Vanessa Bailey

Life can sometimes feel overwhelming, confusing, or simply too much. You might be living with anxiety, depression, low mood, or stuck in patterns that leave you feeling frustrated or disconnected from loved ones, your daily life, or even from yourself. You may feel lonely, find it hard to trust, and wonder if things will ever feel manageable again. I work with a wide range of experiences, and I have particular knowledge and experience in the following areas: Childhood Unmet Needs, Trauma, ADHD, OCD, Anxiety, Dating Patterns, Relationship Issues and Parenting, but I’m here to support you with whatever you might be facing. ✨ Childhood Unmet Needs ✨ You may be carrying the weight of childhood experiences that left a lasting impact, perhaps you grew up in an environment where love and safety were inconsistent, where your emotions weren’t heard or accepted, or where you had to grow up too quickly. Childhood trauma doesn’t always come from a single event. It can come from years of feeling emotionally neglected, being criticised or shamed, living with a caregiver who was unpredictable or not getting the support you needed to feel secure and valued. Sometimes the wounds are quiet but deep, formed not just by what happened, but also by what you did not receive. As an adult, you may feel anxious, overwhelmed, disconnected, or unsure of your worth. You might struggle with people-pleasing, setting boundaries or feel like you're “too much,” “not enough,” or somehow broken. ✨Trauma✨ You may have experienced trauma in adulthood, through an unhealthy relationship, domestic violence, a significant loss, accident, illness, or long-term stress, that has left you feeling detached, emotionally drained, or apprehensive. These experiences can be deeply traumatic and shape how you relate to yourself and others, often in ways that are difficult to understand. In therapy, we can gently explore these patterns, create emotional safety, and begin supporting your healing through self-understanding and compassion. ✨ ADHD ✨ Living with ADHD as an adult can be really tiring and lonely, especially when it’s gone unnoticed or misunderstood for a long time. You might find it hard to focus, stay organised, keep motivated, or manage your emotions, and carry a quiet sense of shame or self-doubt. Maybe you feel like you’re not quite “getting” adulting, like you’re always a step behind or that others seem to have it easier. Many adults with ADHD spend years masking or pushing themselves to keep up, without fully understanding why things feel so difficult. I work with adults with ADHD, including those diagnosed later in life, and I’m open about having been diagnosed myself as an adult. I hold this gently within my role, bringing a compassionate understanding of how ADHD can be missed or misunderstood. ADHD can show up as overwhelm, procrastination, sensitivity to rejection, burnout, or struggles with relationships and self-esteem. Therapy can offer a safe, non-judgmental space where you don’t have to hide or explain yourself. Together, we can explore your experiences, build self-awareness, and find practical, kind ways to support you. ✨ OCD ✨ Living with OCD can feel like your mind is caught in a relentless loop of thoughts and urges that you can’t easily control. You might find yourself needing to perform certain rituals or mental routines to feel “safe” or reduce overwhelming anxiety, even though you know these behaviours don’t make sense or take up more time and energy than you want. This experience can leave you feeling frustrated, exhausted, or isolated, especially when it interferes with your daily life, relationships, or sense of self. You may worry that others won’t understand, or that things will never feel manageable again. In therapy with me, we will gently explore what underpins these patterns, helping you build understanding and develop practical, compassionate strategies to ease the grip of OCD. Together, we can work towards a calmer mind and a life where you feel more in control and connected to what matters most to you. ✨ Anxiety ✨ Do you ever feel like your mind just won’t switch off, caught in a loop of worry, self-doubt, and endless “what ifs”? Do you feel anxious, restless, or tense, even when you can’t quite explain why? Maybe small decisions feel heavier than they should, or scrolling through social media leaves you comparing yourself to others and wondering why everyone else seems to have it all together. Your thoughts might keep you awake at night, replaying the same worries over and over. Gradually, everyday activities such as going to work, socialising, or leaving the house can begin to feel like too much. If this sounds familiar, therapy with me can help. Together, we will explore what lies beneath your anxiety, find ways to calm your mind, and develop strategies to ease tension, helping you feel more grounded, balanced and in control. ✨ Dating ✨ If you’ve noticed the same patterns showing up in your dating or relationship history, such as difficulty honouring your own needs, being drawn to similar types of toxic partners, or finding yourself in cycles that don’t feel healthy, it’s understandable to feel frustrated, confused, or even disheartened. You might be wondering why this keeps happening, or what it says about you. These patterns often have deeper roots, and together we can explore where they come from. With curiosity and compassion, we can work to untangle what’s been keeping you stuck so you can begin to shift these dynamics and make space for something new. I offer gentle insight to support