Counselling and Psychotherapy in Nailsworth
Face-to-face and online counselling and psychotherapy sessions for adolescents and adults
by Gabriele Pentzek in Nailsworth
Face-to-face and online counselling and psychotherapy sessions for adolescents and adults
by Gabriele Pentzek in Nailsworth
Hello and a warm welcome!
I'm Gabi, a trauma-informed integrative counsellor, psychotherapist and BrainWorking Recursive Therapy (BWRT) practitioner based in Nailsworth.
Are you feeling overwhelmed by life’s demands, stuck in uncertainty, or weighed down by past experiences?
Whether it’s finding clarity in tough decisions, healing from emotional pain, or simply seeking relief from stress and anxiety, I’m here to help. You’re not alone, and you don’t have to navigate these struggles by yourself.
Here are some of the ways I can support you:
Anxiety & Stress
Break free from the weight of overwhelming emotions. Learn tools to manage stress, reduce anxiety, and regain a sense of calm and control.
Relationship Challenges
Understand yourself and your relationships better. Strengthen communication, deepen connection, and foster healthier, more fulfilling bonds with those who matter most.
Trauma Recovery
Gain insight into unconscious patterns and behaviors shaped by past experiences. Together, we’ll work compassionately to heal wounds and empower you to move forward.
Grief & Loss
Loss is never easy. Whether it’s the passing of a loved one or another significant change in your life, I’ll help you navigate your feelings with care and understanding.
Phobias & Fears
Don’t let fears hold you back. Overcome limiting beliefs, face challenges with courage, and rebuild your confidence.
Life Transitions & Decisions
From major life changes to finding clarity during uncertain times, I can support you in fostering resilience and confidence as you chart your path forward.
If you're struggling with emotional challenges, you don’t have to face them alone. Finding the right support can make all the difference in your journey toward healing and personal growth.
I’m here to walk alongside you with compassion, care, and understanding, offering a personalized therapeutic approach designed to meet your unique needs. Whether you’re seeking short-term support for a specific issue, such as anxiety or stress relief, or a deeper exploration of long-term patterns, I provide a safe, warm, and non-judgmental space where you can truly be heard.
Together, we’ll uncover the roots of your concerns, explore your emotions, and address the triggers that may be holding you back. My goal is to empower you with the practical tools and meaningful insights needed to help you:
You deserve to feel supported, understood, and confident as you navigate your healing journey. Let’s work together to create lasting change and help you unlock the life you deserve.
Taking the first step toward therapy is a courageous decision, and your initial session is an opportunity to explore what’s been on your mind in a safe and welcoming space. Here’s what you can expect during your first session:
1. A Warm Welcome and Understanding
From the moment we start, my goal is to help you feel comfortable and heard. We'll begin by getting to know each other, with a focus on your needs, goals, and any challenges you're facing. There’s no rush—this session is about building trust and making sure you feel safe to express yourself.
2. Understanding Your Concerns
We'll take time to explore what brought you to therapy and understand the issues you want to address. Whether you’re dealing with stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, or something else, we’ll work together to gain clarity on your emotions and experiences.
3. Setting Your Goals
I believe in collaboration, so we’ll discuss what you hope to achieve through therapy. Together, we’ll outline clear, meaningful goals to guide our work together, making sure that each step forward is aligned with your personal values and aspirations.
4. Establishing a Roadmap for Therapy
Depending on what you share, we may begin exploring different therapeutic approaches that best suit your needs. We’ll talk about what strategies may be most helpful for you, and I’ll provide support tailored specifically to your unique situation.
5. A Non-judgmental, Supportive Space
Above all, I want you to feel safe, supported, and understood. Therapy is a journey, and this first session is just the beginning.
Together, we’ll start the process of healing, growth, and positive change, setting you on a path toward lasting well-being.
Let’s take the first step—when you’re ready, I’m here to help.
Feeling anxious is a natural response to certain situations—it can help us stay alert or take extra care. However, when anxiety becomes overwhelming or persistent, it can start to interfere with daily life, leaving you feeling constantly on edge or uncertain. Anxiety can show up in many ways, such as a racing heart, shallow breathing, sweating, or a tight chest. You might also experience a restless mind, trouble focusing, or excessive worry about things that may or may not happen.
This constant tension can feel exhausting, making it hard to relax or enjoy the present moment. Anxiety might affect your ability to sleep, concentrate, or even interact with others comfortably.
Together we will learn to identify the triggers of your anxiety and develop strategies to manage it. Adding relaxation techniques, like deep breathing or mindfulness, to help calm your body and mind during stressful moments.
With the right support and tools, you can regain control, reduce anxiety, and unlock a sense of lasting peace of mind.
