Counselling in Chelmsford & Online Across the UK
I'm Louise Hards, a qualified psychotherapeutic counsellor and registered member of the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society. I hold a Level 5 Professional Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling Practice, alongside previous qualifications in counselling, hypnotherapy and psychology.
Before becoming a counsellor, I spent more than 25 years working as a Registered Veterinary Nurse. That experience has given me a particular understanding of the emotional demands that can come with caring for others, working in high-pressure environments and supporting people through difficult and sometimes heartbreaking situations.
Why Oak & Willow?
The name Oak & Willow reflects two qualities I believe are important in therapy. The oak represents strength, stability and resilience. The willow represents flexibility, adaptability and the ability to bend without breaking. Life can ask us to be both. Sometimes we need to find our strength. Sometimes we need permission to soften, adapt and respond differently, and sometimes we simply need somewhere safe to put everything down for a while.
People come to counselling for many different reasons. You may be experiencing:
You don't have to fit into a particular category. We can start with whatever feels important to you.
I work from a pluralistic, person-centred approach, drawing on different therapeutic ideas and techniques depending on what you need. This may include elements of CBT, psychodynamic therapy, somatic approaches, mindfulness and nature-based practices. There isn't one approach that works for everyone. You are the expert in your own life. My role is to listen, understand and work alongside you to find an approach that feels useful and appropriate.
Face-to-face counselling is available in the Chelmsford area in a private and peaceful setting surrounded by nature. I also offer online counselling across the UK, giving you the flexibility to access therapy from your own home. Walk-and-talk counselling may also be available where appropriate.
Choosing a counsellor is a personal decision, and it's important that you feel comfortable with the person you work with. If you're considering counselling in Chelmsford and would like to find out more, you're welcome to get in touch. You don't need to know exactly what you want to talk about. Sometimes the first step is simply starting the conversation.
Anxiety can affect much more than your thoughts. You may find yourself constantly worrying, overthinking conversations, imagining what might go wrong or struggling to switch off at night. You may also notice physical symptoms such as tension, a racing heart, restlessness, difficulty sleeping or feeling constantly on edge. Perhaps you've been coping for a long time, but recently things have started to feel harder. If you're looking for anxiety counselling in Chelmsford, Oak & Willow offers a safe and supportive space to explore what you're experiencing.
Everyone experiences anxiety differently.For some people, it can be connected to particular situations or events. For others, it can feel more generalised and difficult to understand.Counselling can help you explore:
What may be contributing to your anxiety
Patterns of worrying or overthinking
How anxiety affects your body
Situations you may be avoiding
Thoughts and beliefs that keep anxiety going
How past experiences may still affect you
Ways of responding to difficult feelings
Rather than simply trying to make anxiety disappear, we can work together to understand it and develop ways of managing it that feel realistic for you.
My approach is pluralistic, which means that I draw from different therapeutic approaches depending on what may be helpful for you.This can include CBT techniques, person-centred therapy, psychodynamic exploration and somatic approaches that consider the connection between your thoughts, emotions and body.We may also explore grounding, breathing, mindfulness or nature-based practices where appropriate.
You may have become very good at appearing as though everything is fine while privately feeling exhausted by your thoughts.Counselling gives you somewhere to put those thoughts down for a while.There is no judgement and no expectation that you should already know what you need.We can simply start with where you are now.
I offer face-to-face counselling in the Chelmsford area and online counselling across the UK.If anxiety is affecting your everyday life and you're wondering whether counselling could help, please get in touch.You don't have to wait until things become unbearable before asking for support.[Get in touch]
Online counselling can provide a flexible and convenient way to access therapy without travelling to a counselling room.At Oak & Willow, I offer confidential online counselling via Zoom to adults across the UK.You may prefer online counselling because of work, family commitments, mobility, location or simply because you feel more comfortable talking from your own surroundings.
Sessions take place through Zoom and provide a private space where we can talk face-to-face online.Before starting, we'll make sure you have a quiet and private place where you feel comfortable talking.Your sessions remain focused on you, your experiences and what you would like to explore.
People seek online counselling for many different reasons, including:
Anxiety and excessive worrying
Stress and overwhelm
Low self-esteem
Grief and loss
Difficult experiences
Relationship difficulties
Emotional wellbeing
Life changes
Feeling stuck or uncertain
You don't need to know exactly what you need help with before contacting me.
I work from a pluralistic and person-centred approach, drawing on CBT, psychodynamic, somatic and nature-based approaches where appropriate. Our work is collaborative and tailored to you. You are the expert in your own life.
Some people initially worry that online counselling won't feel the same as being in a room with a counsellor. For many people, however, being able to access therapy from somewhere familiar can make counselling feel more comfortable and easier to fit into everyday life. If you're unsure, we can discuss this before you decide whether to begin.
If you're looking for an online counsellor in the UK, I'd be happy to hear from you
Working in veterinary practice can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also be emotionally and physically demanding. After more than 25 years working as a Registered Veterinary Nurse, I understand some of the pressures that veterinary professionals can experience. The responsibility of caring for animals, supporting worried owners, making difficult decisions and dealing with illness, suffering and euthanasia can take an emotional toll. Add busy clinics, staffing pressures, difficult conversations and the expectation to keep going, and it can sometimes become difficult to find space for yourself.
Veterinary professionals are often very good at looking after everyone else. But who looks after you? You may be experiencing:
Compassion fatigue
Emotional exhaustion
Workplace stress
Anxiety
Low mood or confidence
Difficulties following a challenging case
The emotional impact of euthanasia
Grief after losing a patient
Difficult client interactions
Feeling overwhelmed or burnt out
Difficulty switching off after work
You may simply feel that you need somewhere to talk without having to explain the veterinary world from the beginning.
