Welcome to
Shalom Counselling
Face to face and online counselling in West Swindon
About Counselling
If life has been feeling difficult recently, or you are feeling ‘stuck’, it could really help to talk things through with someone outside of your friends and family. Counselling offers a safe and confidential place to talk, giving you the opportunity to explore and process your feelings and to work towards change.
It may be that current life circumstances, childhood experiences, relationship difficulties or unhelpful thinking patterns and beliefs have led to feelings of low self-esteem, anxiety, stress, depression or being overwhelmed. Taking time out from everyday life to look at these areas can give you a new sense of perspective and bring healing and growth.
Often this begins with increasing our self-acceptance. In his book 'On Becoming a Person', Carl Rogers observes: 'The curious paradox is that when I accept myself as I am, then I change’
The word 'shalom' is a Hebrew word that represents a sense of peace, wholeness and wellbeing - in your relationship with yourself and with others. Shalom Counselling seeks to help you experience this sense of 'shalom' in your life.
To find out about my approach to counselling, please read my 'About Me' page.
What issues can counselling help with?
People come to me for help a wide range of issues. Here are a few of the more common difficulties that can be supported through counselling:
Anxiety
Panic attacks
Relationship problems
Grief, loss or bereavement
Trauma
Depression
Problems with confidence or self-esteem
Faith
Spirituality
Anger management
Difficulties at work or in retirement
Problems with family or school life
Stress
Life Transitions
About Me
Counselling and therapy for individuals in a safe, comfortable and confidential setting
Hello! My name is Shirley Baxter. I am a fully qualified counsellor with an MA in Counselling from Middlesex University. I am a registered member of the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) and the ACC (Association of Christian Counsellors). In addition to my work in private practice, I have experience of counselling at three different counselling organisations in Swindon and Chippenham, including one for young people. I offer a warm, empathic and understanding approach and consider it a privilege to meet clients and hear their unique stories. I offer counselling to adults and young people aged 16 and above.
I regularly attend additional professional development sessions. Most recently this has included: Counselling Children, Young People and Families (CPCAB endorsed training); Working with Loss and Grief; Transforming Trauma Shame into Self-Compassion. I hold professional insurance and follow the BACP's Ethical Framework. I have regular supervision. I am registered with the ICO (Information Commissioner's Office) and comply with GDPR regulations.
Before becoming a counsellor, I worked as a teacher for many years and I have a B Ed (Hons) degree. I have also worked as a Family Support Manager for a local charity supporting families who are feeling isolated or alone.
My approach to counselling is ‘integrative’. This means I draw from different counselling modalities as appropriate for each client taking into account your preferences and your goals. This could mean using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy techniques to address unhelpful thinking patterns or looking at how childhood attachment patterns might be impacting your relationships now.
If you have any questions for me, please get in touch.
Location
My practice is located in Swindon and I see clients from surrounding areas such as Cricklade, Purton, Wroughton, Royal Wootton Bassett. Face-to-face appointments are held in West Swindon.
I work from a comfortable room in my home.
In addition to providing face-to-face therapy, I also offer online sessions for clients in Swindon and beyond. Evening appointments are offered online only.
Fees
Sessions last for approximately 50 minutes and cost £50 each. They can be face-to-face or online on a regular weekly or fortnightly basis.
I offer a free 20 minutes phone or video call so that we can have an initial conversation to help us decide if we would work well together.
Payment is required in advance by bank transfer.
I offer a limited number of places at a discounted rate for those on a low income - please enquire for more details.
Get in touch
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how counselling works, or to arrange an initial assessment appointment. This enables us to discuss the reasons you are thinking of coming to counselling, whether it could be helpful for you and whether I am the right therapist to help. You can also call me on 07964032193 if you would prefer to leave a message or speak to me first.