Chloe is a Person-Centred Counsellor at New Start and joined the service in 2023. She works with primary school pupils, high school students, and adults. Prior to retraining as a counsellor, Chloe worked as a Primary School teacher, a background that gives her a strong understanding of children’s emotional, social, and educational needs.

Chloe chose to pursue counselling following her own positive experience of therapy, which shaped her belief in the importance of offering a space where people feel truly heard, accepted, and valued. Her work is grounded in a person-centred approach, allowing clients to explore their thoughts and feelings in a safe, supportive, and non-judgemental environment.

Chloe’s goal is to continue supporting people through counselling while developing her knowledge and skills to ensure she offers the best possible care to those she works with.

Outside of her counselling work, Chloe enjoys spending time with her family and friends, including her young son. She loves going out for food, exercising, and reading, and values finding balance between busy family life and quiet time.

Chloe enjoys chocolate, musicals, and books. She has a strong dislike for unkindness and celery and believes kindness and understanding are essential in all areas of life.

Debbie is a Person-Centred and Creative Counsellor at New Start and has been part of the service since 2018. She initially worked within schools, supporting children and young people, and now works remotely with adults, exploring the impact of life experiences on identity and relationships. 

Debbie is passionate about meeting adults where they are and providing a warm, safe space where clients can explore how they view themselves, others, and the world around them. Her work is grounded in building strong therapeutic relationships that allow insight, growth, and personal development to be gently nurtured and strengthened over time. 

Debbie’s goal is to offer a therapeutic space where clients feel supported, heard, and empowered to develop deeper understanding and self-awareness within themselves and their relationships. 

Outside of her counselling work, Debbie is a proud mum to her grown-up daughter and shares her life with a loveable, mischievous dog. She values her close relationships with family and friends and enjoys walking her dog, swimming, and baking. Debbie also appreciates cosy time at home with her dog, relaxing and watching a wide variety of TV programmes. 

Debbie strongly believes in the importance of people having a voice and dislikes situations where individuals are not heard or valued. 

Sarah Louise is an experienced Integrative Therapist, Teacher and Mentor with a strong background in trauma-informed practice. She delivers a range of therapeutic approaches including counselling, EMDR and clinical hypnotherapy, allowing support to be tailored to each individual’s needs. 

She has extensive experience supporting adults and young people experiencing anxiety, depression, phobias and complex emotional difficulties. As a trauma specialist and NLP practitioner, Sarah Louise supports clients to process and reframe traumatic experiences, recognise cognitive distortions and develop healthier thought patterns, improving emotional regulation and resilience. 

Sarah Louise works with compassion and sensitivity, creating a safe and supportive therapeutic environment. Her practice follows the BACP ethical framework and places a strong emphasis on empowerment, personal development and self-understanding. She regularly incorporates creative and integrative techniques to support emotional exploration and engagement. 

Alongside her therapeutic work, Sarah Louise delivers Anxiety Management and Student Wellbeing programmes within educational settings. This includes psychoeducation, growth mindset development and identifying emotional barriers to learning, supporting improved wellbeing and engagement in education. 

Her professional interests span wellbeing and mental health, including psychology, neuroscience, holistic health, and creative arts, which inform her integrative and person-centred approach. 

Amy is a qualified psychotherapist who has been working with children and adults since 2019. She is deeply passionate about helping people address emotional difficulties and past trauma, supporting them to heal, grow, and reach their full potential.

Amy’s therapeutic approach is tailored to each individual, recognising that no two people are the same. Her goal is to provide compassionate, effective interventions that truly meet clients where they are and support meaningful, lasting change. She is also committed to working in a way that supports balance between her professional role and her family life, as family is incredibly important to her.

Outside of her work, Amy is a wife and a proud mum of three, sharing her home with a cat and a dog. She enjoys reading, family film nights, dancing, attending church, going for walks, and spending as much quality time as possible with her family.

Amy values kindness, fairness, and integrity, and is strongly opposed to bullying or taking advantage of others. She believes everyone deserves to be treated with respect and compassion.

