How to Find the Right Counsellor for You in Weston-super-Mare

Reviewed and updated: October 2026

Choosing the right counsellor is one of the most important decisions you can make when seeking support for your mental health and emotional wellbeing. A skilled and supportive counsellor can help you navigate life’s challenges, build resilience, and develop a greater understanding of yourself.

But knowing that you would like counselling and knowing who you would actually feel comfortable talking to are two different things.

If you are looking for counselling in Weston-super-Mare, you may come across dozens of counsellors offering different approaches, qualifications and ways of working. It can be difficult to know what really matters.

I’m George Fortune, a humanistic counsellor with an integrative approach, based in Weston-super-Mare. I have worked in counselling since 2014, and one thing I have learned during that time is that finding the right counsellor is not simply about choosing a particular therapy model or the person with the longest list of qualifications.

Qualifications and experience matter, but so does the relationship you are able to build with the person sitting opposite you.

This guide looks at some of the things worth considering when choosing a counsellor, whether you are looking for face-to-face counselling in Weston-super-Mare or considering online or telephone support.

Understanding your counselling needs

​Before beginning your search for a counsellor, it can help to take some time to reflect on your own needs and what has led you to consider counselling.
Do you need support with anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, trauma, or low self-esteem?

Perhaps there isn’t one particular problem.

You may feel stuck despite understanding yourself quite well already. You might notice the same patterns repeating in relationships, struggle with your sense of worth, find yourself overwhelmed by emotions, or simply feel that something in your life needs to change.

You do not need to have a diagnosis, a perfectly defined problem or a clear set of goals before starting counselling.

It can also help to think about what might make counselling feel more comfortable for you. Do you feel more at ease with something structured, or would you prefer a more open and explorative approach? Would you feel more comfortable speaking to someone of a particular gender or age? Would you prefer to meet face-to-face or talk from home?

These things can all influence how comfortable you feel with a counsellor and how able you are to talk openly.

Thinking about what you hope might be different as a result of counselling can be useful, but it is also completely okay if part of the counselling process is working that out together.

The benefits of choosing a local counsellor in Weston-super-Mare

While online and telephone counselling can be excellent options, some people prefer seeing a counsellor locally and meeting face-to-face.

If you live in Weston-super-Mare or the surrounding area, choosing someone nearby can make counselling easier to fit around work, family life and other responsibilities. A shorter and more familiar journey can also make attending regularly feel more manageable.

There can also be something valuable about physically stepping away from everyday life for an hour and entering a separate, private space where the focus is entirely on you and your world.
That does not mean face-to-face counselling is automatically better.

Some people find they open up more comfortably online or over the telephone, particularly if they feel safer talking from home, travel regularly for work, have caring responsibilities or find travelling difficult.

The important thing is finding a style that works for you.
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Search results can give you a useful starting point, but I would encourage you to look beyond where someone appears on the page. Spend some time reading about how they work, their experience and qualifications, and what counselling with them might actually feel like. That can give you a much better sense of whether a particular counsellor in Weston-super-Mare might be the right fit for you.

Counselling doesn’t always have to be deep and serious

Many people assume that counselling is always intense and emotionally heavy, but this isn’t always the case.

Alongside exploring difficult emotions, therapy can also bring moments of laughter, lightness and self-discovery.

Healing and personal growth do not have to feel serious all the time. Sometimes a smile, a shared joke, or an unexpected moment of insight can be just as valuable as the deeper conversations.
The counselling process is about balance. It is natural to experience sadness and reflection, but it is equally possible to find humour and lightness in sessions.

A good therapeutic relationship should allow enough space for all of those parts of you to exist.
Over the years, I have found that these lighter moments can be extremely important in helping the counselling relationship feel human rather than clinical or robotic. They can provide some emotional breathing room during difficult conversations and can help someone feel increasingly comfortable being themselves.
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When choosing a counsellor, it may therefore be worth thinking not only about whether they have the right qualifications or experience, but whether you get a sense that you could eventually feel comfortable enough around them to be yourself.

