Life can sometimes feel overwhelming - whether through grief, loss, big transitions, or the quieter struggles that build up over time. You may feel stuck, anxious, low in mood, or unsure how to move forward.
Hi, I’m Daniela, a Humanistic Integrative Counsellor in Lewes and online. I offer a warm, accepting space where you don’t have to hold everything together on your own. Together, we’ll gently explore what’s weighing you down and find a more supportive way forward.
Therapy offers a space for change and growth. You may be feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure how to move forward - perhaps experiencing low mood, anxiety, or a sense that your usual ways of coping no longer feel helpful.
As a BACP-registered counsellor based in Lewes, East Sussex, I offer to meet you just as you are - with compassion and curiosity - in both your stuckness and your hope for something new.
My Approach
In therapy with me, you don't need to leave any part of yourself at the door. Even the parts you might usually hide, judge or feel ashamed of are welcome here. I aim to create a calm, accepting space where you can explore your inner world at your own pace.
I don’t believe in one-size-fits-all therapy. Each session is shaped around what feels most supportive for you in the moment. Sometimes that may mean simply listening to your own voice, exploring different parts of yourself, slowing down to connect with the present moment, or noticing patterns in your thoughts, feelings and actions.
As an integrative counsellor, I draw on a blend of approaches - including Person-Centred, Gestalt and Existential Therapy, Parts Work, and Transactional Analysis. My role is to hold a steady, curious, and compassionate presence, helping you explore your experiences safely and at your own pace.
To support the highest ethical and reflective standards of practice, I attend regular individual and group supervision and work within the BACP Ethical Framework. I hold an enhanced DBS check and full professional liability insurance.
What to Expect
In practice, your sessions are 50 minutes long, and we usually meet once a week, giving you a regular space to slow down and focus on yourself! You don’t have to arrive with a script or know exactly where to start - if something feels heavy, that can be a good place to begin.
With my support, you may start to notice:
- What’s on your mind and how it shows up in your daily life
- Patterns that leave you feeling stuck
- Ways the past may be shaping your present
- A growing clarity about your feelings and choices
Together, we can:
- Give voice and space to your thoughts and emotions
- Explore tools that help you understand yourself better
- Build on your strengths and create changes that last
- Take steps toward a life that feels more authentic and hopeful
I aim to close sessions with a moment of reflection, giving you a chance to gather yourself and carry any new insights or experiences into your everyday life.
"Each person is an island unto himself, in a very real sense; and he can only build bridges to other islands if he is first of all willing to be himself and permitted to be himself."
Lori Gottlieb
About me
Hi, I’m Daniela. I’m a qualified Humanistic Integrative Counsellor and a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
Most importantly, I’m human, and I get how confusing and frustrating it can feel when your thoughts and emotions pull in different directions - and how much relief there can be in untangling them gently. At the heart of my work is a simple belief: with care, respect, and acceptance, we all have the capacity to heal, grow, and find our own way forward.
Alongside my private practice, I’m part of a local network of therapists offering low-cost counselling for people on reduced incomes. Another charity close to my heart is St Wilfrid’s Hospice in Eastbourne, where I supported adults and young people through their grief and bereavement. These experiences continue to shape the compassion and understanding I bring to my work.
“Hope comes when we start to move.
When we start to act.
When we start to take steps
– any steps –
to make things better for ourselves.”
Carolyn Spring
Before training as a therapist, I worked as an Events Manager - a fast-paced, high-pressure world where emotions often ran high. Amid tight deadlines and constant demands, I learned the value of slowing down, listening deeply, and bringing a calm, steady presence.
I have years of experience, working in educational settings, supporting adults and young people who are neurodivergent or experiencing social, emotional, and mental health challenges. This work has shown me how powerful it is to be met with consistency, empathy, and curiosity - without judgment or pressure to change.
In all of my roles, I’ve seen how a genuine, reliable relationship can nurture confidence, resilience, and self-acceptance. I believe we all thrive when we feel truly seen, understood, and valued.
“Part of getting to know yourself is to unknow yourself to let go of the limiting stories you’ve told yourself about who you are so that you aren’t trapped by them, so you can live your life and not the story you’ve been telling yourself about your life.”
Lori Gottlieb
“Owning our story can be hard , but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it.”
Brené Brown
Areas I support
Anxiety
Stress and emotional overwhelm
Depression and low mood
Grief, bereavement and loss
Life transitions and big decisions
Self-esteem and body image
Trauma and difficult experiences
Identity, belonging and self-discovery
Work stress and burnout
Cross-cultural experiences, including expat life
Women’s emotional and hormonal wellbeing
Neurodiversity, self-advocacy and Identity
“Owning our story can be hard
but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it.”
Brene Brown
Language and Expression
I offer counselling sessions in English and am also fluent in German. You’re welcome to bring your own language, culture, or other forms of expression into our sessions. Sometimes emotions and experiences are easier to express in your mother tongue, through imagery, metaphor, or even silence.
This can be especially supportive if you’ve ever felt "between cultures or worlds" or if words sometimes feel limiting when expressing emotions.
“Many people come to therapy seeking closure. Help me not to feel. What they eventually discover is that you can’t mute one emotion without muting the others. You want to mute the pain? You’ll also mute the joy.”
Carl Rogers
Therapy Location
I offer counselling from calm, private rooms in and around Lewes, East Sussex. All are accessible by public transport with nearby or on-site parking:
Corner Room
Meeting House
32 Friars Walk
Lewes, BN7 2LE
Gather Rooms
The Old Granary
16 Upper Stoneham Farm
Lewes, BN8 5RH
Walk and Talk Therapy
Set in Lewes, within the rolling hills of the South Downs, outdoor therapy sessions offer a spacious, embodied way of exploring therapy outdoors, which can bring new insights and perspectives. Sessions are available once we’ve established a therapeutic relationship, and if it feels right for you - you will always be able to set the pace, whether slow or brisk and there is always the option to pause. Walks can begin from my therapy room or a nearby agreed location.
Accessibility needs can be discussed individually.
I also offer remote sessions via secure online platforms, telephone and Walk-and-Talk therapy. Some people choose a combination that works for them.
Sessions & Fees
- Session Length: 50 minutes
- Fee: £55 per session (face-to-face in Lewes, online, or by phone).
- Reduced-Cost Sessions: I offer a limited number of low-cost counselling sessions for students and people on a reduced income. Please feel free to ask about current availability.
- Introductory Call: Free 30-minute phone call to explore working together. Please contact me about my current availability.
Therapy can be open-ended or time-limited and I provide regular check-ins to make sure our work continues to support your goals.
Cancellation Policy: If you need to cancel with less than 48 hours’ notice, the full fee will apply, as I’m unlikely to be able to offer the space to someone else at short notice.
“Growth occurs when individuals confront problems, struggle to master them, and through that struggle develop new aspects of their skills, capacities, views about life.”
Carl Rogers
Get in Touch
Change begins with a conversation! If you’re curious about working together, I welcome you to get in touch today!
If you’re wondering what therapy with me might feel like, we can arrange a free 30-minute call - a chance for you to get a sense of me, and for us to see whether working together feels like a good fit.
“When someone really hears you
without passing judgement on you,
without trying to take responsibility for you,
without trying to mould you,
it feels damn good…”
Carl Rogers
