Functioning Fully Counselling in Stonehouse | Counsellor in Stroud and online

Counselling in Stonehouse, Stroud & Gloucester

Welcome to Functioning Fully Counselling

A safe, nurturing space for you to confront problems, change and develop.

Hello there, my name is Sonja, and I am a qualified and fully insured counsellor providing short- and long-term therapy to young adult and adult individuals.

About Me

I am a caring person who feels passionate about healing and growth. Alongside counselling, I enjoy running, cross-training and spending as much time outdoors connecting with my family and friends as I can.

I believe in the life-changing impact of counselling and feel inspired to walk alongside others dealing with their unique difficulties. You may be suffering from anxiety, depression, abuse or addiction to name a few which is causing you a great deal of pain. I believe that getting to the root cause of these problems and understanding the impact of this pain will help you gain back control of your life. Counselling could be the turning point.

I am an MBACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) registered member which means I adhere to their Codes of Ethics ensuring safe and professional practice.

I am from South Africa, an incredibly diverse country and enjoy working with people from different backgrounds, cultures and sexual orientations. It is important to me that you feel accepted for who you are without judgement and prejudice.

My Approach to Counselling

I believe that I can offer you a space where you will be able to explore your experiences and feelings and gain more understanding of them. I aim to understand you genuinely, non-judgmentally and caringly. Together we can explore your situation in a way that leads to fresh perspectives and a better understanding of self.

I believe we all have a tendency towards wholeness and I can offer you the opportunity for it by building a trusting, real and safe therapeutic relationship with you.

My non-directive approach means we will work at your pace with what you choose to bring to the session. I will use my skills and person-centred way of being to 'hold' you therapeutically and challenge you in a helpful way so therapeutic change can occur.

Speak in Confidence

Confidentiality is of utmost importance. What you bring to the sessions will be kept private unless stated otherwise in the contracting phase. Counselling is a unique space for you to express yourself freely and in confidence.

Change and Growth

I believe psychological problems originate from past and present experiences which shape our beliefs about ourselves and others. These beliefs may be destructive and lead to emotional, behavioural, physical, spiritual, and relational consequences. In our work, we will explore how this plays out and how to adjust toward functioning more fully in each of these aspects.

Counselling in a comfortable, and private setting

Life brings many challenges, and we often feel alone whilst trying to cope. Having someone alongside you who listens with real understanding and true empathy can be a potent force for change. I can be the gentle and sensitive companion you need for healing.

“I can't begin to explain how much just talking with you has helped me. You have helped me to understand my emotions and understand that they are valid. Your words of encouragement and letting me know it is OK to be upset has been so helpful. It is good to let it out and cry sometimes, liberating even! I finally don't feel embarrassed or ashamed to cry which is such a huge step for me, something I never imagined for myself!”

“I have felt so small and insignificant all my life. In counselling with you I found my voice and my self-worth. You challenged the way I saw myself and that’s where the change happened for me. You also held my most painful experiences with so much care, nothing is too much for you.”

“You have inspired me. I have never felt anyone has truly cared that much in a long time. I could see it in your face and hear it in your voice. I didn’t think life had meaning anymore but now that I understand myself more, I have hope! Thank you”

My location

I work from a private office located at Great Oldbury, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire. I also see clients from Stonehouse and the surrounding Eastington, Stroud and Gloucester areas.

In addition to providing face-to-face therapy, I offer online counselling sessions. These can be more convenient and cost-effective.

Fees & availability

On first contact, I offer a no-obligation free 20-minute session either online or in person where we can meet and discuss how to work collaboratively. You can then decide whether I and my approach is a good fit for you.

If you would like to book an exploratory session please email or text me. In the first session, I will get a sense of whether I have the skills and experience you need and an opportunity for you to ask any questions.

Counselling sessions for individuals last 50 minutes, take place on a weekly basis and cost £45 per session.

Get in touch

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how counselling works, or to arrange an initial assessment appointment.

You can also call or text me on +44 7502036155 if you would prefer to leave a message or speak to me first. I am happy to discuss any queries or questions you may have prior to arranging an initial appointment.

All enquires are usually answered within 24 hours, and all contact is strictly confidential and uses secure phone and email services.