Exploring different therapeutic approaches

Therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all. Different approaches offer different ways of understanding what someone is experiencing and how change might happen.

You do not need to become an expert in counselling theory before choosing a counsellor, but having a basic understanding of some of the approaches you may come across can help.

Humanistic therapies
Humanistic therapies focus on the person as a whole, their experiences, their capacity for growth and their ability to develop greater self-understanding.

Rather than simply focusing on symptoms or trying to identify what is “wrong”, humanistic counselling is interested in understanding the person behind the difficulty: how they experience themselves, their relationships, their emotions and the world around them.

These approaches place a lot of importance on the relationship between counsellor and client. The counsellor aims to create a relationship built around empathy, acceptance, honesty and respect, where someone can gradually feel safe enough to explore parts of themselves that may be difficult to understand or talk about elsewhere.

Humanistic counselling also recognises that people often already have more insight, strength and capacity for change than they realise. The role of the counsellor is not necessarily to provide all the answers, but to help create the conditions where greater awareness, understanding and meaningful change can develop.

Person-Centred Therapy: Developed by Carl Rogers, this approach emphasises creating an empathic, non-judgmental and genuine therapeutic relationship. Rather than treating the counsellor as the expert on the client, it places considerable trust in the person’s own capacity for understanding and growth.

Gestalt Therapy: Encourages greater awareness of thoughts, feelings, behaviours and experiences in the here and now, while becoming more curious about patterns that may otherwise happen automatically.

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy: A more goal-focused approach that looks at strengths, resources, possible solutions and the changes someone would like to see, rather than concentrating mainly on where a problem began.

Cognitive therapies
Cognitive and behavioural therapies look at how patterns of thinking and behaviour can influence how we feel.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): A more structured approach that helps people understand the links between their thoughts, feelings and behaviours, and develop different ways of responding to patterns that may be causing difficulties.

Psychodynamic and psychoanalytic therapies
Psychodynamic and psychoanalytic approaches explore how past experiences and relationships, including things we may not be fully aware of, can continue to influence how we feel, behave and relate to others in the present.

Psychoanalysis: Traditionally a more intensive form of therapy that explores unconscious processes, early experiences and recurring patterns.

Psychodynamic Therapy: Developed from psychoanalytic thinking and generally focuses on how earlier experiences and relationships may continue to shape present emotions, relationships and behaviour.

Mentalisation-Based Therapy
Mentalisation-Based Therapy, often shortened to MBT, focuses on developing our ability to understand what may be happening in our own minds while also remaining curious about the thoughts, feelings and intentions of other people.

Integrative therapies
Integrative counselling draws on ideas and ways of working from different therapeutic approaches.
Rather than expecting every client to fit one particular way of working, an integrative counsellor can draw from different perspectives depending on the individual and what they are bringing to counselling.

My own work is humanistic at its core. The relationship with the person in front of me remains central, along with trying to understand them as a whole person rather than simply focusing on a particular symptom or problem.

Where it is helpful, I may also draw on ideas from other therapeutic approaches to help make sense of what is happening or explore things from a different angle. For me, those ideas support the humanistic work rather than replace it.

A final note on choosing a therapy approach
It is completely okay if you are not sure which type of counselling is right for you.
Many people start counselling without knowing the specific approach they need.
In my experience, people often contact me knowing what they are struggling with but having very little idea whether they need humanistic counselling, CBT, psychodynamic therapy or something else.
That is normal.

The type of therapy matters, but it is not the only thing that matters.

Finding a counsellor you feel able to talk to, who understands what you are bringing and who can clearly explain how they work, can be just as important.
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If a particular approach does not seem appropriate for you, a responsible counsellor should be able to talk about that openly and, where necessary, suggest another form of support.

How to find the right counsellor in Weston-super-Mare

Once you have thought about what you might need and how you would prefer counselling to work, the next step is finding a qualified counsellor.

Here are some of the main things I would consider:

Qualifications and professional registration
Look for a counsellor or therapist who is appropriately trained and registered with a recognised professional body, such as the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCPS) or the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP).

