Counselling for Anxiety, Depression, PTSD, ADHD & Involuntary Childlessness
DANIELLE UPHILL COUNSELLING PSYCHOTHERAPY
Humanistic Counselling Psychotherapist - PGDip, MBACP
Thank you for visiting my page. I appreciate finding a therapist can be daunting and the desire to know if I am someone trustworthy is important. I believe it's hard to know that without speaking; however, as a start, below is a little about me.
My approach is one grounded in authenticity. I believe that at different points in our lives we take on societies or other peoples “shoulds” or dreams for us, consciously or unconsciously, and lose sight of our own, which can at best be uncomfortable and at worst lead to anxiety and depression. No matter where on this spectrum you may feel, my role is to get an understanding alongside you of what you need to heal. Helping you to find a route back to who you fundamentally are and want to be, and give yourself permission to be that, letting go of external expectations. I believe we are all, in a way, the same. We all experience varying levels of anxiety, loneliness, anger and depression, and it's not uncommon to feel misunderstood or alienated even by those closest to us.
At the same time, we are all different, shaped by our unique childhoods, relationship histories, and careers. These differences can lead to feelings of being misunderstood and alone, especially when others presume to know what's wrong with us. For this reason, I don't follow a one-size-fits-all answer or behavioural model to "fix" you because I genuinely don't believe you are broken. However, I understand that at times anxiety, overwhelming feelings or a sense of "stuckness" can be prevalent, causing you to perceive yourself as broken. In this context, therapy works by discovering who you truly are and what you need to feel a sense of belonging, connection, and being at home in your world.
Since completing my PGDip in Humanistic Counselling and Psychotherapy I work as a therapist in private practice and as part of a team of therapists at a Trauma-Informed Charity in West Sussex, supporting adult survivors of sexual abuse.
Areas of work
Whether this is your first time looking for a therapist or you are returning after a break, below is a little about what to expect from working with me and some of the areas in which I work. Please note that these are just a few examples, and I support clients with a diverse range of concerns
ANXIETY
Although I believe that being human means experiencing anxiety, there are times when the level of this is too much and help is needed. Anxiety can manifest itself in many ways - addiction, fatigue, restlessness, irritability, nervousness and many other physical and emotional manifestations that can appear linked or seemingly unrelated.
DEPRESSION
Similar to anxiety depression can manifest in a number of ways from being easy to anger, sleeplessness. sadness followed by numbness and a variety of ways. Sometimes it can take a while to come to the point of understanding you may be experiencing depression and it's a big step to seek help for it, yet one that I believe is worthwhile.
CHILDLESS NOT-BY-CHOICE (CNBC)
GRIEF AND LIVING LOSS
Living loss is a term coined by the Psychotherapist Julia Samuel and encapsulates for me so much of what causes us pain as humans yet isn't always talked about or given credence to in society. Beyond the profound pain of losing a loved one, there are other forms of grief—such as the end of a relationship, estrangement due to addiction, job loss, or realizing that the life you envisioned hasn’t materialized. These types of grief often aren’t acknowledged or taken as seriously, either by those around you or even by yourself, despite how deeply they’re felt.
The heartbreak stemming from experiences like miscarriage or unsuccessful attempts at IVF often leads to profound feelings of grief, loneliness, isolation, and questions around identity. In these challenging moments, therapy offers a safe haven, allowing individuals to process their emotions without judgment or pressure to seek silver linings. Instead, it aids in navigating the pain, facilitating a path forward while honouring the grief that remains.
Childless not by choice - a term that encompasses a poignant reality for many, where the envisioned family hasn't materialised due to societal hurdles such as economic constraints or not finding a suitable partner - often leads to loneliness, unprocessed grief, and the weight of isolation and social stigma, significantly impacting various facets of life.
CHANGE
I work with clients who are approaching life transitions such as middle age and experiencing anxiety and depression around this, including the emotional and physical symptoms of menopause as well as the challenges transition to parenthood bring. Part of my work is somatic which means including the body and felt experiencing within the body where appropriate, with the belief that there is a wealth of information stored within the feelings and emotions we experience as well as the cognitive processing.