Russ is a Person-Centred Counsellor at New Start and joined the service in January 2025, following four years of experience supporting young people transitioning out of care. This background has shaped his deep understanding of the challenges young people and adults may face and strengthened his commitment to compassionate, relational work. 

Russ is passionate about creating supportive, safe spaces where both adults and young people feel able to open up, explore their emotions, and build confidence in their own resilience. His work is rooted in a person-centred approach, ensuring that every client feels seen, valued, and genuinely heard. 

Russ’s goal is to provide a counselling experience at New Start that feels welcoming, respectful, and empowering. He is committed to offering a service grounded in compassion, professionalism, and continuous growth, allowing clients to explore their experiences safely and confidently at their own pace. 

Outside of his counselling work, Russ is a devoted family man who enjoys spending time with his wife and their three sons. He loves heading out on camping holidays, taking walks along the beach, and staying active in the gym. As a qualified personal trainer, Russ values both physical and emotional wellbeing and brings a balanced, grounded approach to all areas of his life. 

Russ enjoys camping trips, keeping active, and spending time outdoors. He has a strong dislike for bullying, discrimination of any kind, and violence, and is guided by strong values of respect, kindness, and equality in both his personal and professional life. 

Brenda is an Integrative Counsellor and Psychotherapist at New Start and has been part of the service for over three years. She began her journey into counselling more than eight years ago and brings a thoughtful, compassionate, and client-centred approach to her work. Brenda is currently working towards her professional accreditation and is deeply committed to her ongoing development as a practitioner, with the future goal of training as an EMDR therapist. 

As an integrative counsellor, Brenda draws on a range of therapeutic approaches including Person-Centred Therapy, CBT, DBT, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Brief Therapy. This allows her to tailor her work to each individual, ensuring that every client receives support that reflects their unique needs and experiences. Brenda works with both children and adults, supporting clients from the age of 4 right through to later life. 

Brenda is passionate about helping people reconnect with themselves and believes that, much like Lego pieces, we don’t always arrive as complete sets. At times we may feel scattered, broken, or missing parts, but with care, patience, and the right support, we can be gently helped to rebuild into something strong and whole again. 

Outside of her counselling work, Brenda loves to travel and explore the world, especially alongside her husband, who she fondly describes as her holiday buddy. She is a proud mum to one son, who keeps her well informed about computer games and superheroes. Brenda enjoys spending time with friends and family but equally values quiet moments where she can curl up, relax, and watch a good movie. 

She enjoys good food, camping and sleeping under the stars, self-care, and going to the gym. Brenda is not a fan of lateness, fish, or unkindness, and strongly believes in treating others with respect and compassion. 

Michelle is a Counsellor at New Start and has been part of the service for three years, having joined the team after completing her degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy. Prior to working in counselling, Michelle spent 18 years working for BT, bringing with her a strong work ethic, life experience, and a deep understanding of people from all walks of life. 

Michelle is passionate about supporting children, teenagers, and adults through difficult and challenging times. She works to help clients recognise their strengths, build confidence, and believe in themselves. At the heart of Michelle’s work is a commitment to providing a safe, non-judgemental space where people feel able to talk openly and honestly. She believes that everyone experiences struggles with their mental health at times and that having someone who truly listens can make a meaningful difference. 

Michelle’s goal is to continue offering compassion, care, and respect to those she works with. She is also particularly passionate about supporting young people to grow in confidence and develop healthy, positive relationships that support them into adulthood. 

Outside of her counselling work, Michelle enjoys spending time with family and friends and walking her dog, Harley. She loves heading out on her scooter and attending scooter rallies, which bring her a great sense of fun and freedom. 

Michelle enjoys walking, dancing, and listening to Northern Soul music. She has a strong dislike for rudeness and bullying and values kindness and respect in all areas of life.

Thea is a Counsellor at New Start and joined the service in 2024, alongside continuing her work within care settings supporting both adults and children with learning disabilities. Her experience in this field brings valuable insight, understanding, and compassion to her counselling work. 