Being registered with a recognised professional body provides some reassurance that the counsellor has met relevant training and professional standards and is expected to work within an ethical framework.

You should also be able to find clear information about their core counselling or psychotherapy qualification. If you cannot understand what someone’s qualifications mean, there is nothing wrong with asking them.

Experience​
Different counsellors will naturally have more experience in some areas than others.

If you are seeking support for something specific, it can be useful to ask whether the counsellor has experience working with people facing similar difficulties. At the same time, people rarely fit neatly into categories.

Someone might initially come to counselling because of anxiety, but discover that their anxiety is connected with self-worth, relationships, earlier experiences, perfectionism or fear of rejection.
Different difficulties can also be closely connected.

This is one reason I believe it is important to understand the whole person rather than reducing somebody to the problem that first brought them through the door.

Therapeutic approach
Consider whether the way a counsellor describes their approach makes sense to you.
Some people want something structured and practical. Others want more space to explore themselves, their experiences and the patterns beneath what is happening. Many want elements of both.
You do not necessarily need to know this before starting.
A prospective counsellor should be able to explain how they work in straightforward language and discuss whether their approach is likely to suit what you are looking for.

Location and accessibility
If you prefer face-to-face counselling, consider whether the counsellor’s location is practical for you.
If you live outside Weston-super-Mare but would still prefer face-to-face counselling, there are of course counsellors working throughout North Somerset, Somerset, Bristol and the surrounding areas. How far you are comfortable travelling is another practical consideration when choosing someone.
If you would feel more comfortable speaking from home, or you regularly work away, online counselling or telephone counselling may suit you better.
It is important that counselling feels physically accessible as well as emotionally supportive.
If you have additional requirements such as wheelchair access, mobility needs or sensory sensitivities, I would recommend discussing these with a potential counsellor before your first session.
Not every counselling space is the same, and it is much better to ask beforehand than arrive somewhere that does not meet your needs.

Client reviews and testimonials
Reading feedback from previous clients can provide some insight into how other people have experienced a counsellor and their environment.

Counselling is highly personal, so a review cannot tell you whether that counsellor will definitely be right for you. It can, however, give you a sense of recurring themes.
Do people describe feeling listened to?
Comfortable?
Respected?
Able to be themselves?
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Reviews can be one useful part of making a decision, alongside qualifications, experience and your own impression of the counsellor.

An initial consultation
Many counsellors offer an initial consultation or assessment, either online, over the telephone or in person.

I offer an initial consultation before ongoing counselling because I think having that first conversation matters.

It gives us an opportunity to talk about what has brought you to counselling, what you might be looking for and how I work. Just as importantly, it allows you to decide what you think of me. Counselling is not an interview that you have to pass. You are also deciding whether this is someone you can imagine talking openly with.

Questions you may want to ask a counsellor

People sometimes arrive at an initial consultation unsure what they are “supposed” to ask.
There isn’t a correct list, but some useful questions might include:
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• What are your counselling qualifications?
• Are you registered with a professional body?
• How do you usually work?
• Do you have experience with what I am struggling with?
• How often would we normally meet?
• How long are sessions?
• What are your fees?
• What is your cancellation policy?
• How does confidentiality work, and are there any limits to it?
• Do you offer face-to-face, telephone or online counselling?
• What happens if either of us feels that working together isn’t the right fit?

You do not have to ask all of these. Sometimes the most useful part of an initial conversation is simply noticing how you feel while you are talking to the person.

Flexible session scheduling

​Counselling needs to fit realistically around your life. Some people prefer weekly sessions for consistency, while others find fortnightly appointments work better depending on their circumstances and what they are hoping to get from counselling.

It can be helpful to discuss this with your counsellor and review the frequency as things develop. What works at the beginning may not always be what you need later on. Availability can also vary, with some counsellors offering daytime appointments and others providing evening or weekend sessions.

It is also worth checking cancellation and rescheduling arrangements before you begin. These practical details may seem less important than the counselling itself, but they can make a real difference to how manageable it feels to attend regularly.