UNCERTAINTY & OVERWHELM
Sometimes life can just get too much and we need a space to breathe, reflect and decide on what, if anything needs changing. Sometimes counselling is about childhood trauma or deep wounds; sometimes it's a circuit breaker for times when things are just too much and the intensity of that is enough to lead you to want to talk to someone.
ADULT DIAGNOSIS OF ADHD
I also have experience working with individuals who have been diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood. For many, this diagnosis brings a mix of unexpected emotions and challenges as they begin to understand how their unique neurological experiences have shaped their lives. Together, we can explore how ADHD has impacted your sense of self, relationships, and day-to-day functioning.
My aim is to help you make sense of these feelings and to navigate the complexities that come with this newfound awareness. Whether it's understanding how ADHD has influenced your past or learning new strategies for managing life moving forward, we will work at your pace, focusing on what feels most important to you. Therapy can be a space to gain clarity, develop self-compassion, and create practical tools for living more fully with ADHD.
TRAUMA & PTSD
I work with adults who have experienced traumatic experiences such as sexual assault, whether in childhood or adulthood, and I understand the profound impact this can have on your relationships—with others and with yourself. My approach is to create a safe, supportive space where we can work together at your pace. There is no pressure to revisit traumatic events unless you're wanting to. Instead, our focus is on helping you process these experiences in a way that empowers you to reclaim your life.
Trauma can keep us feeling stuck, but therapy offers a path to move forward. While we can't erase these events from your life, we can work together to release their hold on you.
HOW I WORK
AUTHENTIC
My commitment is to always be authentic, honest and kind to you. I’ll ask questions at times to get a better understanding of your experience and view of the world but never to tell you what to do or give an opinion. This also means I’ll be there as myself in the relationship with you, my approach isn’t one of long periods of silence or directing you, it's a middle ground with you always at the centre and me, with you, fully present helping to figure things out. Sometimes questions may challenge you but are never intended as confrontational. I’m not here to judge or shame any actions, but to help bring them up, out and question if they still serve you. I’m not perfect, I’ll make mistakes, and hope you will too, in the course of our work together as I believe resilience and healing can only come from a mixture of compassion and acceptance.
STRAIGHTFORWARD
There are a multitude of buzzwords and approaches when it comes to therapy so for clarity I provide a talking therapy that focuses on the here-and-now of your living. I have an interest in the nervous system and how your feelings and behaviours may also affect your health; however, I don't prescribe to a medical model of therapy with me as knowing more about your life than you do, I work as an equal with my clients and use the humanistic theory I follow as a setting to support you and our relationship, and not to diagnose or tell you what is wrong or what you should change. I believe that stress inevitably creates reactions in our body - and, as such, the work we do together can and will affect many areas of your wellbeing. I take my role as therapist seriously. Your wellness and safety are important and I believe my role is to support you, yet ultimately become redundant to you.
WARM
Creating an environment where you feel safe to express yourself, your beliefs, behaviours or addictions is my role and something I take very seriously. I align with the belief that things like addictions come about to fill a void or support you when there is nothing else - be that lack of confidence, insecurity or a feeling of emptiness. I will never judge or shame you, or tell you what to do, that is not my decision to make and ultimately I believe wouldn’t help anyway. Thus my role is to create a warm environment, working at your pace and enable you to feel safe and accepted.
FAQ
Q: How do you provide counselling?
A: I provide counselling online, via telephone and face to face in Hove. I work with clients based in the UK and Internationally (excluding the USA and Canada).
Q: What are your working hours?
A: My private practice days are Tue, Wed, Thu & Fri with early morning and evening availability.
Q: How much do you charge for counselling?
A: I charge £60 per hour and offer a free 15minute call before getting started, to see if we could be a good fit for working together and answer any initial questions.
Q: Are you a member of any accredited bodies?
A: Yes I am a Registered member of the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP) and adhere to their Code of Ethics. I am also a member of BICA (British Infertility Counselling Association).
