--- title: "Herts Talking Therapy | Counselling in St Albans & Online" description: "Person-centred counselling in St Albans and online with Sheelagh Shallcross. A warm space to explore anxiety, grief, relationships and more. MBACP registered." url: https://www.hertstalkingtherapy.co.uk/ --- # You don't have to keep carrying this alone _Counselling & Psychotherapy in St Albans & Online_ Sometimes life leaves us feeling lost, overwhelmed, or stuck in patterns we can't quite see our way out of. I offer a space to pause, explore, and gently find your way back to yourself. ## Your past holds the key to your present I work in a humanistic, person-centred way - which means the focus is entirely on you. Not a checklist, not a formula. Just a thoughtful, unhurried space where you can begin to understand how your lived experiences have shaped the way you feel today. Using Gestalt and person-centred approaches, sessions are collaborative and led by what you bring. There's no agenda other than helping you feel more like yourself. ### Areas I work with - **Feeling lost or stuck** — When something feels off but you can't name it - this is a space to gently explore why. - **Loss & Bereavement** — Bereavement, change, endings. Counselling can help you hold and process what's heavy. - **Relationships & identity** — Patterns in how we connect with others often trace back to earlier in our lives. - **Trauma & self-worth** — Working at your pace, with care and no judgment, to help you feel whole again. ## Sheelagh Shallcross — Counsellor & Psychotherapist - St Albans & Online I am a BACP registered, fully qualified counsellor, with a masters degree in psychology. My background in Gestalt therapy means I work in the here and how, whilst exploring how the past and lived experiences can shape responses and reactions to others and ourselves. Sessions are collaborative, and can be creative - led by what you bring. The focus is to help you feel more like yourself. I offer a calm, intuitive, reflective space for you to explore your emotions and feelings. My experience includes, loss and bereavement, trauma, abuse, low self-esteem, relationship issues and life overwhelm. I place a high value on helping you regain a sense of self. **Credentials:** MSc Psychology, Diploma in Counselling, BACP Registered Member ## What to expect Starting therapy can feel daunting. Getting in touch is the first step. 1. **A free intro call** — A relaxed 20-minute conversation to ask questions, share what's bringing you here, and see if working together feels right. No pressure, no obligation. 2. **Your first session** — We explore what's on your mind, at your pace. I'll listen carefully and start to understand your story - past and present. 3. **Ongoing work, your way** — Sessions are weekly and can be short-term or longer-term - whatever fits your life and what you're working through. Always at your pace. ## Simple, transparent pricing I believe the cost of therapy should be clear from the start - no surprises, no hidden extras. - **Individual session:** £65 — 50 minutes, in-person or online Sessions are weekly. Whether you're looking for short-term focused work or longer-term exploration, we'll find an approach that fits. Your first introductory call will be 20 minutes long and is free - no obligation, just a chance to talk and see if we're a good fit. > "Understanding where you've come from is one of the most powerful things you can do for where you're going." > > — Sheelagh Shallcross, Counsellor & Psychotherapist ## The first step is just a conversation Book a free, no-obligation introductory call. There's no commitment, just a chance to talk. [Get in touch today](https://www.hertstalkingtherapy.co.uk/contact/) ## Contact - Phone: 07541 706 377 - Email: sheelagh@hertstalkingtherapy.co.uk - The Attic, 16 Chequer Street, St Albans, Herts. AL1 3YD & Online --- --- title: "About | Counsellor in St Albans | Herts Talking Therapy" description: "Sheelagh Shallcross is an MBACP-registered counsellor in St Albans offering person-centred and Gestalt therapy. MSc Psychology, Diploma in Counselling." url: https://www.hertstalkingtherapy.co.uk/about/ --- # A warm, thoughtful space - built around you _About me_ I'm Sheelagh Shallcross, a qualified counsellor based in St Albans. I work with adults of all ages - whether you're navigating something specific or carrying a weight you've struggled to name. My approach is rooted in humanistic and person-centred counselling, informed by Gestalt therapy. What that means in practice is simple: I follow your lead. Sessions are collaborative and co-created - there's no script, no prescription, just space for you to explore what matters most. I believe that our lived history - the relationships, experiences and moments that have shaped us - holds enormous insight into how we feel in the here and now. Together, we can begin to understand those connections and gently shift the patterns that no longer serve you. ## Credentials - MSc in Psychology (Masters degree) - Diploma in