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Louise Masterson - Counsellor in Thame, Oxford

Counselling and Supervision in Thame near Oxford & Online

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Louise Masterson - Therapist

Therapy and Supervision begins with an empathetic listening ear and moves forward as you feel heard and we take the next steps together.

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Professional support to help you find balance and clarity

Your journey to emotional well-being starts in a safe, confidential space.

Welcome to my website and thank you for your interest in starting counselling.


I am a qualified counsellor supporting adults who are feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or struggling to make sense of what they are experiencing. Many of the clients I work with have spent a long time putting others first, feeling misunderstood, or finding it difficult to express what they are going through.


I offer a calm, supportive, and non-judgemental space where you can feel truly heard and understood. My aim is to help you find words for your experiences, make sense of your thoughts and feelings, and gently explore patterns that may be keeping you stuck. Together, we work towards a clearer, more helpful perspective so you can move forward with greater confidence.


I have a particular interest in managing anxiety and, through my professional background, supporting clients in the perinatal period. I believe counselling can make a meaningful difference with how you understand yourself and cope with life’s challenges.

Sessions can help you to feel more empowered, resilient, and able to manage whatever comes your way.

ICO: ZB533645

What are the benefits of starting counselling sessions with me?


I will enable you to feel heard and help you to find the words to describe how you feel. I can also help you to gain clarity if you are feeling conflicted or ‘mixed up’ and provide you with a lived and professional understanding of anxiety; overwhelm, people pleasing and experience of physical reactions to emotional events.

I understand personally and professionally, that there is a mind and body connection. Thoughts and feelings may impact you physically in a negative way (e.g. presenting as headaches; stomach pains/IBS and impact your sleeping patterns). Therefore, having this time for you to compassionately explore and reflect may provide a healthier outlet for whatever you are holding onto inside.

I am an Accredited Member of the BACP, working in accordance with their ethical framework. I am also a Certified Online Supervisor, which means I have undertaken additional training to support Counsellors and other professionals in their professional practice.

I provide a safe space for Clients and Supervisees to explore their thoughts in a non-judgmental way, so that we can explore and reflect together, moving forward towards personal growth. I am based in Thame near Oxford and offer sessions online or by phone.


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A Safe Space

By providing you with a safe, non-judgmental, and confidential space, we can explore whatever you choose to bring to sessions. Being able to "be you" at your own pace makes a profound difference in how you feel and cope with life's challenges.

Fresh Perspectives

Building a trusting relationship will enable you to gain new perspectives and a deeper understanding of yourself. Whether it’s day-to-day difficulties or issues relating to the past, we work together to make sense of your experiences.

Empowered Changes

My goal as your therapist and counsellor is to help you feel empowered to find solutions. By gaining clarity and self-awareness, you can move towards making the changes that are right for you and find a healthier way forward.

Professional Background

My journey into therapy began with a deep interest in the mind-body connection. With a Psychology Degree and a professional background as a Family Planning Nurse; Midwife; Health Visitor and Reflexologist, I bring a holistic understanding of human wellbeing to my practice.


Personal experience has led me to want to support clients who are struggling with Anxiety, because I recognise how debilitating it can be. This led me to undertake additional training related to managing anxiety and also CBT, so that I was equipped with some strategies and tools to help my clients manage their own anxiety. Professionally, I have worked alongside clients who are struggling to conceive or need support during the Perinatal period. Due to this, I completed some of my Counselling training with the Oxford Infant-Parent Perinatal Team, which I thoroughly enjoyed as it helped to bring my skill set together.


I now live in Thame, Oxford and work as qualified Counsellor and an Accredited Member of the BACP. This means I work within a strict ethical framework, providing person-centred therapy that is tailored to your individual needs. I qualified as an Adlerian Therapist, which means that we can explore early memories, dreams, and your family background. This helps us to understand more about you and gain insight into how you view others and the world. Additionally, I have now qualified as a Certified Online Supervisor to support other professionals in the field.

Specialist Areas and Training

My personal and professional experience has led to a specialist interest in Anxiety and the Perinatal period. I have also completed additional training related to Anxiety; Depression, Disordered Eating; Anger management; Loss and Bereavement; Trauma and the Body and CBT.

Other Areas of Support

Life transitions and Family issues

Childhood-related issues and past experiences

Teenage & Young Adult support

Fertility issues, pregnancy and postnatal support

Loss and Bereavement

Anxiety and fears regarding the future

Stress management and day-to-day coping

Self-esteem and identity

Relationship difficulties

Trauma & the Body: Dissociation and Somatisation

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My Location

I'm based near Oxford and offer flexible online counselling sessions tailored to your lifestyle. You can choose to meet online via Zoom, telephone, or video call (WhatsApp). This allows me to work with clients locally in Thame and Oxford, as well as those further afield.


Availability

Counselling sessions last 50 minutes. I typically meet with clients on a weekly basis to ensure consistency and progress.

Online and telephone sessions offer more flexible scheduling throughout the week.

Please contact me to discuss a time that best fits your schedule.

Fees

Online or Telephone Sessions

£55 per session

Limited concessionary sessions are available

£45 per session

Online Supervision Session

£50/1 h

£75/1.5 h

Student rate for Counsellors

£40/1 h

£60/1.5 h

*To confirm your session, please pay via BACS at least 24 hours in advance. Bank details are provided upon booking, and Zoom links are sent once payment is received.

Get in touch

If you have any questions or would like to arrange an initial appointment, please reach out. This is a chance for us to discuss how I can best support you.

