Counselling & Psychotherapy in Brighton and Hove
Experienced counsellor working with adults. Also offers clinical supervision.
Shelley Holland
Counselling and Psychotherapy in Brighton and Hove
Online therapy via Zoom, working with adults across Brighton & Hove, and beyond.
Hello, I'm Shelley Holland. I've been working as a counsellor since 1998. I’ve worked with adults from all walks of life who are navigating some of the more difficult things that life can bring. Whether you're dealing with something specific or simply feeling that things aren't quite right and you're not sure why, therapy can help.
I offer both longer-term in-depth psychotherapy and shorter-term counselling, depending on what feels right for you.
All sessions currently take place online via Zoom.
I'm a Senior Accredited member of the BACP and the NCPS (SCoPEd Framework Column C), and I have specialist training in both attachment-based work and trauma. I also work as a clinical supervisor, run The Palmeira Practice, a counselling hub in Brighton and Hove, and Brighton Therapy Partnership, a psychotherapy education provider.
I have a particular interest and experience in working with people managing problems that are childhood or attachment-based in origin, those navigating difficult family relationships, past or present, especially daughter-mother dynamics, people experiencing loss or bereavement, and those exploring their sense of purpose or direction in life.
If you'd like to find out more about how I work, take a look at my About Me page, or feel free to get in touch directly. An introductory session is a good way to see whether we're a good fit.
You can read testimonials from people I have worked with in the past below, and read longer versions on my testimonials page.
For counsellors and therapists: I also offer clinical supervision to qualified practitioners. If you’re interested in discussing supervision, please get in touch by email or via the contact form.
After a number of family bereavements, the most recent of which had been very traumatic, I was struggling. I had no previous experience of counselling and I wasn’t sure what to expect. However Shelley was very welcoming and explained to me how it would all work. This was particularly important as we connected through Zoom rather than face to face, as I live abroad.
I came to counselling struggling with anxiety, self-harm, and difficult family relationships.
I would really recommend Shelley, I felt that I could really open up to her. She was able to challenge and support when needed.
“Thank you for your kindness and your sharp sense of humour, and for your incredible attention to detail (remembering names and stories) that made me feel very seen and heard. I'm grateful for the ways you encouraged me to find choices in every situation. I had lots of laughs and many tears in our sessions and always felt so safe to do the work with you. Thank you for eventually teaching me that I don't always need to do the work!”
“This has honestly changed my life. I know that sounds dramatic, but it’s true. You’ve helped me to understand myself and my relationships with others in a way I didn’t believe possible.”
“Shelley, thank you for your patience and understanding. My only regret is that I didn’t come to counselling sooner.”
“I’ve really learnt a lot about myself through our sessions, and now think about myself differently. I no longer feel sorry for myself. I feel strong and capable.”
“Thank you for helping me with my relationship troubles. I have felt so empowered by the experience.”
I came to counselling with relationship and family issues. Shelley helped me feel relaxed and safe talking to her; I never felt judged, and she encouraged me to be more accepting of myself and my limitations.
Counselling began for me after a family relationship breakdown. I had tried to 'keep calm and carry on', but was struggling with loss and grief that were affecting my everyday life.
I had been suffering with a breakup in a fairly long term relationship. Probably the lowest point in my life. Struggled to eat, sleep and function throughout the day. Felt pretty empty and kind of meaningless with everything I was doing. Kind of felt like I was having a bit of a mid life crisis long before the middle of my life.
I came to counselling with angry outbursts, feelings of guilt and shame, depression, and anxiety.
The shock of my divorce brought me to counselling. Time wasn't helping me cope or understand, but counselling helped me accept that I don't need to understand, I need to learn to accept and move forward. Much of what I experienced is still sinking in, with discoveries about myself that have been both helpful and insightful.
Before I started counselling I was very anxious and depressed, with frequent panic attacks and self-harming; I felt confused, lost, and ashamed.
I felt unable to move forward with my life; there were things holding me back, a lot of regrets from behaviours in me I couldn't understand, and a sense that my inner child was broken in some way.
I was having difficulties in a relationship with one of my siblings and my partner, alongside some long-standing negative thinking I wanted to address.
When I started working with Shelley, I was struggling to manage my emotions; my mother had recently passed, and my relationship with my adult children was difficult.