Marta Bannister

Therapy with Marta

You’re facing a significant change in your life.

Maybe you’ve recently lost someone - a loved one, a parent, a pet - and you’re not sure how to live without them. Maybe a relationship or friendship has ended, and now you feel lost, alone, and angry. Everyone seems to expect you to be okay and move on, but you feel stuck. You don’t want to forget them. You wish you could wake up and find it was all just a bad dream. Because you didn’t just lose them - you lost your hopes and dreams, your future. This isn’t how it was supposed to be.

Maybe you’ve discovered you’re neurodivergent. Your past suddenly looks different, and the future feels uncertain. You’ve received a diagnosis but no real support, or you’re still stuck on a long waiting list, afraid of being judged or misunderstood again. You’re asking: “Who am I?”, “How much of me is me, and how much have I been masking?”, “What now?”

Maybe you’re a new parent, and things have turned out very differently than you imagined. You’re stressed, overwhelmed, and filled with anxiety, questioning every word and decision. Everyone fusses over the baby, but you feel completely alone. Between the exhaustion, the lack of time for yourself, and the constant uncertainty about what’s right or wrong, it feels like there’s no escape.

Whatever change you’re facing, it might be keeping you awake at night - your mind racing, questions swirling. You may be wondering what’s next, how you’re going to figure it all out. Wishing things could be easier, different. Feeling lost, alone, and unsure of everything.

Therapy can offer you space to be yourself - without judgement or expectations.

Together, we can explore the change that’s impacting you and find you within it. We’ll look for a way forward that honours what matters to you. You’ll have time and space to get to know who you are now - and discover how you can live meaningfully within these new circumstances.

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Why I want to support You:

I became a counsellor because I felt inspired by how much my own therapy helped me. Even though I didn't believe at first that it could. I was given a safe space to explore my life experiences and it has changed my life for the better. This is when I decided to learn how I could help others.

I am a mum and a neurodivergent person, who has been through some significant changes in my life. These experiences have given me a deep understanding of how impactful change can be and how difficult it might be to navigate it without the right support.

I also know that when you find the right therapist for you, a person you can get on with and you can trust, navigating anything in life becomes a bit more possible.

Starting therapy can be nerve wracking, whether this is the first time you're trying it, or whether you've experienced it before.

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Here is what you can expect from therapy sessions with me:

• I welcome you just as you are - You are unique. Whatever you choose to talk about, that's okay. Would you prefer to doodle or sing? That's all okay. Do you want listen to your favourite song to help you start? Great! Let's do it. Do you just want to sit in silence for a bit? That's okay too, its your choice how we work together.

• Don't stress about swear words - You are welcome to express yourself with the words that work best for you. I'm not bothered by swear words so if they help you to describe how you feel or share your experiences, go for it.

• All feelings are okay - You might not be sure whether certain feelings or emotions will be accepted, if they are said out loud. You might have experience of feeling judged or being punished for feeling certain way. In counselling sessions with me you can express all emotions and feelings you experience; yes, all of them. Equally, if feelings and emotions aren't something you are used to expressing or identifying, we can explore it together. You are not expected to be fully versed with every emotion, but I invite you to join me in the exploration.

• To cry or not to cry? - It is one of those wonderings - Am I expected to cry? How much crying is acceptable? Am I allowed to not cry? My answer to this is: you do what feels right for you. I've experienced sessions with loads of tears and ones that were completely tearless. And if you want to cry but feel uncomfortable, ashamed, embarrassed, we can explore it too.

• Honesty with compassion, not judgement - One of the things I believe are important in therapy is being honest and real. Because if I'm not real, how can I expect you to trust me to be yourself? I am not an expert and will never pretend to be because this doesn't serve your healing. I can assure you, though, that I will be walking by your side in whatever direction you choose to go. And while I do not advise on what you "should" do, we can explore the meaning of your experiences and, supported, you can find your best way forward.

• Adapting to your needs - These sessions are yours and as such I aim to adapt to what you might need to feel safe and comfortable. Do you want to use fidget toys? Or perhaps you need your lighting adjusted? Do you prefer to have a recap of the last session at the start of the next one? Are there any items that bring you comfort that you would like to have with you? Or any stimming behaviours you find comforting? Let me know and let's talk about it.