Thea is passionate about ensuring that every child and young person has access to counselling, regardless of their circumstances. She is deeply committed to creating a safe, supportive space where clients feel heard, secure, and understood, and where their individual needs are respected. 

Thea’s goal is to continue developing within the counselling profession while supporting her clients to work towards a more positive and fulfilling life. She believes in walking alongside clients at their own pace, offering encouragement, understanding, and consistency throughout their therapeutic journey. 

Outside of her work at New Start, Thea enjoys travelling, going to the gym, and running long distances. She values spending time with friends and family, particularly with her three young nephews, who bring lots of joy and energy to her life. 

Thea enjoys reading, running, keeping active at the gym, and exploring the world whenever possible. She has a strong dislike for lateness and for unkindness or a lack of understanding towards people with different and varied needs. 

Abbi is a Person-Centred Counsellor at New Start, with specialist training in domestic abuse, bereavement, and eating disorders. She began her counselling journey in September 2016 and qualified in 2021 after completing five years of extensive training, exams, retreats, and in-house placement hours. 

Abbi has experience working with both children and adults, supporting young people from the age of 4.5 through to 18, as well as adults. She works with a wide range of presenting issues, including mental health difficulties, sexuality, abuse, trauma, and eating disorders. Her approach is grounded in creating a safe, respectful space where individuals feel truly heard and understood. 

Abbi is passionate about listening and believes that everyone deserves the opportunity to be heard. She is deeply committed to supporting as many children, young people, and adults as possible, helping them feel supported throughout their therapeutic journey. 

Abbi’s goal is to continue developing her professional skills by training in additional specialisms, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Alongside this, she remains dedicated to supporting people through compassion, care, and genuine understanding. 

Outside of her counselling work, Abbi is a proud mum to two energetic boys. She is a keen football fan and supports Manchester United, spending lots of time attending matches and visiting Manchester. Abbi enjoys spending time with family and friends, shopping, and going out for meals. She values ongoing personal and professional development and regularly undertakes additional training to support her work with both adults and young people. 

Abbi enjoys music, football, socialising, and live shows. She has a strong dislike for bullying and dishonesty and is guided by values of kindness, honesty, and respect. 

Carla first trained to be a teacher and has BA (Hons) in Educational Studies.

After many years of experience working with children, she decided to become a counsellor. She is now a qualified counsellor with a Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling.

As a person-centred counsellor, Carla has found that by providing a safe and therapeutic space, clients are able to explore their feelings and gain a greater understanding of themselves and their experiences, which can support them to make positive changes.

Likes

• Spending time with her family, including her 3 children and her 2 fluffy dogs
• Reading
• Going for walks

Dislikes

• Animal cruelty

Laura is an Integrative Counsellor and Psychotherapist at New Start, holding a degree in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy. She has a wealth of experience supporting both children and adults through a wide range of difficulties, including anxiety, depression, self-harm, neglect, sexual abuse, domestic abuse, and bereavement. 

Laura is deeply passionate about supporting people and helping them feel truly heard and understood. Her work is grounded in a person-centred approach, which she thoughtfully integrates with creative therapy, play therapy, CBT, and DBT. This allows Laura to tailor her work to each client’s individual needs while offering a safe, welcoming, and supportive space where clients can feel at ease throughout their therapy journey. 

Laura’s goal is to ensure that every client has a positive and empowering experience of therapy. She works collaboratively alongside clients to help them process life experiences, explore their feelings, and move forward in ways that feel meaningful and supportive. Laura is currently working towards BACP accreditation and is committed to ongoing professional development. 

Outside of her counselling work, Laura enjoys spending quality time and creating lasting memories with her husband, son, and their lively Boston Terrier. She loves family holidays and staying connected with friends and loved ones. Laura places great importance on balance and self-care, taking time to slow down and recharge through yoga, sound baths, and a generous dose of reality TV. 

Laura enjoys being outdoors, good food, and on rainy days, curling up on the sofa with a film and a well-stocked supply of sweets and chocolate. She has a strong dislike for spicy food, traffic jams, and toast that isn’t buttered right to the corners.