Irina Counselling
LLM DipHIC MBACP
Thoughtful counselling in Bristol for people navigating anxiety, stress, burnout, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties or questions around identity.
You cope. You perform. You carry on.
But holding it all together is exhausting.
On the outside, life may look manageable. Inside, you're carrying more than most people realise.
You don't have to keep managing everything on your own.
I offer a calm, confidential space where you can slow down, feel understood and begin to feel less overwhelmed and more able to move forward.
You don’t need the right words to begin. I don't believe people are broken. Almost everyone is carrying something invisible.
Start with a free 30-minute online introductory session - with no pressure to continue.
BOOK YOUR FREE INITIAL CONVERSATION
I aim to respond within 24 hours.
Counselling in central Bristol (Queen Square and Redcliffe) and online
short-term or open ended sessions
£60 per session
“I’ve had therapy before, but something about this felt different. I felt genuinely understood, not just listened to. Over time, something shifted. I relate to myself and others in a way I didn’t think was possible.” -Client testimonial
Searching for a therapist can feel daunting. If you’re here, you’ve already taken an important first step. We can start where you are.
Perhaps you can't switch off, you find yourself overthinking conversations, worrying about the future, or carrying responsibilities that never seem to end. Maybe trust has broken down in an important relationship, leaving you hurt, confused, or unsure where to go from here. Or maybe you've spent so much time meeting other people's expectations that you've lost touch with who you are and what you need. You may be used to holding everything together for others, even when it comes at a significant cost to your own mental health and wellbeing. If support from others feels like not quite enough for you, or too much for them, this is a space where you don’t have to protect, reassure, or take care of anyone else.
I often work with people who have become experts at coping. Others see someone capable and dependable but privately, they feel anxious, exhausted, disconnected, or alone with what they're carrying. I also support people navigating infidelity, relationship rupture, and the deeper questions these experiences can raise about trust, intimacy, desire and self-worth.
In a culture saturated with advice, self-help and quick formulas promising healing, therapy with me offers something different - a space to make sense of what feels confusing, painful, or difficult to carry alone. Over time, many clients find themselves feeling less overwhelmed, more confident in their choices, and better able to understand and respond to their emotions. They develop healthier relationships with themselves and others, feel more connected to what matters, and move through life with greater clarity, resilience, and hope.
Sometimes therapy begins with the quiet feeling of: “finally, someone gets it". Real healing still happens between two people, through emotional presence, trust and genuine connection.
An LGBTQ+ affirmative and inclusive space where all identities and backgrounds are welcome.
"Counselling with you allowed me to explore areas of myself I wouldn’t have been able to on my own as you asked questions and made connections I couldn’t see from where I was standing. It really was an invaluable experience and the things I learnt will stay with me forever." - Client testimonial
“Maybe the journey isn't so much about becoming anything. Maybe it's about un-becoming everything that isn't really you, so you can be who you were meant to be in the first place.” (Paulo Coelho)
Who this is for
You might recognise yourself here, especially if you:
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feel anxious, overwhelmed, or close to burnout
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struggle to know what you need, even when you're good at supporting others
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find it hard to switch off, relax, or feel fully present
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struggle in relationships, or feel disconnected from others
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find it difficult to set boundaries or say no without guilt
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carry self-doubt or a persistent sense of not being enough
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feel stuck in patterns you don’t fully understand
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navigate the impact of infidelity, betrayal or relationship breakdown, and feel unsure how to rebuild trust or move forward
You may also be navigating low mood, disconnection, life transitions, a sense of lost direction or purpose, or quietly wondering: ‘is this really it?’
If even one of these feels familiar, therapy may be a helpful place to start.
What can begin to shift
Over time, this work can help you:
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feel less overwhelmed in daily life
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understand your emotions better rather than feel controlled by them
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feel more connected to yourself and others
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recognise and change patterns that no longer serve you, particularly in relationships
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feel clearer around your boundaries and more confident expressing them
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trust yourself more and feel less pulled by self-doubt or expectations of others
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feel more grounded, hopeful, and more like yourself again
Clients often begin to feel clearer, calmer, less emotionally alone, and more able to respond differently in relationships and everyday life.
