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Open Space
Counselling

Do you feel that life’s stresses, anxieties, and difficulties are weighing you down?

Working with me, you will explore what is getting you stuck in life so you can discover, heal, and grow. I offer support in an empathetic, non-judgemental way. I have experience helping those with a wide range of issues in a safe therapeutic space, allowing you to explore your inner strengths and resources, building on these to improve your well-being and self-growth.

Having received counselling myself, I know that going into counselling can take courage, so I will try my best to put you at ease and assist you through the process.

My location

Whether you choose to meet me online, outside in nature, or in my garden room in Tunbridge Wells, you will have a confidential space to talk about concerns and problems.

About me

Hi, I’m Ann-Marie Fisher. I offer integrative therapy, which combines person-centred, cognitive and psychodynamic approaches. Our sessions are uniquely tailored to you by looking at the present, which can lead to looking at your history and linking it to current concerns and making plans for your future.

I’m a member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), professionally insured and hold an Enhanced DBS check.

More about me

I have worked as a senior leader of a mental health and family wellbeing charity since 2015, where I have overseen the development of digital resources for families affected by eating disorders, separation, and imprisonment. Before counselling, I was a lecturer and have taught in further, higher, and adult education in the UK and overseas.

My formal education: BA (hons) Social Sciences, Msc Marketing, Post-Graduate Certificate in Education and BACP Accredited Diploma in Integrative Counselling (for which I achieved a distinction). I have also attended Continuous Professional Development courses in Domestic Violence and Coercive Control, working with Autism, Disordered Eating, Adverse Childhood Experiences, Relational Depth and Building Resilience in Children and Young People.

How can I help

I have experience of working with a range of issues including:

  • Anxiety and panic attacks
  • Emotional regulation
  • Low mood and depression
  • Low Self-esteem and worth
  • Personal growth and development
  • Personal Identity and body image
  • Bereavement, grief, and loss
  • Self-harm
  • Significant life events
  • Relationship difficulties
  • Friendship and bullying

(Male adult client, 2023)

I just wanted to take a moment to express my thanks and gratitude for all you have done for me. I truly appreciate your guidance, patience, and kindness, without it I wouldn’t be where I am mentally right now, I hope your other clients are blessed in the same way I was. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart.

(Female teen client, 2023)

Ann-Marie was so easy to talk to, I was in a dark place and couldn’t see a way out. Working with her has made me realise I am stronger than I thought I was and I deserve more in life, which I am determined to make happen. I am genuinely excited for my future now.

Services

What?

A nurturing space to speak openly, navigate challenges and reconnect with your true self.

Why?

To help you find inner harmony, healthy relationships and greater meaning in life.

How?

1-1 therapeutic sessions in a space and at a pace that is comfortable for you; choose from sitting in a relaxing private garden room, remotely via video or walking outside and connecting with nature. All 50 minute counselling sessions cost £50 per session.

In my garden room

Face to face sessions take place in a quiet & comfortable room at the bottom of my peaceful garden, and there is free parking available.

Find out more

Online

I also offer sessions online via Teams video conferencing for those who are unable or prefer not to travel and meet me in person.

Find out more

Out in nature

For those interested in combining nature with counselling, I offer walk and talk therapy in a private park or a wooded area, both within 5 minutes’ walk from my home.

Find out more

For all services, I offer an initial free 15-minute introductory session to make sure we are both comfortable working together and discuss the next steps.  Once we agree to work with each other, we will meet weekly on the same day and time.

To arrange a free session, please provide your details below..

All sessions are confidential, and information will not be disclosed to a third party unless I feel your safety or those around you is at risk. I will always consult with you first should this be the case.

Thinking about starting counselling? Book Your FREE 15-Minute Introductory Session.

Ready for positive change? I’m here to help.

Choosing a counsellor can be daunting and it is important that you feel comfortable with who you choose to work with. That’s why I offer a FREE 15-minute introductory session.

This is an opportunity for you to share what you are hoping to get from your counselling experience and for me to answer any questions you might have. You can then decide if you would like to start your well-being journey with me.

You can view my privacy policy here.

Start your journey to well-being today.

The Open Space Counselling Blog

Our healing powers within

Quietening your inner critic

Fleeing Feelings

Anxiety accelerators

The guide to being a perfect client

Fear of change

FAQs

How can counselling help me?

Most importantly, counselling gives you the space to safely reflect on your true feelings. As a result, counselling can help you:

  • Regulate strong and powerful feelings
  • Understand things from a different perspective
  • Discover new ways to manage situations
  • Develop greater awareness
  • Discover the tools to implement positive change
  • Set healthy boundaries
  • Feel reconnected to yourself and the world around you
  • Regain wellness and balance

What happens in the initial assessment?

