“I found my sessions with Meriel really helpful. She’s a good listener and easy to talk to. She encouraged me to look and think about things differently which helped me deal with how I had been feeling. I would recommend her to anyone.”
“Meriel and I worked together for over a year and I felt very safe, understood and held by her....I believe she was instrumental in helping me....to feel whole, happy and proud of myself again...Meriel struck a wonderful balance of giving me space to share whatever had been coming up for me, listening and reflecting back, and responding with her own offerings. I really responded to her creativity, humour and use of metaphor. We exclusively worked together online, but the experience felt as therapeutic as it would’ve done had we met in person....She’s using and transforming her own experiences to help others and is excellent at what she does. I can’t recommend Meriel highly enough, and I will forever be grateful for her support throughout a very difficult - but ultimately transformative and affirming - time in my life.”
Welcome
My name is Meriel Whale and I am a counsellor based in Lewes and working online
I've been working as a person-centred and integrative counsellor since 2010, offering general counselling for a wide range of issues for all aged 18+. I have personal and professional experience of neurodivergence and am part of the LGBTQIA+ community.
I also work specifically with those who are childless not by choice and those who have come to the end of their fertility journey. As you will see from my blog posts, childlessness is also a part of my journey. I offer counselling both to childless individuals and childless couples of all genders and sexualities.
Counselling can help with many things, including
Anxiety, stress and worry
Bereavement, grief and loss of any kind
Depression and feeling low
Lack of purpose, meaning and contentment in life, feeling life isn't worth living
Loneliness and isolation
Life transitions including retirement, divorce, redundancy
Illness, disability or chronic health conditions
Low self esteem, lacking confidence or self worth
Problems at home, relationships
Worry about money
Identities
How does counselling work?
The relationship between the counsellor and the client is key and brings together empathy, realness and non-judgmental, constructive and active listening.
Talking with a counsellor can help us understand events in our lives, identify and express our emotions and talk about things that distress us to the point that we're struggling to cope.
It can enable us to resolve difficult situations and feelings, make positive changes and move forward with renewed confidence, self belief and a sense of wellbeing.
My approach
My work is built upon the idea that everybody's experiences are unique and valuable and everyone has the ability to change and grow. Life experiences, particularly those that affect our sense of who we are and how valuable we are, can impact on this natural resilience. A counselling relationship can help push the reset button, giving you the support you need to move forward.
I will respond to you with compassion, listen to you with empathy and value you exactly as you are.
I work responsively; this means I see every new client as a unique individual, and form a unique therapy for each of you. I draw on my core training in Person Centred Therapy and my additional training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. I also offer creative resources for when words are not enough.
No matter how strong your feelings are, I will be able to help you process them so that you can move forward with your life. I will stay with you on your journey for as long as you want me to, walking alongside you so that you feel less alone and lost.
I am LGBTQ+/GSRD and neuro-diversity affirmative and have a special interest in working with clients who are queer/LGBTQI+, neurodivergent and childless. I affirm HAES (Health At Every Size).
I only work with clients in the UK or who are UK citizens living in Europe.
Please email me if you'd like more information.