Irina Counselling
LLM DipHIC MBACP
Thoughtful counselling for people navigating anxiety, stress, burnout , or relationship difficulties.
You might be holding things together on the outside, while feeling overwhelmed, anxious, depleted, or disconnected underneath.
Meaningful change doesn’t come from working harder on yourself, but from understanding yourself in a way that begins to feel clearer, more manageable, and less overwhelming.
A space to slow down, and be understood in a way that goes deeper than words.
You don’t need the right words or a clear starting point, just a sense that something feels harder than it should
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.
If support from others feels like not quite enough for you, or too much for others, this is a space set apart, 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 professionals and people carrying responsibility for others, who appear to be coping on the outside but feel overwhelmed, depleted, or disconnected underneath. You may be navigating anxiety, stress, burnout, relationship difficulties, low self-worth, or a sense of lost direction.
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 AI-generated answers, therapy offers something fundamentally different: a real human relationship where you can feel met, understood, and gently challenged in ways that support real change. People often come to therapy for anxiety, low mood, relationship difficulties, or experiences such as betrayal or infidelity that feel hard to process alone.
In a world that often feels shaped by technology, real healing still happens between two humans, through emotional presence and genuine connection. This isn’t about being matched by an algorithm, but about choosing an intentional, attuned therapeutic relationship.
Beyond ‘therapy speak’ and oversimplified explanations or techniques, this work goes at your pace. Quick fixes may offer short-term relief, but meaningful, lasting change grows from gently exploring what lies beneath, bringing clarity to the patterns that keep you stuck or make change difficult to maintain. My approach aims to integrate evidence-based thinking in a way that supports relational depth rather than replacing it.
Lasting change often comes through experiencing yourself differently within a steady, supportive relationship. Over time, you may begin to feel calmer, more grounded, and able to relate to yourself and others in ways that feel less draining.
At the heart of my work is the understanding that therapy is more than just conversation. Within a safe and trusting relationship, it can become a process of discovery, understanding, and meaningful change. The quality of our relationships shapes how we feel, how we cope, and how we come to know ourselves, often more than we realise.
"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 begin.
You don't have to be in crisis to begin.
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
About counselling
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.
I’m a qualified Humanistic Integrative therapist, working in a way that is relational, thoughtful, and tailored to each person. I offer counselling in Bristol and online, creating a space where you can slow things down, make sense of what’s happening, and understand yourself more deeply.
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, attentive, and real.
In our work together, we might:
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stay with what feels significant and meaningful, even when it’s uncomfortable or hard to name
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explore patterns that keep repeating, and what they might be trying to show you
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notice what’s happening in the moment - in your thoughts, your body, and in the space between us
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make room for the parts of you that are often pushed aside, silenced, or difficult to put into words
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notice what it is like not to hold everything together
We take time to understand what’s going on for you. Over time, this can help you feel less overwhelmed or self-critical, and more grounded and able to cope differently. Change doesn’t happen all at once, but it can become real and lasting.
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, completing a Level 6 equivalent diploma with dual accreditation from BACP and UKCP. You can expect a safe, ethical, and consistent space with me.
I am a recognised healthcare provider for WPA, a leading healthcare insurer.
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).
I’m always curious about approaches that offer new ways of understanding our experiences. 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 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (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 has also given me insight into the pressures of caring for others, including how burnout can affect wellbeing and relationships.
I have also spent over three years providing counselling at The Swan Project, a charity supporting individuals affected by addiction, which has deepened my understanding of how people cope with underlying emotional pain.
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 for new clients seeking clarity, support, or meaningful change.
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."