The counselling environment matters. The space in which counselling takes place can have a real influence on how safe, relaxed and open you feel. Some people are drawn to more traditional clinical or office-based settings, while others appreciate something more informal and personal.

I work from a purpose-built counselling cabin in Weston-super-Mare, which has affectionately become known as “the shed” over the years. It is a private, cosy and welcoming space that feels a little removed from the rush of everyday life while still being grounded and professional.

Over the years, I have found that the environment can make a real difference to how naturally a conversation begins. Some people settle more quickly somewhere that feels less clinical, while others prefer the structure and separation of a more traditional office. There is no right or wrong answer.

When seeking face-to-face counselling, it is worth considering whether the setting feels right for you. Does it feel calm and private, physically comfortable, and somewhere you could imagine yourself gradually opening up?

Whether it is a cabin, an office or an online video call, the environment should help you feel comfortable enough to engage with the counselling.

Common reasons people come to counselling

Everyone’s experience is different, but there are some challenges that often bring people to counselling.

You do not need to be in crisis to benefit from therapy. Sometimes it is simply about wanting to understand yourself better or wanting something in your life to feel different.

Common reasons people seek support include:

• Anxiety or excessive worry - feeling overwhelmed, panicky, overthinking or constantly on edge.
• Low mood or depression - struggling to find motivation or enjoyment, or feeling persistently low.
• Grief and loss - coming to terms with the death of someone important or another significant loss.
• Relationship difficulties - difficulties with partners, family, friendships or work relationships.
• Stress and burnout - feeling mentally or physically exhausted and struggling to switch off.
• Life transitions - becoming a parent, changing careers, relationship changes, retirement or other periods of uncertainty.
• Trauma or difficult past experiences - understanding how things that happened previously may still be affecting you now.
• Low self-esteem or self-worth - struggling with confidence, boundaries, inner criticism or feeling worthwhile.
• Personal growth and self-understanding - exploring identity, purpose, relationships or emotional patterns more deeply.

Sometimes there isn’t one obvious reason.

You might simply feel that you are not quite yourself, or recognise that you keep finding yourself in the same emotional situations without fully understanding why.
Whatever brings you to counselling, you do not need to arrive with all the answers.
Working out what is happening can be part of the counselling itself.

What if the first counsellor doesn’t feel right?

Finding the right counsellor can sometimes take time. A first session may feel slightly unusual simply because you are meeting somebody new and potentially talking about things you may rarely discuss with anyone else, so feeling a little nervous or unsure does not necessarily mean the counsellor is wrong for you.

However, if you continue to feel unheard, judged, unable to be yourself, or simply find that the way the counsellor works does not suit you, it is okay to talk about that with them. It is also okay to decide that you would prefer to see somebody else.
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A good counsellor should be able to have an open conversation about the therapeutic relationship rather than expecting you to continue regardless of how the counselling feels. Exploring discomfort within the therapeutic relationship can itself become useful therapeutic work; at other times, the reality is simply that two people are not the right fit.

Finding the right counselling support in Weston-super-Mare

Taking the first step towards counselling can feel daunting, particularly if you have never had therapy before.

If you are looking for a counsellor in Weston-super-Mare, take some time to look around. Read about how different counsellors work, check their training and professional registration, and consider practical things such as location, availability and cost. Where possible, it can also be helpful to have a conversation with someone before deciding whether you would like to work with them.

You do not need to understand every type of counselling or know exactly what you want to talk about before getting in touch. The first conversation can simply be an opportunity to talk about what has been happening, ask any questions you have and get a sense of whether working together feels right.
If you are curious about how counselling with me might work, you can read more about my face-to-face counselling in Weston-super-Mare, telephone and online counselling, or get in touch to arrange an initial consultation.

There is no expectation that an initial consultation has to lead to ongoing counselling. It is simply an opportunity for us both to get a sense of whether working together makes sense.

George Fortune Counselling
Integrative Humanistic Counsellor
Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset