Carole Barbier

Hello! My name is Carole. I'm an experienced, professionally qualified, and registered psychotherapeutic counsellor. I offer caring, affordable, and effective personal counselling, for all ages. I work in an integrative way, which means that I work with each client to make their experience of counselling unique and fit for purpose. I'm based in north Wiltshire, England, and I offer face-to-face counselling in the village of Derry Hill (near Chippenham), in Chippenham and online. I'm interested in people, and I enjoy helping others. I specialise in counselling people from higher education and professional backgrounds, including adults, students, and young people. I have an international background: I've lived and been educated in France, Africa, Canada, the USA, and the UK, and I've travelled widely. I'm fluent in English and French, and I initially trained as a French teacher. I'm used to using IT in my work, such as delivering counselling via Zoom and other platforms. I've also worked as a university tutor, trainer, and consultant on languages, education, and parental engagement. But during a career spanning over 30 years, I discovered that it's difficult for a teacher to support the emotional wellbeing that is so necessary for enjoyment and learning. And so, I took a decision in 2006, to retrain as a therapist.

Diploma in Humanistic and Integrative Counselling Vocational Advanced Level in Counselling Practitioner in Neuro-Linguistic Programming Post Graduate Certificate in Education MA in Canadian Literature BA in English and Linguistics Further Training: Solution-focused Brief Therapy Working with Shame Working with Anger Working with Dreams

I'm used to supporting a wide range of people with emotional difficulties, both individually and within groups. I've counselled many adults, students in higher education, and young people of secondary school age. I've also worked extensively with parents experiencing difficulties with their children. I am a mother of two grown-up children, one of each sex. I've a particular interest in the links between learning and emotional wellbeing, and in family systems, as well as the emotional and behavioural patterns passed from one generation to the next within families.

My way of working is to tailor my therapeutic approach, depending on your needs and expectations. In my experience one approach doesn't suit all people, and you may need various levels of support at various times. I therefore offer brief counselling, as well as more open-ended, longer-term therapy. A decision on the most appropriate approach will be made with you. The relationship between you and your counsellor is of paramount importance. My aim is to provide a safe, non-judgemental environment in which to consider and discuss your feelings. This allows you to explore and understand difficulties from the past, which are shaping your present. Or it can offer a safe space to look at issues clouding your here and now, with the aim to make your future less frightening. Whatever your concerns, I'll treat them confidentially and empathically, while helping you to find a resolution.