Relationship counselling on your own terms

This kind of support is for anyone whose relationships — past, present, or future — are causing them difficulty. You might be in a relationship that feels stuck, unhealthy, or painful, and want to understand your own part in the dynamic before deciding what to do. You might have a partner who is unwilling to attend couples counselling, and want to work on things in the only way that is currently available to you.

You might be recovering from a relationship that ended badly — processing the grief, the anger, the loss of identity, or the lingering effects of toxic or narcissistic dynamics that continue to affect how you see yourself and how you relate to others. Or you might be single and noticing patterns that keep repeating — choosing emotionally unavailable partners, struggling with vulnerability, ending relationships before they get too close, or feeling trapped in dynamics that echo your childhood.

Individual relationship counselling is also valuable for people who are broadly happy in their relationship but want to understand themselves more deeply — how they handle conflict, what intimacy ;means to them, what they need in order to feel secure, and how their family of origin has shaped the way they love. These are not problems to be fixed. They are patterns to be understood — and understanding them changes everything. We welcome people of all orientations, backgrounds, and relationship structures. Whatever your experience of relationships has been, individual counselling meets you where you are.

A careful match, not a long list

Therapist availability changes from week to week, so rather than asking you to choose from a directory, we take time during your free 15-minute consultation to understand what you are looking for — and then match you with a therapist suited to your needs.

During the consultation, we will ask about:

• What you would like the work to focus on, and any specific concerns you would like support with
• Whether you would prefer face-to-face counselling, online sessions, or a combination of the two
• Any preferences around therapy approach (counselling, CBT, EMDR, hypnotherapy, mindfulness, ACT, compassion focused therapy and others)
• Day and time availability that works around your life
• Any specialisms that matter to you — for example LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy, neurodiversity-affirming support, or particular life experiences
• Practical preferences — for example therapist gender, age range, or shared lived experience where that matters to you

All therapists we work with are qualified and registered with appropriate UK professional bodies, and we will confirm the most suitable options with you before any sessions begin.

Professional standards across our team

Hope Therapy & Counselling Services has been operating since 2014, and we hold Organisational Membership with the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCPS). We work in line with the NCPS Code of Ethics and BACP Good Practice, and our wider clinical standards include:

• Qualified, professionally registered therapists across the team — registrations vary per therapist and are confirmed before matching
• Ongoing clinical supervision in line with professional body requirements
• Continuing professional development to maintain and develop practice
• Clear confidentiality standards, with limits explained before sessions begin
• Client-centred, non-judgemental and inclusive practice across all areas of identity and experience
• Founder-led clinical oversight from Ian Stockbridge — MBACP (Senior Accredited) – who continues to lead the practice and oversee its standards

Whether you choose face-to-face counselling near you or online therapy from anywhere in the UK, you can expect to be matched with a therapist who is appropriately qualified and suited to the support you are looking for.