Counselling - Registered Member of the BACP (MBACP) ## What you'll find in our sessions - **Gentle & unhurried** — There's no rush here. We move at the pace that feels right for you - whether that's short-term work with a clear focus, or longer-term exploration. - **Person-centred** — You are the expert on your own life. I don't tell you what to feel or what to do - I help you understand yourself more deeply, so you can find your own answers. - **Collaborative** — Sessions are co-created between us. Nothing is done to you - it's an equal, trusting relationship built over time. - **Rooted in your history** — Using Gestalt and humanistic approaches, we gently explore how your past experiences shape the present - and how that understanding can free you. - **Non-judgmental** — Whatever you bring - however difficult, confusing or shameful it feels - you'll be met with warmth and unconditional positive regard. - **Ethically grounded** — As a registered BACP member, I work within a clear ethical framework. Your confidentiality, wellbeing and safety are always the priority. ## In-person in St Albans, or online Sessions take place in a calm, private therapy room in St Albans, Hertfordshire - or via video call if you prefer to work from home, or if you're based further afield. ## Contact - Phone: 07541 706 377 - Email: sheelagh@hertstalkingtherapy.co.uk - The Attic, 16 Chequer Street, St Albans, Herts. AL1 3YD & Online --- --- title: "Issues I Work With | Anxiety, Grief & More | Herts Talking Therapy" description: "Counselling for anxiety, grief, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties, trauma and more. Person-centred therapy in St Albans and online." url: https://www.hertstalkingtherapy.co.uk/issues/ --- # Whatever you're carrying, you don't have to carry it alone _Issues I work with_ You don't need to arrive with a diagnosis or a neat explanation of what's wrong. Many people come to counselling simply knowing that something doesn't feel right - and that's enough. ## Issues I work with ### Feeling lost or stuck When life has lost its direction - when you're going through the motions but something feels hollow or out of alignment - counselling can help you reconnect with who you are and what you need. ### Loss & Bereavement Loss takes many forms. Whether you've lost someone close, or you're grieving a relationship, a version of yourself, or the future you'd imagined - there's space here to grieve at your own pace. ### Low self-esteem That quiet voice that says you're not enough. Together, we can explore where that voice came from and begin to loosen its hold on how you live and relate to others. ### Relationship difficulties Patterns in relationships - recurring conflicts, difficulties with closeness or trust - often have roots in earlier experiences. Understanding them is the first step to changing them. ### Trauma & difficult experiences Working gently and at your pace, we can create space to process experiences that have stayed with you - without you having to relive them before you're ready. ### Women's issues From identity and body image to navigating roles, expectations, and life transitions - a confidential space to explore what it means to be you, as a woman. ### Identity & life transitions Periods of change - becoming a parent, leaving a career, ageing, questioning who you are - can leave us unmoored. Counselling offers a steadying presence through the uncertainty. ### Family & parenting issues The relationships we had with our parents and caregivers shape so much of who we become. Exploring those dynamics can bring surprising clarity and freedom and help face the challenges you may feel as a parent. ### Anxiety & overwhelm When your mind won't quiet down and everything feels too much - counselling can help you understand what's driving the anxiety and find more ease in your daily life. "If you're not sure whether what you're experiencing 'qualifies' - please reach out anyway. Often the hardest part is beginning." [Book a free intro call](https://www.hertstalkingtherapy.co.uk/contact/) ## Contact - Phone: 07541 706 377 - Email: sheelagh@hertstalkingtherapy.co.uk - The Attic, 16 Chequer Street, St Albans, Herts. AL1 3YD & Online --- --- title: "Contact | Book a Free Intro Call | Herts Talking Therapy" description: "Book a free 20-minute introductory call with Sheelagh Shallcross. Counselling in St Albans and online. No obligation, no pressure." url: https://www.hertstalkingtherapy.co.uk/contact/ --- # Taking the first step is the hardest part _Get in touch_ If something here has resonated, I'd love to hear from you. Fill in the form and I'll be in touch within 48 hours to arrange a free introductory call. ## Contact - Phone: 07541 706 377 - Email: sheelagh@hertstalkingtherapy.co.uk - The Attic, 16 Chequer Street, St Albans, Herts. AL1 3YD & Online ## Free introductory call All new enquiries begin with a free, no-obligation 20-minute call - a chance to meet, ask questions, and see if we're a good fit. There's no pressure and no commitment.