Amanda "Mandy" Roberts, BACP

About me

Hi, My name is Mandy and I have been told I am a down to earth warm hearted counsellor.

I mainly use the person-centred approach where the client is seen as the expert on themselves.

This I understand can seem challenging as often people want an expert to guide them or tell them what to do particularly if the client is feeling lost and confused and not sure how to feel better.

What I love about this approach mainly created by Carl Rogers is that it makes a lot of sense to me.
His view is that everyone has the ability given the right conditions can grow and evolve as a person, feeling more aware, happy and able to cope better with life.

often when our mind is less turbulent and more relaxed we can see things from a clearer perspective.
I am sure we can all relate to this when things fall into place or we know just what to do.

I do understand though that when our mind is fixated on a negative thought process or stuck in dysfunctional habits it can seem very difficult to change this negative way of thinking, creating all kinds of issues such as anxiety, stress, anger, blocked emotions etc

This is where I come in.
using a compassionate approach to helping the client feel at ease, relaxed and safe, enables the client to explore these painful feelings within the space of counselling.

Within the session, the client can access painful thoughts and feelings that may feel frozen or unpleasant and learn ways of accepting, learning that these feelings can be worked through and understood without panic.

This allows the client to finally understand themselves more and gain confidence in themselves.
Finding more peace within also can include mindfulness and meditation within a session to help bring more relaxation to the client.

I have been teaching mindfulness meditation for 27 years in group workshops.
What should a client expect in counselling?

This can feel a bit daunting.
Particularly the idea of sharing our fears, and deepest worries and secrets with a stranger!

The fact that the Client is seeking counselling is a positive step which can help the Client discover new ways to move toward a more positive recovery.

The counsellor should be able to help the Client better understand their feelings and thought processes and help the client access their solutions to problems

It’s normal to experience anxiety and feel nervous and wonder what the counsellor will be like.
Of course, we want to feel comfortable and at ease.




Sessions last for 45 minutes and on the Better Help Online Platform, it is advised the client finds a quite comfortable space in which they will not be interrupted.

The Client will be encouraged to talk about their feelings and emotions without judgment or criticism.

The counsellor may ask The Client questions that will help them gain a deeper understanding of the issues important to them. This can include:

Relationships

The Clients Childhood

Their emotions thoughts

Their behaviour

Situations or events they have found difficult

What has brought them to counselling at this specific moment in their life

Finding out what their goals are for counselling They will be encouraged to be honest about their feelings.

A lot will be going on in their thoughts in the first session and can even feel like a pond which is stirred up and all the sediment comes to the surface, this is normal.
The client should try not to be put off or panic thinking counselling has made them feel much worse!
Sometimes it can feel worse before it feels better.

The Client should listen to their feelings, and share them with the counsellor.

The counselling contract doesn’t mean that the client has to carry on with counselling, they are free to leave at any time.

However, it is helpful to discuss this with the counsellor as they may be able to make adjustments to ensure they can meet the Client's needs.


If the Client starts to feel that perhaps this is the wrong time for them to have counselling, or perhaps they may feel like trying a different counsellor this is their freedom and choice it can be beneficial for the client to discuss with the counsellor how they feel.

The client could ask questions that are on their mind.

What do they want to know from their counsellor?
Is it important for the client to know how the counsellor works?
What will they expect from the client?
Does the counsellor's idea match up with the client's idea?

So it may be an idea for the client to research a few Counsellors and see what they offer or try some out at some point.
It is a good idea to commit to at least 6 sessions with one counsellor.

Counselling can be a new life-changing journey, but it can also bring up our stuff!
Which may feel unpleasant at times.

It is helpful for the Client to hold realistic expectations of this process, particularly for the first session.
Therapy is not a quick fix!
However, it can be a great opportunity for the client to understand themselves and can help them heal relationships or let go of unpleasant feelings of anger and anxiety, and find more wisdom and clarity.

With time and patience hopefully, the discomfort and unpleasant feelings will become fewer and a more contented space can naturally arise.

If you feel counselling could help you then contact me on Better Help,
I am very approachable and happy to answer any questions.

Warm wishes Mandy.

Professional experience

Additional areas of focus: Addictions, Family conflicts, Trauma and abuse, Grief, Intimacy-related issues, Eating disorders, Career difficulties, Depression, Coping with life changes, Coaching, Compassion fatigue, ADHD, Abandonment, Adoption and Foster Care, Aging and Geriatric Issues, Attachment issues, Autism and Asperger Syndrome, Body image, Cancer, Caregiver issues and stress, Codependency, Communication problems, Control issues, Divorce and separation, Domestic Violence, Drug and Alcohol Addiction, Eating and Food-Related Issues, Emptiness, Expats, Family of Origin Issues, Family Problems, Fatherhood Issues, Forgiveness, Guilt and shame, Hoarding, Hospice and End of Life Counseling, Infidelity, Intellectual Disability, Isolation / loneliness, Jealousy, Life purpose, Men's issues, Midlife crisis, Military and Veterans Issues, Money and financial issues, Mood disorders , Multicultural Concerns, Obsessions, Compulsions, and OCD, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Polyamory / Nonmonogamous Relationships, Self-love, Sex Addiction, Sexuality, Women's issues, Workplace issues, Young Adult Issues

Clinical approaches: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Trauma-Focused Therapy

Credentials information

BACP Counsellor #392597

BACP Therapist - Registered Member MBACP #392597

Reviews

These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Amanda "Mandy" Roberts. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.