Welcome, and thank you for visiting Deep Roots Counselling Service
Hello! I’m Michaela, a therapeutic counsellor dedicated to helping individuals navigate mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression, as well as challenging life events such as grief and bereavement, relationship breakdowns or family issues. I understand that life can sometimes feel overwhelming, and I’m here for anyone who experiences thoughts or feelings that they might need help making sense of.
I believe that connection is at the heart of effective counselling. When you choose to work with me, you won’t encounter stuffy, formal sessions filled with jargon. Instead, you’ll find a warm and welcoming space where you can truly be yourself.
Picture this: just you, me, and a cosy cup of tea in hand, creating a comfortable environment where you can speak openly and honestly.
Whether you need to cry, laugh, or simply share what’s on your mind, that’s perfectly okay with me! My priority is to ensure that you feel safe, heard, and valued throughout our time together, and to explore new ways to cope more effectively when life gets difficult.
How counselling can help you
As a qualified and insured person-centred counsellor, my mission is simple: to provide you with a supportive space to explore your thoughts and emotions
I believe that everyone deserves to be listened to and respected, and I’m here to walk alongside you on your journey. Together, we’ll delve into your feelings and experiences, empowering you to embrace healing and growth. My passion for helping others led me to this rewarding field, where I strive to ensure that no one feels alone in their struggles.
I also have a special focus on supporting young people as they navigate the complexities of home and school life, particularly in light of the challenges posed by Neurodivergent conditions such as ADHD and Autism (previously known as Autism Spectrum Disorder).
I understand how profoundly the pandemic has affected our youth, and I am committed to helping them find their way through these difficulties.
Being trauma-informed, I prioritise creating a safe and supportive environment where you can explore your experiences at your own pace. Together, we can work towards understanding and healing.
My counselling services are designed to fit seamlessly into your lifestyle, ensuring you get the support you need, when you need it:
- Online Anytime: Access counselling sessions from the comfort of your home at a time that suits you best.
- Lunchtime Appointments: Take a break during your workday to focus on your mental health with my convenient lunchtime sessions.
- Evening Appointments: Perfect for those who prefer to unwind and reflect after a busy day.
- Weekend Appointments: For those who need the flexibility of weekend availability to prioritise their well-being.
- Home Visits: For elderly or those with mobility issues, I offer face-to-face sessions in the comfort of their own space.
If you’re looking for a compassionate listener and a guiding hand on your journey, I invite you to reach out. You don’t have to face your challenges alone; let’s embark on this journey together. Remember, you deserve to be heard and supported and with the right support life doesn’t have to be so difficult.
Additionally, I volunteer for Cruse Bereavement, further enriching my understanding of grief and providing support to those in need. I look forward to connecting with you! 
How can working with me benefit you?
1. Personalised Support: Each session is tailored to your unique needs, ensuring that you receive the personalised care and attention you deserve. You'll find a non-judgmental space where you can express yourself freely, leading to greater self-awareness and personal growth.
2. Enhanced Coping Skills: Life can be overwhelming, but together we can explore new strategies to help you manage anxiety, depression, grief, and other life challenges more effectively. By building these skills, you’ll feel more empowered to handle difficult situations with resilience.
3. Healing Through Connection: I believe that a strong therapeutic relationship is key to healing. In our sessions, you’ll experience a warm and welcoming atmosphere, where you can feel safe and valued. This connection fosters trust and encourages deeper exploration of your feelings and experiences.
4. Support for Young People: If you or your child are navigating the complexities of home and school life, especially with conditions like ADHD or Autism (previously known as Autism Spectrum Disorder), my focused approach can provide valuable guidance. I’m committed to helping young people find clarity and confidence in a rapidly changing world.
5. Trauma-Informed Care: Understanding and healing from trauma is a sensitive process. My trauma-informed approach ensures that you feel secure and supported, allowing you to work through past experiences at a pace that feels right for you.
6. Community and Ongoing Support: Through my volunteer work with Cruse Bereavement, I have gained deeper insights into grief, which enhances my ability to support clients dealing with loss. You’ll benefit from my comprehensive understanding and compassionate care.
If you're ready to embark on a journey toward healing and growth, I invite you to reach out. You don’t have to face your challenges alone; together, we can work towards a more fulfilling and balanced life. Remember, with the right support, life doesn’t have to be so difficult.
”Sessions and fees
Sessions last 50 minutes and are usually weekly, however I am committed to working around my clients needs and schedules.
- Standard rate: £45 weekdays, £65 weekends.
- Students: £35 per session (face-to-face or online).
- Counselling students: Special rates from £25 per session.
