Sometimes life can leave us feeling anxious, overwhelmed or disconnected from ourselves. You may be struggling with a particular experience, noticing patterns that keep repeating, or finding it difficult to put into words what feels wrong. You do not need to have everything worked out before coming to counselling.
I offer counselling and psychotherapy for people aged 16 and over, in person in Taunton and Minehead, and online. My approach is warm, compassionate and creative, with space for thoughtful challenge.
Together, we can explore what is happening in your life, how you have come to understand yourself and what you would like to change.
A relationship in which to explore
Relationships are central to how I understand human experience: our relationships with other people, with the world around us and with ourselves. I believe a safe and supportive relationship can offer an important setting for healing when we have been hurt in relationships.
I offer a boundaried therapeutic relationship in which you can bring difficult feelings, uncertainty and aspects of your experience that may be hard to share elsewhere. It is a space where you do not have to look after me or protect me from what you need to say.
I will meet you with warmth, compassion and curiosity. At times, I may also gently challenge you to examine the stories your mind tells you, particularly when those stories leave you feeling trapped, limited or disconnected from what matters to you.
An approach shaped around you
Every person brings their own history, relationships, circumstances and hopes to counselling. I adapt the way we work together to your needs, preferences and what you would like to explore.
My core training is in integrative counselling and psychotherapy. I have also undertaken further training in Gestalt, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Compassionate Inquiry, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Motivational Interviewing. These approaches inform my work and offer different ways of understanding and responding to your experience.
For me, working integratively means considering you as a whole person, within the relationships, environment and circumstances in which you live. Your thoughts, emotions, bodily experiences and sense of meaning can all have a place in our work.
We might explore recurring patterns, attend to difficult feelings, make sense of conflicting parts of yourself or consider practical ways of responding to challenges. We will discuss what feels helpful and review our work together as your needs develop.
Trauma, addictions and ways of coping
Trauma and addictions are particular areas of experience in my practice. I also work with people experiencing anxiety, low self-worth, relationship difficulties and questions about identity, purpose and how they want to live.
When working with trauma, I am interested both in what happened and in how those experiences continue to affect you: your sense of safety, your relationships, your emotions and the way you experience yourself and the world.
Some ways of coping develop to protect us or help us get through difficult circumstances. Over time, those responses can become restrictive, painful or difficult to change.
I approach addictions with compassion and curiosity, exploring the role they play in a person’s life rather than seeing the behaviour in isolation. Together, we can consider what a behaviour helps you manage, what it costs you and what other ways of responding might become possible.
We will work at a pace we discuss together. You do not need to tell your whole story at once.
Understanding yourself and finding more choice
Learning about yourself can be an important part of therapy. Alongside listening and exploration, I offer accessible explanations and ideas that may help you make sense of your experiences. This aspect of my work is informed by my teaching background, and we can explore whether these ideas fit your experience.
Developing self-awareness can help you recognise familiar patterns, question narratives that constrain you and notice possibilities that previously felt out of reach.
I often think of recovery as reconnecting with something that has become lost or obscured: your voice, your values, your sense of agency or your capacity to feel at home in your own life. Counselling can offer space to explore who you are and make choices that feel more aligned with the life you want to live.
Taking the first step
Beginning counselling can feel daunting. Looking closely at ourselves—including parts we find difficult to acknowledge—asks for trust, and it matters that you feel comfortable with the therapist you choose.
I offer a free initial consultation so we can talk about what brings you to counselling, discuss how I work and explore whether we would be a good fit. You can ask questions, and there is no obligation to continue.
If we decide to work together, sessions last one hour.
Fees and locations
My fee is £60 for a one-hour session.
I offer appointments in Taunton on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons and evenings; in Minehead on Thursday daytime; and online by arrangement.
Please get in touch to discuss current availability and arrange a free initial consultation.
Get in touch
You are welcome to contact me at therapy@maxdaldamuller.co.uk to ask a question or arrange a free initial consultation.