Counselling with me
in Bristol & online
I offer counselling in Bristol and online, working in a relational and tailored way. Therapy can be short-term or open-ended, depending on what feels right for you.
I believe that therapy is not about fixing you. It's about understanding you.
Working together, we create a space where you don’t have to perform, or have all the answers.
We simply start where you are, making room for whatever needs attention, at a pace that feels right for you. Sometimes, that means taking the deepest breath you've taken all day.
Counselling isn’t about being told what to do or rushing to quick answers. Often, what feels overwhelming, complex or stuck doesn’t shift by thinking harder. It begins to change when it can be spoken about, felt, and understood in a way that feels safe, held, and grounding.
In our work together, we might:
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stay with what feels important, even if it's difficult to put into words
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identify patterns that keep repeating, especially in relationships
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notice what’s happening for you in the moment- in your thoughts, feelings and body
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bring vulnerable, messy, difficult parts of yourself into the room and discover they can be met with curiosity and understanding rather than judgement
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notice what it's like not to hold everything together all the time
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keep checking in with what feels most important or helpful for you as the work unfolds
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work towards a clearer understanding of the feelings or difficulties bringing you to therapy right now
If you’re curious about whether this kind of counselling could be helpful for you, we can begin with a free introductory conversation.
My approach and experience
I trained at the Bath Centre for Counselling and Psychotherapy -Level 6 equivalent diploma ( BACP and UKCP accredited). You can expect a safe and ethical space with me.
I am a recognised healthcare provider for WPA.
I hold a Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy certificate from the Oxford Mindfulness Foundation and have a background in law, including a Master of Laws (LL.M).
Some of the professional development that has shaped my practice includes engaging with Esther Perel’s work on intimacy and infidelity in couples, exploring the complexities of Chemsex, and completing a training that integrated CBT for working with anxiety. I’m also developing my skills with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), an evidence-based approach used within NHS services.
My work within corporate and legal environments, combined with experience in NHS settings, has shaped my understanding of the pressures of caring roles, the expectations placed on professionals, and how these can affect wellbeing, mental health and relationships.
I've also spent over three years providing counselling at The Swan Project in Bristol, a charity supporting people affected by addiction.
With a background in law and formal training as a counsellor, I bring a unique blend of analytical skills and emotional intelligence to my practice.
Having lived in three different countries and changed career paths, I also bring a personal understanding of transition, adaptation, identity, and belonging.
Getting started
I currently have availability in Bristol or online
You’re welcome to contact me below with any questions, or to arrange a free introductory appointment.
In the initial online session, we can talk through what has brought you here, what you might want from therapy, and whether working together feels right. You don’t need to prepare anything or know exactly where to begin. After the introductory session, you can take some time to reflect. If we feel like a good fit, we can begin with 6 sessions and review things together from there.
"The hardest part was making the first booking, but once I did, the experience was incredibly helpful and valuable."- Client testimonial
"Counselling with Irina has been such a positive experience and has supported my growth in the last year. It allowed me to take back control and I believe it allowed me to also take a step back and think about what I wanted to achieve in my life."
"The whole experience has helped me improve many of the most important relationships in my life, boosted my self-esteem, and provided me with tools to manage how I react to changes in circumstances, something I’ve always struggled with.”
“I want to give a massive thank you for providing the space, and your skill to guide me through this process. The hardest part for me was actually making that first booking, but once I did, the entire experience has been incredibly helpful and valuable. I've gained so much. I couldn't value the experience more."
Such an amazing experience doing therapy with you, thank you so much. I really understand myself better and think about it often, which helps me a lot."
"I came into therapy feeling overwhelmed and close to burnout, just knowing something wasn’t working anymore. Working with Irina gave me space to slow down and make sense of things in a way I couldn’t on my own. I feel more grounded, clearer about my limits, and more like myself again."