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For appointments availability or to discuss therapy: 

please call 07838 248306

or send an email to martinablake@googlemail.com

I offer confidential face-to-face counselling and psychotherapy to adults in a tranquil setting at my private practice in Ingham near Stalham in Norfolk. This can either be short term work, up to for example 6 or 12 sessions, or longer term work. I can offer phone or online (video) counselling also if needed. I offer concessionary fees if clients are struggling financially or on a low income. Just contact me to discuss this. I also offer working with a wide variety of creative materials if clients would like to. There’s more detailed information on my website www.martinablake.com about the therapy I offer.

I meet with clients experiencing quite a wide range of difficulties, and who are facing a challenging time in their lives, including with relationships, their health, finding a healthy balance in life, and coping with stress, anxiety, depression, bereavement or loss. We might take a look to see if breathing techniques could be helpful to consider, or mindfulness, the benefits of being outside more in the natural world, exercise and other self-care.

I’ve also worked for many years with those struggling with addiction, particularly with problem gambling. Here we explore much of the above but also take time to consider what led to the problematic behaviour, what needs were or are being met by it, the consequences, how to make changes and reduce or stop the behaviour, how to deal with lapses, and understand behaviour and dependency more fully.

With each client I explore what brings them into therapy and is important. I work with clients to clarify what emerges in our therapeutic work and how they will essentially live their life. I can offer a listening ear, a sounding board and empathetic support. I often hear from clients that it has taken them quite a while to seek help and support, and that they’re nervous about what counselling and the counsellor will be like. It often takes a crisis to pick up the phone or send an initial email. I find that people are often overwhelmed and struggling by the time they do get in touch but it is helpful and a relief to talk about the issues and be heard. We just take it from there at your own pace. The whole point is that the experience is helpful to you in some way and as a person.

Together we explore what’s going on, moving at times to what has happened in the past and worries or concerns about the future. Often these things collide and jump around and especially so when we’re overwhelmed. We can get stuck in a cycle, often with unanswered questions and negative thoughts.

Our sessions can include working with creative materials if clients would like to. I can offer a wide variety of materials such as:

• Native American medicine cards
  
• emotional literacy cards
  
• postcards
• shells and stones
• soft toys
• art and other materials.

Using creative materials can tap into the unconscious really well, bringing another dimension to our work, enabling more connections and a deeper exploration. I find that many clients really enjoy working in this way. 

I always suggest to potential new clients that we have a chat on the phone so I can assess if I’m able to help, and clients can ask me questions if they’d like to, and we can look too at availability together.

My way of working is integrative, drawing upon person-centred, psychodynamic, existential, postmodern and cognitive approaches where I feel these may be of benefit to the client.