In-person Counselling in Dorchester, Exeter & Online
I'm Caro, an experienced, compassionate BACP counsellor. Whatever you're struggling with, however hard it seems, we can explore what's troubling you, help you to understand yourself more deeply and make sense of how you feel.
I work in-person in Exeter and Dorchester, and online across the UK.
Sessions are normally weekly, 50 minutes long, and cost £55
Welcome.
Sometimes the life you’re living no longer feels like the life you meant to have. You might appear to be coping, yet feel anxious, overwhelmed, or caught in your own thoughts. You may have lost confidence, feel unsure of yourself, or be dealing with loss, relationship difficulties, or the effects of a difficult past. Perhaps you feel burnt out from work or study.
You might also feel out of step with others, including around ADHD, autism or other forms of neurodivergence. Perhaps menopause or perimenopause is prompting you to question where you are in your life.
Sometimes it’s hard to talk openly with friends or family, and you might find yourself wanting a space that’s just for you. Reaching out can feel daunting, especially if you’re used to holding things together on your own. You don’t need to have everything worked out before coming to therapy.
I offer a free 20-minute phone call so you can get a sense of what it’s like to talk with me and whether we might work well together. Choosing a therapist is personal, and it matters that the fit feels right for you.
What brings you here?
Everyone comes to therapy for their own reasons, but you may recognise yourself in some of these:
you overthink and get stuck in your own head
you appear capable but feel stretched underneath
you struggle with anxiety, burnout, or a constant sense of pressure
you are hard on yourself, with a strong inner critic
you are going through a life transition such as grieving a loss, moving through midlife, or perhaps menopause has been difficult.
you carry the effects of a difficult or chaotic past
perhaps you are neurodivergent or have often felt ‘different’ or misunderstood
How I work
I’m an integrative counsellor, which means I’m trained in a range of therapeutic approaches and weave elements of them together in the way I work. Rather than following one fixed method, I adapt my approach to you, what you’re experiencing and what you need from therapy.
My approach is warm, relational and down to earth. We go at your pace, with space to explore what’s happening for you and make sense of the patterns, feelings and experiences that may be keeping you stuck.
Sometimes our work might involve looking at familiar patterns in your relationships, understanding why certain situations affect you so strongly, or exploring how experiences from your past continue to affect you now. At other times, you may simply need somewhere to think and feel out loud, without having to look after anyone else.
I’m particularly interested in the critical voice many of us carry. That’s the part that tells us we’re not good enough, should be coping better or need to get things right. Rather than trying to silence it, we can become curious about where it came from and help you develop a kinder, less critical relationship with yourself.
I work in a trauma-informed, neurodivergence-affirming way, recognising how your nervous system, identity and lived experiences can shape how you feel, relate to others and experience the world.
Counselling can help you to…
understand yourself and your feelings more deeply
feel less caught up in overthinking
trust yourself and your own needs more
soften a harsh or critical inner voice
recognise patterns that may be keeping you stuck
feel more able to cope when life feels difficult
Contact me either via email at carosouthcombe@gmail.com, or via the form below. We can organise a time for a quick chat, where you can ask me whatever you want to know about therapy and tell me a little about you.
If you decide to go ahead, we can book either a face-to-face session in Exeter or Dorchester, or online via Zoom.
How to book
Fees and practical details
I work in-person in Exeter and Dorchester, and online across the UK.
Sessions are normally weekly, 50 minutes long, and cost £55.
Exeter
The Practice Rooms,
15-16 Castle Street, Exeter, EX4 3PT
Central Exeter, with public paid car parks nearby. This is an old building, with lots of stairs.
Poundbury, Dorchester
The Poundbury Practice,
17, Buttermarket, Poundbury, Dorchester DT1 3AZ
Free parking right outside and no stairs.
For more information, see my FAQs page.
About me
I’m Caro, an integrative counsellor working with adults in Exeter, Dorchester and online. I’m warm, curious and down-to-earth, and I aim to offer therapy where you can feel comfortable being yourself rather than worrying about saying or doing the “right” thing.
I’m interested in understanding the whole person, rather than reducing what you’re experiencing to a diagnosis or a set of symptoms. I’m trained in a range of therapeutic approaches and weave elements of them together in the way I work, allowing us to find an approach that feels right for you.
I’m a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and work within their ethical framework. I hold a BACP-accredited Advanced Diploma in Integrative Counselling from Iron Mill College in Exeter, with additional training in trauma and working with neurodivergent adults.
I undertake regular professional development to keep my practice current and continue developing as a therapist.
Get in Touch
The best way to contact me is to either email me directly on carosouthcombe@gmail.com, or fill in this contact form. Alternatively, you can call me on 01392 542625 and leave a message with your number and a convenient time to call, and I will get back to you within 48 hours.
I aim to respond to any contact within 48 hours, and I’ll be in touch by email to arrange a time for a short, informal call. This is a brief chat, about 20 minutes, which helps you to decide if I might be the right counsellor for you.
