We have several different kinds of therapist at Hope Meadows, and we know the terminology can be confusing. Counsellor, psychologist, somatic therapy... what does it all actually mean? 

 

You might already know who you want to see when you come for your visit or initial assessment, and that's great. If you're not sure, that's absolutely fine too. To give you more information, we've created this plain-English guide to the three types of therapy you might come across in our organisation.

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Remember, part of our initial assessment process is to match you with a therapist based on what you need support with, your budget, and your preferences. You don't need to decide for yourself, just book an appointment and we can talk it all through.

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Counsellor

Offers: a space where you can talk and be truly heard.

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Counselling offers a confidential, non-judgmental way to explore what's going on in your life. Counsellors are trained to listen deeply, help you make meaning from your experiences, and gently highlight patterns you might not have noticed on your own. It's collaborative, and it's led by you.

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Helpful for:

• life transitions

• anxiety

• relationship difficulties

• low mood

• stress

• self-esteem

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This might be for you if you want to talk things through and feel genuinely heard. It's useful for people who feel something is off in their life and they need support to make sense of it.

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Specialist Therapist (somatic trauma trained)

Offers: a non-traditional approach to mental health difficulties

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Somatic means body-based. A somatic trauma trained therapist understands that our nervous systems carry the imprint of difficult experiences, often long after our minds have "moved on." This approach works with both talking and embodied awareness: sensation, breath, movement, and the signals your body sends. It's gentler than it might sound, and often profoundly effective where talking alone hasn't shifted things.

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Helpful for:

• trauma (single incident or complex)

• PTSD

• nervous system dysregulation

• chronic stress or burnout

• freeze or shutdown responses

• feeling stuck

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This might be for you if you've tried talking therapies and something still feels locked. If your body responds strongly to stress, for example with hyper-vigilance, shutdown, or an unshakeable sense of being unsafe, then this approach aims to reach that level to help process it.

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Counselling Psychologist

Offers: depth, complexity, and a wider lens

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A counselling psychologist holds a doctoral-level qualification and is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). They bring together psychological theory, research, and therapeutic practice, and they are trained to work with a wide range of presentations, including more complex or longstanding mental health difficulties. They can draw on multiple approaches and offer psychological formulation: a richer picture of why you are the way you are, and what might help.

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Helpful for:

• complex or longstanding mental health difficulties

• trauma (single incident or complex)

• identity and/or relationship difficulties

• eating disorders

• psychological formulation

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This might be for you if you've been struggling for a long time, carry a diagnosis, or simply want someone trained to hold real complexity. A counselling psychologist can offer both depth of understanding and flexibility of approach.

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Equine Assisted Psychotherapy​

Regardless of their core training, each of our therapists uses Equine Assisted Psychotherapy at Hope Meadows. This is an approach that focuses on connection - so you will have the opportunity to explore how you relate to yourself, the herd, and those around you. All sessions are outdoors unless you request otherwise, with plenty of natural space to move, process, and just be.

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Fees

The cost of a session varies by therapist, so if you already know which type of therapist you'd like to see then it is worth checking out our fees page so that you are prepared for the cost.

 

Whilst we offer affordable options where possible, we know it can still feel like a big commitment of time, energy, and financial resources. But we'd gently invite you to reframe it: therapy can be one of the most beneficial investments in your wellbeing, your relationships, and the version of yourself you're trying to grow into. 

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Still not sure?

That's understandable. Many people start by coming to an initial assessment before committing to anything, and we know the relationship with the therapist matters as much as the title. If you'd like to talk through what might suit you, or meet some of our team, we're always happy to offer that.