you in building relationships that feel respectful, balanced, and aligned with your true needs, where you can feel seen, safe, and whole. ✨ Relationships ✨ Does conflict with your partner make your heart race and leave you feeling panicky? Do you feel the need to fix things immediately, or worry they might leave or even cheat if they seem distant? Trust can be hard, especially if you’ve been hurt before, even if it wasn’t by your current partner. Past experiences can leave tender spots that make opening up feel scary or make it hard to believe things can be different. Together, we can gently explore these feelings, understand where they come from, and help you feel safer and more secure in your relationship. Or maybe you find yourself pulling away when things start to feel too close, or needing space when your partner wants to talk about feelings? Perhaps you value independence and feel uncomfortable depending on others, even when part of you longs for connection. It can be confusing to want closeness but also feel uneasy when it happens. Together, we can gently explore these patterns, understand the fears beneath them, and help you feel more comfortable letting others in while still honouring your need for space and autonomy. We can also explore the complexities of family and other relationships, whether it’s with your parents, siblings, children, or friends. Every connection is unique and has its own story, and there’s no single “right” solution. You might be feeling hurt, distant, or unsure how to repair something that’s been strained, or learning to make peace with choosing not to reconnect. In therapy with me, you’ll have a safe space to explore your feelings, understand patterns in your relationships, and develop strategies to build trust and stronger connections with the people who matter most, especially yourself. ✨ Parenting ✨ Do you give yourself a hard time and feel like no matter what you do, it isn’t enough? Parenting alongside work, family, and other commitments can be exhausting, and it can feel like there is never enough time or energy. Parenting brings many joys, but it can also leave you feeling unsure of your decisions or stretched thin. Whether you’re caring for a baby, navigating school years, supporting a teenager, or raising a neurodivergent child, moments of guilt, frustration, and self-doubt are completely normal. Questions about whether you’re “doing it right” can feel heavy, and co-parenting stress, overwhelm, or burnout can add even more pressure. You do not have to face these challenges alone. In therapy, we can explore your child’s emotions and behaviours, understand what they might be communicating, and support your own wellbeing at the same time. Together, we can develop practical and compassionate strategies that strengthen connection, build resilience, and help you feel more confident and grounded in your parenting. I also offer Parent and Child Therapy to support your relationship and help both of you feel more understood and connected. ✨ Support for Teenagers ✨ In addition to working with adults, I also offer counselling for young people aged 13 and over. Adolescence can be a challenging time, filled with changes, pressures, and emotions that can feel difficult to manage alone. I provide a safe and supportive space where young people can talk openly about what’s on their mind, whether that’s school, friendships, identity, anxiety, low mood, or family relationships. My approach is gentle and collaborative, helping each young person build self-understanding, confidence, and coping skills in a way that feels right for them. ✨ Testimonials ✨ "Vanessa made me feel comfortable and supported from the moment I started therapy. With Vanessa's help we were able to look at my past and I shared things that I had never said out loud before. Together we made sense of why I felt the way I did and why I struggled with certain situations. Therapy has been life changing for me and I will be forever grateful for our time together, Thank you Vanessa." "I will miss our weekly morning sessions, I feel so much better for them. My Husband and my family have noticed a huge positive change, thank you for everything you have done for me! I now have a spring in my step again and I will be recommending you to anyone seeking counselling." ✨ About me ✨ I’m Vanessa, a qualified psychotherapist with seven years of university education and training. I run my own private practice, and I also work within a trauma charity, supporting people through some of life’s most challenging moments. Today, I bring both professional expertise and a genuine understanding to my work, providing a compassionate, non-judgemental space where you can feel truly heard and supported. ✨ How I work ✨ Therapy with me offers you a space to slow down and reconnect with who you are. My approach is integrative, drawing on person-centred, psychodynamic, attachment-based, CBT, and other approaches, allowing me to tailor our work to what feels most helpful for you. This means we can gently explore your past and how it has shaped you, make sense of what is happening for you in the present, and find a way forward that feels supportive and manageable. Alongside this deeper exploration, we can also focus on practical ways to help you feel more grounded, confident, and connected in your life. I offer face to face sessions from my therapy room in Leek, Staffordshire, as well as online therapy to anywhere in the UK. ✨ If this feels like the right place for you, I would be glad to hear from you - please reach out whenever you feel ready ✨