Counsellor
Shelley Jeffery
NCPS
She/her
"All of you is welcome. You don't have to have it all figured out — messy is fine."
WHO I help
For people who've forgotten themselves while looking after everyone else.
Shelley works with adults who have been carrying life on their own for much longer than anyone around them realises. They often arrive feeling anxious, overwhelmed, exhausted, or quietly disconnected from themselves. Some have spent years putting everyone else's needs first, keeping the peace, or simply getting through each day until they can no longer ignore that something doesn't feel right.
From the outside, they usually look like they're coping. They're the reliable one. The person everyone turns to. They keep smiling, keep showing up, and keep everything moving. Underneath, they're carrying shame, self-doubt, grief, and a constant pressure to hold everything together. Boundaries feel impossible. Switching off feels impossible. They spend so much time caring for everyone else that they've almost stopped noticing what they need themselves.
Many have lived this way for years. Beneath the anxiety or burnout is often something much older—a belief that they aren't quite good enough, that they have to earn love, or that parts of themselves are safer hidden away. Over time they've become experts at surviving. They've just lost sight of who they are underneath it all.
"You don't have to keep carrying everything on your own. All of you is welcome here."
how i work
Gentle, honest, and never expecting you to have the answers.
Shelley describes her sessions as warm, genuine, and down to earth. It's not a formal experience. There is room for laughter, tears, silence, and honesty. Clients don't need to perform, explain themselves perfectly, or pretend they're coping better than they are. The relationship itself becomes an important part of the work.
She works integratively, drawing from person-centred counselling alongside CBT, Gestalt and Transactional Analysis, always adapting her approach to the person sitting in front of her rather than asking them to fit a particular model. Curiosity, compassion and honesty guide the work, creating space for clients to understand themselves with less judgement and more kindness.
The work begins by slowing everything down. As trust grows, clients often begin to notice themselves differently. They become more aware of old patterns, reconnect with parts of themselves they've hidden away, and start making choices that reflect who they truly are rather than who they feel they should be. Those changes aren't rushed, but they create a steadier, more compassionate way of moving through life.
"I believe we all have the capacity to heal — often far more than we realise. Healing isn't about becoming someone else. It's about reconnecting with who you've always been."
It's nice to meet you!
Dartmoor. Green spaces. Accidentally hilarious.
Shelley came to counselling after rebuilding her own life and discovering just how life-changing the therapeutic relationship could be. That experience continues to shape the empathy she brings to her work today. Outside the therapy room she's happiest on Dartmoor or anywhere surrounded by nature, and according to her closest friends she's unintentionally funny—she just doesn't realise it. She'll also happily admit she's an exceptionally bad cook, with a talent for burning things most people didn't think could burn.
Specialisms
Anxiety
Depression
Stress & burnout
Low self-worth
Identity
Neurodivergence
Life transitions
Parenting
Session information
Please get in touch with Shelley to discuss current session fees and find the option that's right for you.
Both in-person and online
Shelleyjcounselling@proton.me
