Meet Amy Griffin

I'm Amy - a therapist based in Rayleigh, Essex, offering in-person and online therapy for anxiety, overthinking, body image and relationships.

People often come to therapy because they are tired of living in their own head.

You might be tired of replaying conversations, doubting yourself, saying yes when you mean no, or feeling as though your body is the reason you are not confident enough.

You might know exactly what you want help with. You might have absolutely no idea where to start. Both are welcome.

I don’t believe in fixing you, because I don’t believe you’re broken. I’m much more interested in understanding why certain thoughts, feelings or relationship patterns keep showing up.

Therapy with me is person-centred, down-to-earth, and totally human. That means:

We go at your pace.
You can speak like yourself (swearing definitely welcome)
I won’t just sit silently and nod at you.
We can use different ideas and tools when they are helpful. (I won’t turn every human experience into a worksheet.)
We don’t have to pretend to know the answer straight away.

I'm a human first, and a therapist second

I have always hated talking about myself. Isn't that funny when I encourage to talk about themselves - I have always found it so much easier to listen to others and talk with others about them.

I didn't get into this work because I had it all figured out. I got into it because I understand the weight of "shoulds", the pressure to be the reliable one, the high-achiever, the person who never rocks the boat.

Growing up being too scared to 'take up space', I became an expert at keeping things running smoothly and highly practiced at putting myself last. The irony was not lost on me that I found myself in project and managerial roles for years – holding things together for others – before I became a counsellor. So I absolutely understand the challenges of balancing a busy life and your own emotional wellbeing- I’ve felt the pain of chronic anxiety and emotional exhaustion.

I’m a human first, and a therapist second; I love crunchy cold walks with my pup, buying more trainers than I need, my comfy band t-shirts, singing to everything (best believe I am a human jukebox) and watching sports. I firmly believe that therapy works best when you can show up exactly as you are...makeup-smudged, overthinking, or just plain tired because we are all human.

Why work with me?

I’m relatable, not robotic: I won't hide behind clinical jargon. I’m in the trenches with you, curious and down-to-earth.
I get the 'Helping Professional' burnout: Many of my clients are the ones everyone else leans on. I know how lonely that role can feel.
I value safety over perfection: My goal is to create a space where you don’t have to "perform" therapy. You can just be.
I’m active in the room: I won’t just nod along. I’ll ask questions, notice patterns and gently challenge things when it feels useful.

I live and work around Essex, and I’ve spent years supporting women like you who are tired of second-guessing themselves, managing everyone else’s feelings and wondering whether they are the problem.

How I can help you

Professional Info

Core training:

Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies
Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
Certificate in Online and Telephone Counselling
Certificate in Couple/Relationship Therapy awarded by The Grove (Accredited by COSRT at Level 5)

Further theory based training:

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Essentials (DBT) – Association of Psychological Therapies
Trauma Focussed CBT (TfCBT) – Association of Psychological Therapies
Transactional Analysis (TA101) – The Berne Institute

Specialised training & areas of interest:

Relational Dynamics: Transactional Analysis, Attachment Theory, and communication in Relationship/Couples work.
Anxiety & the mental "Noise": Training in Anxiety, Panic Disorders, OCD Awareness, and OCD in the Therapy Room.
People-pleasing and self-doubt: Further learning in People-Pleasing, Imposter Syndrome, and Self-Compassion.
Body Image and Self-Worth: Training in working therapeutically with Body Image, Appearance Anxiety, Comparison, Shame, and the belief that the body is the problem. Includes Eating Disorder and Body Dysmorphic Disorder awareness training.
Neurodivergence and Relationships: Training in working therapeutically with ADHD and Neurodivergence, Sex and Relationships (Juliet Greyson).
Grief, Loss and Change: Training in working therapeutically with Grief and Loss, including bereavement (Cruse) and other significant life changes

Professional body:

I’m a registered member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP), which means I adhere to a strict ethical framework that guides my practice. I also hold an Enhanced DBS.

You can find me on the BACP register here: Amy Griffin - BACP Register

You can find me on Counselling Directory here: Amy Griffin - Counselling Directory

Why the therapy relationship matters

It might be that when you think about therapy, you think about learning coping skills, completing worksheets and homework, practicing breathing exercises,... the list goes on. And sure, these things can be helpful but they’re not the heart of therapy. I believe – as I’d imagine many other therapists out there would agree – that what truly heals is something much more human. It’s the relationship.

Read my article for Counselling Directory on why the relationship with your therapist matters more than any tool or technique.