I am doing and why. I listen closely, notice what matters to you, and offer gentle observations so you can develop a deeper understanding of yourself and your relationships.
You might come to counselling because there is one thing you would like to change. As we explore that together, we may discover other experiences or patterns that help make sense of what is happening now.
At the start, you might feel unsure why life feels so hard, or why you keep reacting in ways you don’t understand. There is no need to have the right words. We begin at your pace and explore what feels important at the moment.
As trust builds, we can explore what sits underneath, notice your patterns, and look at where they began and whether they still serve you.
Over time, that understanding can turn into choice: setting different boundaries, making decisions that fit who you are, and being kinder and more accepting to yourself.
A little about me
After a career supporting senior leaders, I retrained as a counsellor, bringing with me many years of experience listening, supporting others and building trusted relationships. Alongside my private practice, I work with adults facing separation from their children and major disruption to family life. This work has taught me how early experiences and difficult relationships can shape the way we feel, trust and cope as adults, and how much change is possible.
I’m a registered BACP member and hold a Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling. I’m currently completing a Level 5 Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling, and I continue to develop my practice through further training in Internal Family Systems (IFS), trauma, attachment and maternal mental health. I have a particular interest in women’s experiences, including identity, relationships, family patterns and the changes that come with becoming a mother.
Taking the first step
You don’t need to have it all figured out before getting in touch. If you’re wondering whether counselling could help, send me a message and we can take it from there. Whenever you’re ready, I’d love to hear from you.
Enhanced DBS certificate holder
Prices & Locations
Prices & Locations
Session pricing
Discounted rates
I offer discounted rates as standard for students, teaching staff, NHS staff and counselling trainees.
Low-cost counselling
I also set aside a number of low-cost sessions each week for people who would otherwise be unable to access counselling. If this might apply to you, please message me and we can talk through your circumstances in confidence.
Locations
I offer in-person sessions in comfortable therapy rooms in the following locations:
Basingstoke (RG24)
Tilehurst, West Reading (RG30)
Mortimer, West Berkshire (RG7)
All locations have access to free and safe parking directly outside.
Online sessions are also available UK-wide.
How It Works
How counselling can help
You’ll have a safe space to talk through whatever feels difficult, stressful or confusing, and to work toward meaningful, lasting change. Everyone’s experience of counselling is different, but in general, our work together will support you to:
Talk openly
Put words to what’s making life feel hard. By talking it through, you can understand what’s really going on underneath, and build confidence to manage day-to-day pressures with more clarity and self-belief.
Understand your patterns
Recognise the situations or reactions that appear again and again and start to notice what triggers them. With this awareness, you can respond differently and set healthier boundaries in the relationships that matter to you.
Connect the dots
See how past experiences and relationships show up in your life today, often without you realising it. Understanding these links can help you make sense of what’s happened before and to move forward differently.
Contact
Get in touch
Choosing the right counsellor can be hard, so before we start working together I offer a free 15-minute telephone or video chat — a chance to ask any questions and get a feel for whether we’re the right fit.
Whenever you’re ready, I look forward to hearing from you. All enquiries will be responded to within 48 hours.
Send a messageWhere to find me
If you would like to know a little more about me before getting in touch, you can also find my profiles here:
- Counselling Directory (opens in a new tab)
- Psychology Today (opens in a new tab)
- BACP Therapist Directory (opens in a new tab)
Each one gives a bit more detail about my training and approach, and you are very welcome to contact me directly through this website if you would like to arrange a free introductory chat.
If you feel in crisis right now, please consider contacting the Samaritans’ free helpline on 116 123 — available 24/7, every day of the year.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
A few of the things people often ask. If there’s anything else you’d like to know, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
How does the booking process work?
Before we begin working together we would have a short chat, either online or over the phone, to have a brief discussion about what you are looking for and whether we are the right fit for each other. This call is free of charge and an important part of the process. If we decide to work together, we would agree a date and time that works for our first session and go from there.
Are you part of a registered body?
