Counselling and Psychotherapy, in Dorking, Surrey
BACP Accredited Counsellor/Psychotherapist, in Dorking, Surrey, (accessible to Reigate, Guildford, Crawley).
Face to face and online sessions available on weekdays.
Phone:07980 354495.
Email: niki.ridgley@btinternet.com.
Follow @nikiridgley
Welcome to my website. Making the decision to have counselling is a big step and finding a counsellor can feel overwhelming. It is important to find the right fit for you you; someone you can trust and feel comfortable with and I hope my website reassures you that my approach is welcoming, non judgemental and empathic.
As a counsellor, my role is to help and support you to explore and process issues in your life that may be causing emotional pain or distress. By talking things through together we can take time to understand what is going on for you, finding fresh insight and perspectives which will help you to move forwards.Sometimes you may find acceptance and peace around these issues; and sometimes you may make positive changes by making different choices. I often feel very moved and privileged when my clients share with me how helpful and empowering counselling has been for them.
I can help you with wide range of issues, including:
To view my qualifications and experience, please visit the Qualifications page.
At my counselling room in Dorking, Surrey, I aim to help you feel comfortable, safe and supported, to explore confidentially, any problems or difficulties you may be experiencing, no matter how big or how small. People often tell me that they feel unable to share their feelings with those closest them as they fear burdening them. However, they find huge relief, comfort and new ways forward from talking to a counsellor, who is not directly involved in their lives and will not judge or give advice. For more information on how counselling can help you, visit the About Counselling page.
My counselling style is "Integrative", meaning that I am able to tailor my approach to your individual needs by drawing on techniques from different types of therapy including:
Psychodynamic, which looks back at how our current feelings and behaviour are shaped by past experience and unconscious thoughts; Humanistic, which focuses on feelings and encourages responsibility for our thoughts and actions, helping us to reach our full potential in life;
Transpersonal which aims to enhance self awareness and life satisfaction;
and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which works by challenging negative thoughts and beliefs that affect how we feel and behave.
For further information about my personal approach as a counsellor, please visit the Qualifications page.
After our initial session, we may agree to work either on an open-ended basis, or for an agreed time period, which we will review regularly as our work progresses. For some people, short term counselling of six to twelve weeks may be enough; others may feel they want a little longer to explore their issues. For further information visit the FAQ page, and you are welcome to telephone, email or text me if you would like any more details.
My counselling room is welcoming, confidential and comfortable, based within easy reach of Dorking town centre, accessible to Reigate, Leatherhead, Crawley, Horsham, Epsom, Guildford and other areas of Surrey/Sussex. Alongside my private counselling and psychotherapy practice I have worked in various settings, including CATALYST, a drug and alcohol addictions service. I am currently a volunteer for East Surrey Domestic Abuse Service (ESDAS), working one to one and in groups, with women experiencing and surviving domestic abuse. I have also worked with teenagers and younger people at both Woking Sixth Form College and at The Youth Counselling service in Guildford. To find out more about how counselling can help, please click here to visit the About Counselling page.
Whats New?
I recently attended Dorking Mindfest, an annual mental heath and wellbeing festival, offering talks and workshops ranging from childhood trauma, to the healing power of laughter. I met some really inspiring people, working in some fantastic organisations, including Dorking Minds, which offers free talks on subjects such as why children self-harm, how connecting with nature can help our mental health, and how to navigate the menopause. For further info on these talks and also their subsidised Mental Health First Aid Training, visit dorkingminds.org.
"The ability to have an open forum that allowed my wife and I to speak clearly about our feelings has given us a chance to start anew."
S, (2018).
S, (2018).
"Niki is easy to get on with straight away, at the same time as being professional. I felt she really cared about me and I could say anything. She gave me insights I hadn't thought of before, which helped me to heal"
H, (2015).
H, (2015).
For face to face counselling, my Counselling and Psychotherapy practice in Dorking is within reach of Reigate, Crawley, Leatherhead, Redhill, Epsom, Guildford, Horsham, and other areas in Surrey/Sussex.
I also offer online therapy via Zoom or Whats App.
If you are looking for counselling a little further afield, my colleague, Gill Brennan, at Gill Brennan Counselling, based in Godalming, is also an integrative counsellor, and offers a similar approach to my own. Click here for more information.
