Radical Empathy Counselling

Welcome to Radical Empathy Counselling

Social justice-informed psychotherapy

Counselling for people who

don't fit the mould

Welcome, and thank you for visiting Radical Empathy Counselling

Hi, I'm Sian Renwick and I'm a qualified counsellor with lived experience of neurodivergence, providing one-to-one therapy for adults at the Charter Studios in Abingdon, Oxfordshire and online throughout the UK.

With climate change, systemic social and financial inequality, polarised political debate, the cost-of-living crisis, and more going on around us, life in the 21st century can be complex and challenging. For those of us who are neurodivergent, LGBTQ+, disabled, racialized, or otherwise marginalized, things can be even tougher.

Against this backdrop, prioritising your own well-being through counselling is a radical act which can help you develop self-compassion, address short- or long-term issues, and live authentically. I'd love to accompany you on your journey!

Neurodiversity affirming

As a late-identified autistic who also has aphantasia, I understand how transformative it can be to talk to someone who really gets me in a world set up for neurotypical people. Whether you've been formally diagnosed, have self-identified, or are just beginning to wonder if you might be neurodivergent, I'd love to hear from you.

I work with a neurodiversity-affirming model, which means I see neurodivergence as part of the natural range of human variation, and not something that needs to be fixed. However, we can often internalize negative messages about neurodivergence and feel a sense of grief or loss at the idea that we'll never be what neurotypical society expects.

I also work with a neurodivergent supervisor, in order to help me develop my practice and keep learning about the best way to meet the needs of my neurodivergent clients.

Anti-oppressive

I believe it's essential for effective counselling to acknowledge the systemic oppression that marginalised groups face on a daily basis and that it's my ethical duty to inform myself about and to seek to oppose this in my work.

At the moment, my focus is on exploring and seeking to understand my own privilege and how this impacts my work as a counsellor. My aim is to develop an anti-oppressive, anti-racist, anti-ableist, and social justice-focused practice.

I may not always get it right and I'm committed to listening, learning, and improving when I do make mistakes.

LGBTQ+ affirming

Counselling should provide a safe space for everyone, regardless of gender identity, sexuality, or relationship preferences. I strive to create a gender-, sexuality-, and relationship-diversity affirming environment in which all clients feel comfortable to bring their whole selves without fear of judgement, whether or not it's the key focus of therapy.

So whether you're out and proud as aro-ace, pan- and poly-am, trans, non-binary, a practitioner of RACK etc and want to talk about something else entirely, or you're just starting to explore your identity and want to focus on it in your counselling sessions, I'd love to hear from you.

How could counselling help you?

As a counsellor my role is to provide a safe space to help you on your journey of self-discovery; to enable you to examine your life and make new, meaningful choices within it. You are always the expert on yourself.

I offer a chance to reflect on the difficulties or problems you're experiencing in a safe and confidential environment, with someone from outside your day-to-day life. Together we can explore your situation in a way that leads to fresh perspectives and new understanding. Counselling isn’t about giving you solutions or advice, but empowering you to recognise patterns, identify your priorities, and make your own changes.

My core approach to therapy is a person-centred one, although I integrate other approaches to create a bespoke experience for each client. This is a non-judgmental way of working, which aims to create the right conditions to help someone increase their self-awareness and to move towards their fullest potential. I'm also committed to acknowledging the systemic barriers to well-being that exist in our society and which get in the way of people reaching that potential.

What issues can counselling help with?

People come to me for help a wide range of issues. Here's a non-exhaustive list of some common themes:

Neurodivergence (autism, ADHD, AuDHD etc)

Sexuality or gender identity

Family and relationship issues

Grief, loss or bereavement

Trauma and post-traumatic stress

Historic or recent abuse

Depression and low mood

Low confidence or self-esteem

Intrusive thoughts or flashbacks

Panic attacks

Stress or anxiety

Work issues

Qualifications

One of the main bodies overseeing the work of counsellors in the United Kingdom is the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). I'm a BACP Registered Counsellor (no. 396123), which means I've met their criteria for qualified therapists and work in accordance with their ethical framework. This gives you assurance that I'm practising safely and ethically, and provides a route to raise any concerns we can't resolve between us through their complaints process.

