Poppy Barnes Therapy

Poppy Barnes Therapy

Space to think.
Support to feel less alone.

I'm Poppy, a qualified integrative counsellor. I offer a calm, confidential space to slow down, be properly heard and make sense of whatever has brought you here.

Book a free 30-minute consultation
Poppy Barnes, integrative counsellor

Who I work with

I work with adults across a wide range of issues stemming from anxiety, low mood, stress and burnout, grief and loss, relationship difficulties, trauma, abuse, and neurodivergence, among others. There's no need for a diagnosis, or a reason that feels big enough. If it matters to you, it matters to me.

Not sure where to start? Reaching out can be the hardest part, and a free, no-obligation introductory call is a low-pressure way to see if we're a good fit.

Get in touch

My Approach

How I work with you

My approach is relational and collaborative, putting you right at the centre. I'm curious about how past experiences, including our childhood, can shape the way we think, feel, and relate to others now. I believe that there's no one-size-fits-all approach to counselling, and no two people, or two problems, are the same.

  • Led by you, paced to you

    You choose what to bring each week; there's no script to follow. Some people want to dig deep quickly, others need time to build trust first.

  • Non-judgemental

    A space to say the things you might not say anywhere else.

  • Neurodivergent-affirming

    Sessions adapt to how you think and communicate, not the other way round: more structure, more direct language, breaks when needed, no expectation of eye contact.

  • Trauma-informed

    Grounded in an understanding of how trauma affects the mind and body, so sessions are safe, paced carefully, and never push you further than feels OK.

Over time, this kind of space can help you find more helpful ways of handling what's difficult, understand yourself a little better, and build the confidence to make the changes you want.

Poppy Barnes in her therapy room

About Me

Hello, I'm Poppy

Before I trained as a counsellor, I spent 18 years working in media and advertising: a fast, high-pressure industry I loved, but one that also taught me how easy it is to keep going while quietly struggling. I also realised how much of that goes hidden and unspoken.

That's what led me to found ImNotOK, a peer-to-peer support network for people in advertising and media, connecting individuals with trained companions who have worked in the industry and a lived experience of mental health difficulties.

Watching those conversations change people's lives, up close, is what led me to retrain as a counsellor myself. Becoming a parent shifted things further: having children made me think hard about the kind of work I wanted to be doing, and I knew I wanted something with more meaning. My curiosity, warmth, and belief in this work made me want to go deeper, and offer that same sense of being truly heard to anyone who needs it.

My background

  • Qualification: Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling, CPCAB, an integrative training rooted in the person-centred approach, and drawing on other theories including psychodynamic and transactional analysis.
  • Certification: Trauma-Informed Practice (TIP) Training and Vicarious Trauma Support.
  • Professional membership: Registered Member of the NCPS (National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society), membership number NCS25-00051
  • Founder: ImNotOK, a peer-to-peer mental health support network for advertising and media.
  • Experience: 2 years working with adults in an agency setting, including survivors of abuse.

How I Can Help

Areas I support people with

  • Anxiety & worry When your mind won't switch off, or everyday life feels overwhelming.
  • Low mood & depression When things that used to feel easy feel heavy.
  • Stress & burnout When work or life in general has stretched you too thin.
  • Grief & loss Support through bereavement or other significant losses.
  • Trauma & abuse Trauma-informed, paced support for past or recent experiences, including abuse in whatever form that took.
  • Relationship difficulties Patterns, conflict, or disconnection in relationships that matter to you.
  • Life transitions Career change, becoming a parent, retirement, separation.
  • Neurodivergent clients Affirming support for ADHD, autism, and OCD, and other neurodivergent experiences.

If you don't see your situation listed, get in touch anyway.

What to Expect

Getting started

We start with a free 30-minute consultation call, so you can ask questions and get a feel for whether we're a good match. Your first full session is a little different from the rest: we'll cover what's brought you to counselling and what you're hoping for; no need to prepare anything.

  • Length: 50 minutes
  • Frequency: Weekly recommended
  • Format: online, in person in Thame, Oxfordshire, or a mix, whatever suits you best
  • Confidentiality: what you share stays between us, with the limited exceptions required by law, such as risk of severe harm to yourself or others.

Fees & Booking

Investing in yourself

Free consultation (30 min) No charge
Single session (50 min) £60

Cancellations: Once booked, your session is reserved for you. You get two free cancellations a year; after that, the full fee applies.

Book your free consultation

Contact

Let's have a conversation

Reaching out is often the hardest part. You don't need the right words, just a willingness to start. Send a message or book a free consultation.

Or email hello@poppybarnestherapy.com

If you're in crisis right now, please contact Samaritans on 116 123, your GP, or 999. This isn't a service I can offer outside of scheduled sessions.