This 15-minute phone or video call gives us an opportunity to talk through and assess your needs. It gives you the chance to ask any further questions you might have and to get a ‘feel’ for whether you wish to start therapy. There is no pressure to work with me after the consultation, it is important you choose a counsellor you feel comfortable working with and when and who with you commit to therapy is entirely your choice.

How many sessions will I have?

This depends on your unique situation and will be discussed in our first session. Some people choose to have counselling for a number of weeks or months, and some for a number of years. It’s completely up to you, and we can bring our sessions to an end or pause whenever you feel it’s right for you.

We will work collaboratively throughout the process and whether therapy is short or long term, there will be regular points at which we will review to ensure you are getting the right help and support. I generally work with people for a minimum of six sessions but as a general guideline, shorter therapy will be for more specific issues and longer therapy for more complex issues.

Are sessions confidential?

Yes, all sessions are confidential, and your privacy is very important so that you feel safe. In extreme circumstances, I may have to break this if there is immediate risk of substantial harm to yourself or others. Or, if there is a legal requirement to disclose. To read in more detail about how I protect your personal information in general, please see my Privacy Notice.

Do you provide counselling for children or couples?

Currently I am working with individuals aged 16+.

How will I pay for sessions and how much do they cost?

Counselling sessions are £50 per 50 minute session, payable 24hrs in advance via bank transfer please (unless otherwise discussed and an alternative agreement made).

How will I pay for sessions and how much do they cost?

Counselling sessions are £45 per 50 minute session, payable 24hrs in advance via bank transfer please (unless otherwise discussed and an alternative agreement made).

What happens if I have to cancel a session?

You will not be charged if you give at least one week’s notice. After one week, you will be charged ½ session fee and less than 24 hours, the full session fee.

How do I book a session?

The best thing to do is to contact me via this contact form. You don’t need to go into detail, as we can then arrange a quick call to see if we’re a good fit for each other.

I’ll get back to your enquiry as soon as possible, and I aim for within 24 hours.

My garden room

Where are you located?

I offer counselling from my home in Tunbridge Wells, which is 15-minute walk from the town centre and train station and very close to most of the secondary schools in the area (Bennett, Skinners, St Gregory’s, TWBS and TWGS). My therapy space is in a private room at the bottom of my garden, surrounded by trees and the sound of birds.

Is your counselling room accessible?

The location of my counselling room may not be suitable for those with mobility challenges due to the width and incline of the path to the bottom of my garden. If access is a concern, I will try to make adjustments where possible and this is something we can discuss further in our initial consultation.

Walk and talk therapy

What is walk and talk nature therapy?

For some clients, having a therapist sit opposite them in a confined space can feel quite intense, whereas walking next to each other, side-by-side, can sometimes feel equal and less formal. However, it is not all about walking; sitting down somewhere in nature is also an option. There are private spaces to sit amongst trees and by water in the spaces I use for counselling which many find calming and healing during our session. If you have mobility needs, we can talk those over in our initial phone call and we’ll make a plan that works for you.

How does walk and talk therapy help with wellbeing?

Studies have shown that spending safe time in nature can be an antidote for stress, lowering blood pressure and stress hormone levels, reducing nervous system arousal, aggression, and anxiety.

Walking in nature promotes the release of dopamine, endorphins, serotonin, and oxytocin inside the body, improving immune system function, self-esteem, and mood whilst also creating a natural high leaving you feeling happier.

What about the weather?

We know our British weather can be changeable, so I would just encourage you to be prepared! If a bit of rain doesn’t deter you, bring a waterproof jacket and appropriate shoes just in case it does rain. Equally, we may be occasionally blessed with particularly warm weather, so wearing layers and bringing a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses might be a good idea.  However, we don’t want the weather to be a distraction so there is always an option to meet inside instead.  I am always happy to be led by you in that respect.

What happens if we meet people along the way?

Confidentiality is an integral part of therapy. Whilst the routes I select are generally quiet, there is always the chance of bumping into people we know. If this does happen, I suggest we say hello from afar and casually move on, being mindful not to encourage engagement with the other. However, we can address this at our first session and can discuss any concerns.

Online therapy

Online counselling (through Zoom, Microsoft Teams or similar) enables you to access counselling face-to-face from your computer. Research shows that online therapy can be just as effective as in-person therapy. If you have reliable access to the internet, this can be done from home or another quiet private space where you feel comfortable talking. This may suit you if you have a busy schedule, cutting out travelling to and from therapy or if you are not located in an area near me. If the technology isn’t familiar to you, I can help you with the setup, and will also offer guidance on how to get the best from online therapy. I do not offer phone counselling, as I feel being able to see one another’s faces is an important aspect of effective therapeutic communication.