Welcome I'm Vikki and I am the founder of Make Yourself Counselling.
I'm Vikki founder of Make Yourself Counselling
Alongside my counselling practice, I bring over 30 years of frontline experience as a family practitioner in safeguarding and I currently work as mental health recovery worker in NHS commissioned charities. This means that my work is grounded in both compassion and a deep understanding of trauma, mental health and the realities many women face.
My path to becoming a counsellor was not just academic- it was deeply personal. After leaving a domestically abusive relationship, I sought counselling myself. Through that process I was able to understand my patterns, reclaim my voice and begin living in a way that felt authentic and self- directed
I know from lived experience that counselling doesn't just help you cope - it can be life changing.
I'm a member of the BACP: Membership number 01008875 and offer clients sessions of humanistic integrative counselling.


Counselling for women - how I can help
I work with women who are asking themselves :
"Why do my relationships feel so difficult?"
You may feel emotionally drained or stuck in repeating relationship dynamics.
"Why can't I say no without guilt?" -
You might struggle with boundaries people pleasing or prioritising your own needs
"Why do I feel like I'm never good enough?"
Low self- esteem, self-criticism or a sense of not belonging may be affecting your daily life
"How is my past still affecting me now?"
You may be living with the impact of childhood experiences, bullying, emotional abuse or trauma
You don't need a clear story or a "specific" problem to begin counselling. We can start wherever you are.
What you can expect from working with me
Choosing the right counsellor can feel daunting. You might be wondering what it would actually be like to sit in the room with me and share the parts of your life that feel messy, painful, or hard to put into words. So I want to be clear from the outset about what you can expect when we work together.
First and foremost you'll meet someone who is warm and welcoming. I believe wholeheartedly that counselling only works if you feel safe enough to be yourself, exactly as you are. You don't need to edit your thoughts, soften your language or worry about being "too much". I'm kind, human and I come with a good sense of humour - and yes I'm not averse to a bit of swearing if that's how you like to express yourself.
I show up as my authentic self in the therapy room and online. I don't hide behind jargon or distance. I'm real, present and engaged with you.
I also bring lived experience of a wide range of life's challenges, which means that very little shocks me. Whatever you're carrying, thoughts, feelings, experiences or question's - you can be assured you won't frighten me or overwhelm the space. You can bring the things you've never said out loud, the things you're unsure how to name and the things that feel tangled up or contradictory.
For me, counselling works best when there is trust. Building that trust is something I take seriously. I work hard to create a therapeutic space where you can truly be seen and heard - a space where everything important to you has room to exist and be explored at your pace.
I hold an unbending belief in the counselling relationship itself as the heart of healing. Techniques and theories matter, but it's the relationship - the connection between us - that allows change to happen. Feeling understood , accepted, and accompanied can be profoundly healing in it's own right.
Our work together wont be one dimensional. We will feel things. Together we may laugh, cry, sit with sadness, feel anger and notice moments of relief or joy. We'll make a space for all emotions - even the ones you've never had the words for before. Nothing is "wrong" or "too much" here.
Counselling with me is a collaborative journey. You don't have to do it all alone - and you don't have to have it all figured out before you begin.
If this sounds like the kind of therapeutic relationship you're looking for you're very welcome here.
I offer humanistic integrative counselling.
Many women come to counselling carrying the weight of expectations - to be accommodating, resilient, understanding and self- sacrificing. Often these expectations leave little room for their own needs, boundaries or emotional wellbeing.
In our work together , I offer a collaborative non-judgemental space where your experiences are taken seriously and your autonomy is central. I work at your pace, supporting you to make sense of your experiences and move towards change that feel's meaningful and sustainable.
Counselling with me may help you to

Face to face counselling in Ilfracombe & North Devon
Online counselling for women across the UK
I offer
Whether we meet face to face or online, our work together is centred on your pace, your needs and your autonomy.
If you’d like to arrange an initial appointment or have any questions about counselling, please get in touch.
You can call me on +4407546071906 or use the secure contact form on this website.
I’ll get back to you as soon as possible — usually within 48 hours.
All contact is confidential and handled securely.