- Low-income clients: Please contact me to discuss.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know you’re right for me?
The key to successful counselling lies in the relationship between us. It might take a few sessions to determine if we're the right fit, but if you feel otherwise, I'm more than willing to assist you in finding another counsellor. My primary goal is to ensure you receive the support you need and the best value for your investment.
What do you use for video calls?
I use WhatsApp or Teams.
Where are the face to face sessions held?
I have a lovely office in the heart of Southend on Sea’s conservation area and offer home visits for the elderly and those with mobility issues.
My address is:
There is parking outside my office charged at £1.15 per hour, free after 6pm. I am also a two minute walk from Southend Central Station and a five minute walk from Southend Victoria station. There is a bus stop directly outside my office.
Are there any age restrictions?
I work with young people over the age of 12 and adults.
What issues will you work with?
As a counsellor, I am open to working with a wide array of issues, thanks to my extensive training in providing empathetic support to everyone I work with.
Over the years, I have helped clients navigate a diverse range of challenges, such as anxiety, depression, relationship dynamics, intimacy issues, family conflicts, grief and bereavement, the complexities of parenthood and postnatal depression, personal transformation, identity struggles, existential questions, medical diagnoses, end-of-life concerns, self-acceptance, and career and personal development.
My goal is to support you through any challenge you face with compassion and understanding.
How do I book?
You can call me on 07753479554 or email me to talk and arrange an appointment. I aim to respond within 24 hours.
How do I cancel?
I understand that cancellations can occur, life has a funny way of getting in the way! If you need to cancel an appointment, please notify me via email or text as soon as possible. This allows me to offer the time slot to someone else who may need it.
Please note that if a cancellation is made less than 24 hours in advance, or if I do not receive any notification, the session fee will still be required before scheduling any future appointments.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
How frequent are sessions?
The choice is yours, but I recommend weekly sessions to establish a consistent rhythm and ensure we can seamlessly continue our work together each time we meet. While some clients opt for bi-weekly sessions due to their schedules or other commitments, meeting weekly can provide the most benefit. I am flexible and happy to accommodate your schedule to find a frequency that works best for you.
How many sessions will we need?
There isn't a one-size-fits-all answer to how long counselling should last. In our initial session, we'll discuss your goals for counselling and might establish a plan to guide our work and determine when to review our progress. However, some clients prefer a more flexible approach, allowing each session to unfold naturally. Whether our work together spans eight sessions or continues for over a year, my focus is on meeting your needs. Before concluding our sessions, we will ideally have the opportunity to reflect on and recap the progress we've made together.
Do you offer evening and/or weekend sessions?
I offer evening sessions and weekend sessions both online and face to face to suit your schedule.
What if I need you in between sessions?
I am available between sessions on a therapeutic level. If you contact me with an issue relating to therapy I will likely suggest that we bring it to our next session for exploration.
If you are in need of somebody to talk to between our sessions, the Samaritans are always there for you (24 hours a day, 365 day a year) with a non-judgmental listening ear, by calling 116123 or emailing jo@samaritans.org.
You can also contact your GP for further support, who will be able to refer you on to other services within your local community.
What if I’m feeling suicidal?
Sometimes people have thoughts of not wanting to be here anymore, or of not wanting to be in a particular situation anymore. This is not uncommon when you are going through a very hard period in life.
If you have had thoughts of how you would actually take your own life then there are people you can talk to. The National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK offers a supportive listening service to anyone with thoughts of suicide, on 0800 689 5652 (6pm–3:30am every day).
The Samaritans have a safety plan available on their website which will help you to identify ways to help yourself when you are starting to have these thoughts. As above, they will also provide a listening ear and are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, on 116123 or by emailing jo@samaritans.org.
The NHS provides local support for people in a mental health crisis here: find-an-urgent-mental-health-helpline.
Do you work with couples/families?
Currently I work with individuals and couples.
Can I refer a friend/family member to you?
Yes, I would be honoured that you would refer a friend but it is important that person is willing to engage with counselling and contact me directly themselves.
Get in touch
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how counselling works or to arrange an appointment. This gives us the opportunity to discuss your reasons for seeking counselling, whether it could be helpful for you, and whether I am the right therapist to support you. You can also call me on 07753479554 if you’d prefer to leave a message or speak with me first.
I am in the heart of Southend on Sea’s conservation area at Office 4, 6 Nelson Street, Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS1 1EF.
In addition to face-to-face therapy, I also offer online sessions via WhatsApp and FaceTime, making counselling accessible to clients beyond Essex.
Remember, it’s just you, me, and a cup of tea.
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