Irina Counselling
LLM DipHIC MBACP
Thoughtful counselling in Bristol for people navigating anxiety, stress, burnout, low self-esteem, or relationship difficulties.
You might be feeling overwhelmed, anxious, exhausted or not quite yourself- even if you're holding things together on the outside.
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. You don't have to be in crisis to begin.
Start with a free 30-minute online introductory session - a chance to talk things through and see if this feels right, with no pressure to continue.
BOOK YOUR FREE INITIAL CONVERSATION
I aim to respond within 24 hours.
In person counselling in central Bristol (Queen Square and Redcliffe) and online
£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.
If support from others feels like not quite enough for you, or too much for others, this is a space where you don’t have to protect, reassure, or explain yourself and where things begin to feel clearer, more manageable, and less overwhelming.
I often work with people carrying responsibility for others, working in fast-paced roles that make it hard to switch off, who appear to be coping on the outside but feel overwhelmed, exhausted, or disconnected underneath. I also support people experiencing infidelity or relational rupture, and the questions these experiences can raise around trust, desire, and how you relate to yourself and others.
In a culture saturated with advice, self-help and quick answers, therapy offers something different: a real human relationship where you can feel understood, gently challenged and less alone with what you're carrying. Over time, you may begin to feel calmer, more grounded, and able to relate to yourself and others in ways that feel less draining.
Real healing still happens between two people- through emotional presence, trust and genuine connection. This isn't about being matched by an algorithm, but about finding an attuned relationship where you can talk openly and feel truly met.
There are no quick fixes here. We work at your pace, helping you make sense of what's going on, and begin to feel more steady, clear and able to move forward. I draw on evidence-based approaches, but what matters most is the supportive relationship.
"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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function on the outside, but feel exhausted or depleted underneath
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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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hold things together for others, often at the cost of yourself
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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, and feel unsure how to rebuild trust or move forward
You may also be navigating low mood, disconnection, life transitions, or a sense of lost direction. Others might not realise how much you’re carrying.
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 and more able to pause before reacting
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understand your emotions rather than feel controlled by them
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develop a softer, less critical relationship with yourself
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recognise patterns and begin to respond differently
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feel clearer around boundaries and more confident expressing them
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feel more grounded, connected, and more like yourself again
Counselling with me
I offer counselling in Bristol and online, working in a relational and tailored way.
You might be wondering what counselling would actually be like.
Working together, we create a space where you don’t have to present yourself in a particular way, and where your experience can be explored at your own pace.
Counselling isn’t about being told what to do or rushing to quick answers. Often, what feels overwhelming 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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explore 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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make space for parts of you that are often pushed aside or hard to express
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notice what it's like not to hold everything together all the time
We take time to understand what’s shaping your experience, so you can begin to see things more clearly and feel less stuck.Over time, this can help you feel less overwhelmed or self-critical, and more grounded and able to cope differently.
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, ethical, and consistent 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 NHS settings, combined with experience in corporate and legal environments, has shaped my understanding of both the pressures of caring roles and the pace and expectations placed on professionals, and how these can affect wellbeing and relationships.
I have also spent three years providing counselling at The Swan Project, a charity supporting individuals 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. We can take it at your pace.
"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."