Marley Raven Counselling

I adapt my approach to suit you and everything I offer is an invitation; it is your therapy space.

I will support you to understand your past, embrace the present and find your direction to carve out your future.

I combine a range of approaches and techniques to best meet your needs at any given point in time during our therapy together. I will meet you with empathy and without judgement. I am mindful that everyone has relationships and life circumstances in which they are operating, so work with techniques that suit you.

Find out more about my approach.

I am trauma informed and provide counselling for topics including:

·       Anxiety (including COVID and climate anxiety)

·       Body image

·       Disability

·       Depression

·       Gender identity

·       Grief and Loss (including loss of pets)

·       LGBTQ+ topics

·       Neurodiversity (including Autism, ADHD and AuDHD)

• Phone and technology issues

·       Relationships (friendships, romantic relationships, Ethical Non-Monogamy and family dynamics)

·       Self-esteem

·       Sexual orientation

·       Stress

·       Workplace challenges

I specialise in working with LGBTQ+, neurodiverse and disabled adults who wish to meet a counsellor where those aspects of their identity can be spoken about respectfully and safely, if desired.

Trans and enby clients find my acceptance, awareness and experience of trans issues key to being able to focus on what they need in therapy.

Working with self-esteem, clients have found visualisations and compassionate mindfulness transformative.

For neurodiverse individuals, having tools to take into daily life means they experience feeling more positive, are more confident and able to cope themselves in about 10 sessions.

I work with a range of people from a variety of backgrounds, including:

• LGBTQ+ folk who wish to meet a counsellor where those aspects of their identity can be spoken about respectfully and safely, if desired.

• I only work with adults (18+).

• Disabled people. I have a deep understanding of both the physical and mental health impacts of being disabled, especially in a world created by and for ‘able-bodied’ people. Not all disabilities are visible and not everyone with a difference wishes to identify as disabled. I aim to create a safe and accessible therapy space for everyone.

• Neurodiverse individuals (no diagnosis needed). I have experience of working with people who display traits often associated with ADHD and autism. I will follow your lead in terms of language used around this.

• Anyone my philosophy appeals to. The only requirement is that you are 18 or over.

I am happy to have a free 15 minute conversation via phone or video call to learn more about what brings you to counselling and to see if I am the right counsellor for you at this time.

I currently offer counselling sessions online, via phone and in person in Bristol. Find out more about counselling sessions.

I am passionate about difference and diversity and strive to be actively inclusive. My in-person venue is step-free, has accessible toilets and disabled parking. It also has gender neutral toilets, which are self-contained cubicles. Find out more about The Beehive Centre here.

My counselling space is neurodiversity friendly where fidget toys and comfort objects are welcome, there is no expectation for eye contact and the environment can be adjusted to work for us both.

All questions are valid and I realise there are lots of factors that go into feeling safe, especially when something is new and different. I offer an affirming and holistic approach.

Previous examples of different accommodations I have worked with include cameras off on video calls, clients having therapy sat in bed and others playing a video game (muted) to help with their ability to focus.

I hold a certificate for British Sign Language (BSL) level 1 so can communicate at a basic level with those who are deaf or hard of hearing and use BSL. I realise a lack of BSL trained counsellors and understanding of deaf culture is a barrier to access counselling support, so I am open to working with interpreters. They would also need to agree to our confidentiality and therapeutic agreement. Please contact me to discuss this further.

I am happy to discuss any accessibility requirements you may have and will do my best to accommodate them.

I currently charge £60 per 50 minute session as standard.

Reaching out to a prospective counsellor can be challenging, especially if you are new to therapy. I therefore offer a free initial no-obligation 15-minute phone or video call. This is open to anyone 18+, to talk about what brings you to counselling, how I work and to see if we would be a good fit.

I offer a limited number of places at concessionary rates. If I am unable to offer a concessionary rate initially I am happy to add your name to my waiting list.

Please get in touch to discuss this further without obligation to choose me as your counsellor.

I operate from an anti-oppressive and decolonial stance meaning that an understanding of structural oppression informs my work. I am not going to normalise, excuse or encourage you to accept injustice, prejudice or discrimination. Instead, I offer a safe and non-judgemental space for you to explore your thoughts, feelings and process what is happening for you at any given time. I invite you to use whatever language you need to, whilst I am alongside to support you in acknowledging and exploring difficult, uncomfortable and distressing themes. I will journey alongside you through uncertainty and difficulty, celebrating wins and your strengths along the way. My hope is to support you in recognising your own worth and feeling empowered to believe that who you are is already enough.

Counselling sessions are typically:

• 50 minutes

• £60 per session (concessions available)

• weekly or fortnightly

• the number of counselling sessions you have is open-ended

Contact Marley now for a free 15 minute no-obligation conversation to see if we are a good fit.

Considering having therapy but not sure what it involves?

Just curious about counselling?

I have developed these FAQs to allow you to be better informed about what counselling is, how therapy works and hopefully alleviate any concerns you may have for specific LGBTQ+ issues.