Counselling provides an opportunity to step away from the demands of your role and focus on yourself. You don't need to justify how you feel or worry about protecting other people's feelings. We can explore whatever is affecting you, at your own pace. My counselling approach is warm, collaborative and non-judgemental, drawing on different therapeutic approaches according to your needs.
My experience as an RVN doesn't mean I will assume I know what you're experiencing. Everyone's circumstances are different. But it does mean I understand the environment, some of the terminology and some of the emotional challenges that can come with working in veterinary practice. If you're a veterinary surgeon, veterinary nurse, student, receptionist, practice manager or another member of the veterinary team, you're welcome to get in touch. You don't have to wait until you're struggling to cope before asking for support.
Traditional counselling isn't comfortable for everyone. Sitting opposite someone in a counselling room can feel quite intense, particularly when you're talking about difficult or personal experiences. Walk-and-talk counselling offers another way to experience therapy. Rather than sitting indoors, we walk together outdoors while having your counselling session.
Movement can change the feel of a conversation.Some people find that walking side-by-side feels less formal and makes it easier to talk. Being outdoors can also provide natural opportunities to pause, notice your surroundings and take a moment when something feels difficult.The natural environment can become part of the therapeutic experience without taking over from the counselling itself.
Our session remains counselling.We may talk about whatever you would normally bring to a counselling session while walking at a comfortable pace.There is no expectation to fill every moment with conversation.We can pause, slow down or simply take a moment to notice what is around us.
It can be particularly appealing if you:
Feel uncomfortable sitting in a traditional therapy room
Enjoy being outdoors
Find movement calming
Think you might find it easier to talk while walking
Want to incorporate nature into your counselling experience
You don't have to be particularly fit or an experienced walker.The pace is comfortable and the focus remains on you.
Walk-and-talk counselling is available in the Chelmsford area where appropriate.We'll discuss the practical arrangements before your first session to make sure the setting feels suitable and comfortable for you.If you'd like to explore whether walk-and-talk counselling could work for you, please get in touch.[Get in touch]
Our animals can become part of our families, our routines and our everyday lives. When they die, the silence and absence they leave behind can feel overwhelming. You may be experiencing sadness, anger, guilt, loneliness or even relief if your pet had been suffering. You may find yourself questioning decisions that were made or replaying the final days in your mind. Whatever you're feeling, your grief is valid.
Pet bereavement isn't always understood by the people around us. You may hear comments such as “it was only a pet” or feel that you should have moved on by now. But there is no timetable for grief. Counselling can provide a private space where you don't have to minimise your loss or explain why your animal meant so much to you. We can talk about your relationship with your pet, the circumstances of their death, the emotions you're experiencing and what life feels like without them.
Making the decision to have an animal put to sleep can be one of the most difficult experiences an owner faces. Even when you know it was the kindest decision, you may still experience guilt, doubt or “what if” thoughts afterwards. These feelings are common parts of grief and can be explored safely within counselling.
As someone who has worked for more than 25 years as a Registered Veterinary Nurse, I have experience of the veterinary environment and understand that euthanasia and end-of-life care can affect both owners and veterinary professionals deeply. My counselling work provides a space to explore your own experience of loss without judgement.
If you're grieving the loss of a much-loved animal and feel that some support might help, please get in touch. You don't have to stop missing them in order to begin moving forward.
At Oak & Willow, I believe that nature can sometimes provide a valuable additional resource within counselling. You don't have to be an outdoor enthusiast, and nature-based counselling isn't about forcing you outside. Instead, we can explore whether connecting with the natural environment could support your therapeutic work.
Nature-based counselling incorporates elements of the natural environment into the therapeutic process. This might involve:
Mindful awareness of your surroundings
Grounding through your senses
Noticing sounds, textures and movement
Using nature as a metaphor
Exploring thoughts and feelings while walking
Spending time outdoors
Using the natural environment to support reflection
The approach can be adapted to suit you.
Many people experience a sense of calm when spending time outdoors. Being in nature can give us space away from the demands of everyday life and provide opportunities to slow down and notice what is happening within us. For some people, talking while walking or sitting outdoors can feel more natural than sitting in a traditional counselling room. For others, simply bringing elements of nature into their therapeutic work can be enough.
I offer nature-informed and walk-and-talk counselling in the Chelmsford area, with online counselling available across the UK. My approach remains centred on you. Nature is a resource rather than a requirement. You can choose traditional face-to-face counselling, online counselling or, where appropriate, explore ways of incorporating nature into your sessions.
The Oak & Willow approach reflects two qualities found in nature: The oak — strength, stability and resilience. The willow — flexibility, adaptability and the ability to bend without breaking. Life can ask us to be both. Sometimes we need to find our strength. Sometimes we need to soften and adapt. And sometimes we simply need somewhere safe to put everything down for a while. If you'd like to explore nature-based counselling in Essex, I'd be happy to hear from you.
I believe counselling should be accessible to people who may benefit from it, while also recognising the time, training and professional commitment involved in providing therapy.
£60 per 60-minute session Face-to-face counselling is available in the Chelmsford area, in a calm and private setting.
£50 per 50-minute session Online counselling is available via Zoom for adults across the UK.
I offer concessionary rates for veterinary professionals and clients on a low income. If cost is a concern, please get in touch to discuss whether a concessionary rate may be available to you. I believe that financial circumstances shouldn't automatically prevent someone from accessing therapeutic support. You don't need to go into detail about your circumstances when making your initial enquiry. We can simply have a conversation about what may be possible.
Choosing a counsellor is an important decision. If you're unsure whether counselling is right for you, you're welcome to get in touch and ask any questions before deciding whether to book.