Is counselling right for me?

Counselling can be helpful for people experiencing difficult thoughts, feelings, or situations. It supports those feeling confused, anxious, stuck, or simply curious about understanding themselves better. Many people come to explore patterns, process change, or gain clarity. If you have questions, you can get in touch or visit the counselling services page for more information.

What kinds of issues do you work with?

I support adults with a wide range of concerns including anxiety, stress, burnout, grief, relationship difficulties, low self-esteem, and life transitions. If you are looking for counselling for a particular issue, you can find more information on the Counselling Services page or get in touch to discuss how I may be able to help.

Is everything I say confidential?

Yes. What you share in counselling is kept completely confidential, with a few legal exceptions related to safety. I explain this fully in our first session so you understand exactly where you stand. You can also read more in the Privacy Policy.

How much does counselling cost?

Sessions cost £50. Payment is usually made in advance online or before the session by cash or card. I offer a limited number of concessionary spaces—please ask if cost is a concern. More details are on the Sessions and Fees page.

How do I book a session?

You can contact me via email or call 07755 4356807 and leave a message, or use the contact form on my website. I will get back to you to arrange an initial free 20-minute chat to explore what brings you to therapy and how I may be able to help.

What happens during a session?

Sessions provide a safe space to talk openly about what’s on your mind. I listen without judgement and help you explore what’s happening beneath the surface. It is a collaborative process where you set the pace and focus. You can find out more on the Sessions and Fees page or by reading about my therapeutic approach.

How many sessions will I need?

The number of sessions varies from person to person. Some people benefit from a few sessions, while others prefer longer-term therapy. We regularly review your progress and decide what feels right for you.

What if I don’t feel a connection with the counsellor?

The therapeutic relationship is an important part of therapy. If after a few sessions you feel that I may not be the right fit, I will support you in finding someone who might be a better match.

What happens if I need to cancel a session?

If you need to cancel a session, I ask for at least 24 hours’ notice. You can contact me by text, email, or phone. Where possible, I will try to reschedule, but late cancellations may still be charged. More details are available on the Sessions and Fees page.

Can counselling really help me feel better?

Many people find relief simply by being able to talk and be understood. Over time, counselling can help you gain clarity, shift unhelpful patterns, and feel more confident in navigating life’s challenges. You can learn more on the Counselling Services page.

Understanding the January Blues: Newton Abbot

The fairy lights come down, the bills arrive, and suddenly you’re staring towards February through a grey window, wondering why you feel totally flat

This is January. Not the Instagram version with yoga mats and juice cleanses. The real one, where you’re too tired to care about self-improvement and too broke to pay for a gym membership.

Your body is probably a bit confused. For weeks it filled up on mince pies and stayed up late watching festive telly. Now January has flipped a switch and is expecting normal service to resume. Meanwhile the sun sets at half four and your bank account is wiped out.

What Are the January Blues?

True, it can be about circadian rhythms and serotonin levels—reduced daylight throwing your internal clock out of sync. But it may be also true that you spent December running on fumes and fairy lights, and now your tank is empty.

People call it the January blues -not a diagnosis, but the name we’ve given to that flat, grey feeling that settles in after the decorations come down.

Blue Monday: Myth or Reality?

We hear in the media this idea that the third Monday in January is scientifically the most depressing day of the year. It as a PR stunt for a travel company. The whole thing is manufactured, but that said—people do feel rotten in January. The marketing story doesn’t invalidate the lived experience. You can know Blue Monday is made up and still wake up feeling like soggy wrapping paper.

January Blues vs Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Seasonal Affective Disorder is different. SAD isn’t just feeling a bit down because it’s dark and cold. It’s depression that arrives with the season and leaves when spring does, affecting roughly one in fifteen people here.

The difference: your low mood doesn’t lift after a decent night’s sleep or a walk in what little daylight we get. It settles in like a houseguest who won’t leave. You lose interest in things that usually matter. You oversleep but wake up exhausted. Your brain feels like it’s wading through porridge.

This isn’t about motivation or toughing it out. It’s brain chemistry responding to lack of light. If this sounds familiar, it might be worth talking to your GP. There are treatments—light therapy, talking therapy, medication—that genuinely help.

The Pressure of “New Year, New Me”

January arrives dragging this enormous suitcase of expectations. Lose weight. Get organized. Be productive. Optimize yourself into some shinier, more efficient version of you.

You don’t have to buy into any of that.

You might not need an overhaul. You might just need a break. For many, whilst Christmas may be enjoyable, it’s not relaxing. Spending a month shopping, decorating, cooking, entertaining and showing up as your most festive self can be exhausting. So the pressure to then transform yourself in January when you’re running on empty, can feel crushing. Mind—the mental health charity—recognises this, but the message can get drowned out by the noise of new year fitness and healths transformation programs.

Rest isn’t failure. Slowing down isn’t giving up. Sometimes what you need most is to acknowledge you’re tired and give yourself permission to just… stop.

Practical Ways to Support Your Mental Health in January

Instead of resolutions, maybe try boundaries.

Saying no to things.

Going to bed early without guilt.

Spending an evening doing nothing productive whatsoever.

Winter is a season that asks for dormancy. Trees aren’t frantically trying to grow in January. Hedgehogs aren’t setting goals. You’re an animal too, and the dark months are for conserving energy, not burning through it.

Connection can help more than you’d think. Not forced socializing, but reaching out to someone who gets it. A friend who won’t try to fix you. A counsellor who’ll let you talk without jumping straight to solutions.

When to Seek Support

January is hard. The blues are real even if Blue Monday isn’t. You’re allowed to feel slow and quiet and not particularly optimistic about the year ahead.

If the low feeling persists beyond a couple of weeks. If you’re struggling to function—not just dragging yourself through the day, but genuinely unable to manage basic tasks. If you’re withdrawing from everyone and everything, or if hopelessness starts feeling permanent rather than passing.

Support exists if you need it. Needing it doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means you’re human, and humans aren’t built to sprint through winter pretending everything’s fine. Counselling services can offer space to untangle what you’re feeling without judgment. This isn’t about ‘fixing’ yourself. It’s about having support while you figure out what you need.

Be kind to yourself in 2026

Samantha x

If you’re looking to untangle challenges your facing and find a path to firmer ground, I offer a counselling in a space that’s professional but human, gentle but honest. Find out more about how I work on About and Counselling Services pages. Or get in touch on Whatsapp