Yes. I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). Registration confirms that I have completed an approved level of training, work safely and ethically, and meet the professional standards expected of counsellors in the UK.
As part of my membership, I adhere to the BACP Ethical Framework, which covers confidentiality, professional boundaries, safeguarding, supervision, record-keeping and ongoing CPD. It’s designed to protect clients and ensure high-quality therapeutic practice. You can find the full Ethical Framework on the BACP website.
What happens in a first session?
In the first session, before we begin talking, we would talk through the working agreement, where we’ll cover things like confidentiality and a bit more about how we’ll approach our time together.
How will I know what to talk about?
Many people feel this way when they first begin counselling, and we will work through this together. Not knowing where to begin is often the best place to start, and we will go at your pace.
Is counselling confidential?
What you say in counselling is confidential, and what we discuss stays between us. However, there are a few exceptions to this, which I will talk you through in our first meeting and which are genuinely connected to your safety.
How do you keep my data safe?
Keeping what you share with me safe and confidential matters a great deal to me. You can see exactly how I handle this in my full privacy policy.
What should I do if I feel in crisis?
Counselling with me is not a crisis or emergency service. If you are in crisis or at risk of harm, please contact 999, 111 or go to your nearest A&E. You can also call the Samaritans’ free helpline on 116 123, which is available 24/7. You can also visit the Mind website, who can support you in an urgent situation.
How many sessions will I need?
Everybody is different. Some people find a few sessions is enough, while others want to go deeper for longer. That’s entirely led by you, and it’ll become clearer as we go.
How often will I have a session?
Usually clients have one session at the same time and place each week. Sometimes there will be times when you feel you need more sessions, and there may be times when having every other week feels more manageable. This is entirely up to you and what you need, and we can plan this together.
Where are your in-person locations?
I offer in-person sessions in comfortable therapy rooms across Basingstoke, Reading and West Berkshire:
Basingstoke (RG24)
Tilehurst, West Reading (RG30)
Mortimer, West Berkshire (RG7)
All locations have access to free and safe parking directly outside.
How do online sessions work?
We will meet over Microsoft Teams, which uses encrypted video calls. I don’t record sessions, and I follow data protection best practice in line with my privacy policy.
How long does a session last?
Every session lasts 50 minutes.
How much does a session cost?
In-person sessions are £65 and online sessions are £55. I offer discounted rates as standard for students, teaching staff, NHS staff and counselling trainees. I also set aside a number of low-cost sessions each week for people who would otherwise be unable to access counselling. If this might apply to you, please message me and we can talk through your circumstances in confidence.
How do I make payment?
Payment can either be made in cash or via bank transfer. Details will be provided on your invoice. Payment is due within 7 days of your invoice, which I send weekly.
What happens if I am unable to make my appointment?
I understand that life sometimes gets in the way. If you need to cancel or change an appointment, please let me know at least 48 hours in advance where possible — this allows time to offer the slot to someone else.
Cancellations made with less than 48 hours’ notice, and missed appointments, are charged at the full session fee. This is because the time has been reserved specifically for you.
I understand that genuine emergencies do happen. If something unexpected and outside of your control comes up, please get in touch as soon as you can, and we’ll talk it through together.
Can I have sessions with you if I’m also seeing my GP or taking medication?
Yes. Many clients work with their GP or take prescribed medication alongside counselling. This is absolutely fine, and we can talk about how everything fits together within our sessions. If anything changes with your health or medication, you’re welcome to bring that into the work so we can explore how it affects you.
Do you work with children?
I work with all adults over the age of 18.
What happens when I decide to end counselling?
Endings are an important part of the therapeutic process, and they’re always led by you. When you feel ready to finish, we’ll discuss it together and agree on a plan that suits your needs. This might include reviewing the progress you’ve made, thinking about what you want to take forward, and ensuring you feel supported as sessions come to a close.
Whether you prefer a phased ending or a single final session, we’ll shape it in a way that feels safe, respectful, and right for you.