You can use the secure contact form below. I aim to respond to all enquiries promptly.

Some frequently asked questions

What happens during our first session?

Our initial meeting is a chance for us to get to know each other. We will discuss what brings you to counselling now and what you hope to achieve. It’s a safe, low-pressure space for you to see if you feel comfortable working with me before we commit to further sessions.

How many sessions will I need?

The number of sessions depends entirely on your individual needs and the nature of what you wish to explore. Some clients find that short-term therapy is sufficient for specific issues, while others prefer open-ended, long-term support. We will review our progress regularly together.

Do you offer sessions outside of Thame?

I provide sessions via Zoom, WhatsApp video, or telephone which ahis allows me to support clients from nearby areas like Abingdon or Aylesbury, as well as those living much further away across the UK.

Do I have a specialist area of Interest?

Yes, I have a specialist interest in managing Anxiety levels and the Perinatal period. I have personally and professionally experienced both of these issues, which has enhanced my understanding of the difficulties involved.

Can I use my Insurance?

You are very welcome to provide me with some additional details if you have an Axa, Aviva or Vitality Insurance Policy - please let me know that you wish to do this before our sessions begin.

If I have a complaint, what I can do?

Please feel free to discuss any concerns/complaints which you have and I will do my upmost to resolve this. If this is not possible, the BACP can be notified.

Can counselling help with physical symptoms?

Through my background in midwifery and reflexology, I have a deep understanding of the mind-body connection. Often, emotional stress manifests physically. While counselling isn't a medical treatment, exploring your feelings can often help reduce the physical tension and stress held in the body.

What is the difference between an Accredited and a Registered BACP member?

As an Accredited Member, I have achieved a high standard of experience and clinical practice recognised by the BACP. It signifies that I have completed substantial training and continue to meet rigorous ethical and professional standards to provide the best possible care for my clients.

What if I need to cancel an appointment?

I understand that life can be unpredictable. If you need to cancel or reschedule, I kindly ask for at least 24 hours' notice. This allows me to offer the time slot to another client. Cancellations made with less than 24 hours' notice will still require full payment.

What additional training have I had following qualifying as an Adlerian Psychotherapist?

I have undertaken further training to gain Diplomas in Anxiety Management; Dealing with Depression; Advanced CBT; Grief and Bereavement Counselling; Couples and Family Therapy; Children and Young Peoples Mental Health and Wellness; Inner Child Healing.

I have also undertaken training in relation to Trauma and the Body: Dissociation and Somatisation in addition to Womens Mental Health in Pregnancy.

Testimonials

“Thank you so much for everything you have done for me. Your support has really helped me through some of the toughest times of my life and I wouldn’t be where I am without you. I can’t really sum up how grateful I am and the difference these sessions have made to me for me in words.”

“I am 79 years of age and am really enjoying discovering more about myself and realising why I think the way I do. Counselling sessions are making such a difference to me, I wish I had started them years ago”

“Louise has a warm, gentle professional approach and I found her easy to work with as a Supervisee. She is very knowledgeable, empathic, supportive and gave me the space to be reflective regarding my practice and clients. I felt very held in the space thank you”

“Louise has given insight into my life for almost 3 years; a period of significant change and challenge in my life across a range of areas. She has proved herself to be a conscientious listener, able to assimilate a vast amount of input and distil down to the key areas of focus for me going forward. Louise is adept at identifying patterns and themes in my

narrative and she plays a major part in helping me recognise my own behaviours, characteristics, motivators and responses in such a way that I feel increasingly confident to find a positive way forward.”.

“I value and look forward to sessions with Louise. I have the time to work through things so that I can gain clarity and make sense of what’s going through my mind. I sometimes feel overwhelmed so the sessions with Louise help me to cope with life!”.

“I experienced supervision with Louise as consistently warm, steady and encouraging. I felt deeply understood and accepted, and there was a genuine sense of being liked and valued, which allowed me to bring all of my questions and uncertainties into the room. Louise offered thoughtful, creative insights — particularly around working with dreams — which enriched my client work in meaningful ways. What stayed with me most was the sense that Louise cared not only about the quality of my work, but about me as a practitioner and a person”.

“Louise has a very calm way of speaking, in the same time she is very positive and warm. These qualities helped me open up to her. All of the suggestions she made for me, had a good impact on me. Honestly after each session with her I felt relaxed, free with much more energy. She is a very active listener, a very empathetic person. All the sessions with her helped me to know myself better”.

"I really enjoyed our sessions. Louise would respond and nod making me sound listened to. She was good at trying to encourage me to look at things a bit deeper. It was nice to know that I would have someone friendly and familiar to speak to without any judgement”.

Look After Yourself - A Tip for Self Care

Step into Spring with a daily walk.

There is often so much that we can’t control (which can create anxiety, worry and feeling overwhelmed), however, what we do have some control over is taking care of ourselves. Just like plants need water and light or shade, we also have things that can make a difference to ourselves. It can be so easy to forget or lose sight of what helps us as individuals..and re-introducing one or two things could make a difference to how you feel.

Can I invite you to take a minute to reflect on what you feel helps you?


This could be playing some of your favourite music; doing some cooking; reading; seeing friends or just taking a walk. Maybe taking 10 minutes a day to sit quietly while you concentrate on your breathing could give you the opportunity to re-charge and calm your nervous system.


Self care enables us to feel more prepared to overcome obstacles while also re-gaining a sense of choosing to incorporate things that we can control.