I hold the Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling - BACP Approved Practitioner Qualification, accredited by the Counselling and Psychotherapy Awarding Body (CPCAB) and I'm committed to continuing my professional development through clincial supervision, regular training, and self-study.

My location

My practice is based in the Charter Studios, which are located on the 3rd floor, The Charter, Abingdon, OX14 3LZ, (next door to the Malthouse GP Surgery). I also see clients from the surrounding areas such as Shippon, Culham, Drayton, Sutton Courtenay, Radley, Sunningwell, and Oxford.

You can park next to the Charter in the multi-storey car park and there's step-free access via a lift but the venue is unfortunately not fully accessible. If you're a wheelchair user, please get in touch to discuss options.

In addition to providing face-to-face therapy, I also offer online sessions for clients in the Oxfordshire area and beyond. Online counselling can be a convenient and effective option for many people, but feel free to get in touch if you have any questions about whether it might be right for you.

Availability

Deciding to start counselling can feel like a daunting commitment, both in terms of time and money, so I offer a free initial 30-minute consultation session. This gives you the chance to ask me questions about my approach and see whether it feels like a good fit, as well as exploring whether it's the right time for you to start counselling.

If you decide to go ahead, I offer weekly 60-minute sessions which can be held either in person or online, depending on your preference. In-person sessions are held at the Charter Studios in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. The duration of counselling varies between clients, but I'd generally suggest an initial block of 6 weeks, followed by a review where we can discuss whether and for how long you want to continue.

Frequently asked questions

Everything you say within the counselling room is private and won't be shared further without your permission - this is one of the main ways counselling and therapy differ from talking to a friend or relative. Once you're comfortable with the format of weekly sessions and the safe space they provide, you'll find the freedom to speak in confidence is of great value.

However, it's important to be aware that there are some situations where I may not be able to keep total confidentiality, for safeguarding or legal reasons. These situations are very rare though, and I will always discuss them with you.

Starting counselling can feel daunting - that's why I offer a free 30-minute 'taster' session, so that we can get to know each other a little and decide together whether we're likely to be a good fit.

We'll meet either in person at the Charter Studios or online, according to your preference and my availability. If we're meeting in person, I'll send you detailed instructions on finding the venue ahead of time and will come down to meet you just before the session start time. You'll also have my number in case of any delays or difficulties.

In the session, I'll ask you to tell me a bit more about why you've chosen to start your counselling journey now and about any previous experiences (good or bad) of therapy. I'll explain how I work and give you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have.

If you're neurodivergent (autistic, ADHD, dyspraxic, dyslexic etc), you may find it helpful or reassuring to know that I have lived experience of navigating neurotypical social norms and expectations while running on different 'software', so I get it.

You might want to explore whether you are neurodivergent at all. Before I understood my neurodivergence, a lot of my struggles were misattributed by counsellors, other professionals, and myself. Uncovering and accepting my authentic, autistic self wasn't a straightforward process but I was fortunate to have a great therapist to help me work through it and I'm committed to doing the same for others.

Of course, you may not be neurodivergent and that's also fine! I've worked with plenty of neurotypical clients on a wide range of issues. I'm particularly interested in working with clients from marginalized groups, so if you feel in any way that you don't 'fit the mould' dictated by society, I might be the right counsellor for you.

Fees

My standard rate is £60 per 60-minute session. As part of my commitment to a social justice informed practice, I offer a proportion of my slots at a reduced rate on a sliding scale for clients on low incomes. Priority for these slots will usually be given to people from socially marginalized groups.

If I don't currently have any reduced-rate slots available, I'd be happy to refer you to a local low-cost counselling charity or to keep you on my waiting list.

Get in touch

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how counselling works, or to arrange an initial assessment appointment. This enables us to discuss the reasons you are thinking of coming to counselling, whether it could be helpful for you and whether I'm the right therapist to help.

Enquires are usually answered within two working days, and all contact is strictly confidential.

NEURODIVERGENT AND LGBTQ+ AFFIRMING COUNSELLING IN ABINGDON, OXFORDSHIRE & ONLINE