Stress is a natural part of life, but when it feels overwhelming, it can take a toll on both your mental and physical health. Coupled with the pressure of making tough life decisions, it’s easy to feel stuck or uncertain. The good news is counselling can help! Together, we’ll explore practical strategies to manage stress and create a clear path forward. By fostering resilience and building confidence, counselling empowers you to navigate challenges and make choices with greater purpose and certainty—helping you feel more in control and ready to embrace life’s opportunities.
Feeling down or experiencing low mood is a natural part of life—it’s how we process challenges or setbacks. But when these feelings become overwhelming or linger for long periods, they can impact every part of daily life. Depression and low mood can feel like a heavy weight that’s hard to shake, leaving you exhausted, unmotivated, or unable to enjoy things that once brought happiness. You might experience constant fatigue, changes in sleep or appetite, difficulty concentrating, or feelings of hopelessness, guilt, or emptiness.
These emotions can affect relationships, work, and self-esteem, making it hard to see a way forward. The positive news is that counselling can make a real difference! By exploring the root causes and using proven strategies, we can work together to create a personalized plan tailored to your needs. Through support and practical tools, counselling can help you manage depression, rediscover hope, and take meaningful steps toward feeling like yourself again.
Relationships are at the heart of our lives, shaping our happiness, sense of belonging, and emotional well-being. They provide support, connection, and meaning, but they can also bring challenges. Miscommunication, trust issues, differing expectations, or life changes can strain even the strongest bonds, leaving us feeling disconnected or uncertain. Counselling offers a space to deepen your self-awareness and explore how you connect with others. By addressing these challenges and enhancing communication, we can work together to build trust, foster understanding, and strengthen your relationships. This process empowers you to create more fulfilling, meaningful, and lasting connections that enrich your life.
Grief and loss, whether from death, separation, or major life changes, can leave you feeling empty, making it hard to find joy in things you once loved. The emotional weight can feel overwhelming, and you may struggle with feelings of sadness, confusion, or even guilt. Time may pass, but the feelings of grief don’t simply disappear. Instead, we learn to build a life around the pain, adjusting to a new reality without forgetting what was lost.
Together, we can explore your grief with compassion and understanding, allowing you to process your emotions at your own pace. With my guidance and support, we’ll work towards healing, helping you integrate your loss into your life and rediscover hope, meaning, and fulfillment.
Trauma can stem from many different experiences, such as accidents, loss, abuse, or witnessing distressing events. It can leave emotional scars that show up in many ways, including flashbacks, nightmares, or feeling constantly on edge. You may also notice heightened stress, difficulty trusting others, or a sense of numbness or detachment. These feelings can make it hard to move forward, affecting your relationships, work, and overall well-being.
As a trauma-informed counsellor, I provide a safe, supportive space to explore your experiences at your own pace. Together, we can develop healthy coping strategies and work through the emotional pain, helping you regain control and start healing. Proven techniques like grounding exercises and mindfulness can support you in managing overwhelming emotions, so you can begin to live more freely and confidently.
What is BWRT® (BrainWorking Recursive Therapy®)?
BWRT® (BrainWorking Recursive Therapy®) is a modern, cutting-edge psychological and psychotherapeutic technique developed by UK therapist Terence Watts, MCGI. It’s a unique therapy that prioritizes your privacy, ensuring that you only need to share what you're comfortable with. Often, the practitioner only needs to know how you currently feel and how you'd prefer to feel, making the process both comfortable and effective.
Why Choose BWRT®?
Unlike traditional therapies, BWRT® is grounded in the latest research on how the brain influences emotions, behaviors, and moods. As a Certified BWRT® Practitioner, I follow a strict ethical code, ensuring that each session is conducted with the utmost care and respect. To learn more, you can visit www.bwrt.org or get in touch with me directly.
Since completing my BWRT® training, I’ve helped many clients overcome a wide range of challenges such as phobias, anxiety, trauma, relationship difficulties, and coping with grief and loss. BWRT® is versatile and effective for addressing various emotional struggles.
How BWRT® Works
In a BWRT® session, the focus is on you and your thoughts. There is no need for you to delve into sensitive details; instead, I’ll guide you to use your own thoughts to create meaningful and positive change from within. The transformation comes from you, not from anything I say or do—empowering you to take control of your emotional responses.
A BWRT® Session Example
In a BWRT® (BrainWorking Recursive Therapy®) session, often, the practitioner only needs to know how you currently feel and how you'd prefer to feel. Take Liz, for example. She came to see me for a fear of spiders, explaining that she felt utterly terrified even at the mere sight of a spider’s shadow.
Together, we explored how Liz would like to feel instead. She shared that she’d prefer to feel calm, grounded, and confident—unshaken by the presence of a spider. Through the BWRT® process, we worked on helping her mind access that desired response, replacing intense fear with calm and confidence.
By the end of the session, Liz was able to visualize a spider in a relaxed, controlled way, demonstrating how BWRT® helped her reframe her fear into a calm, positive emotional response. This shift was not only empowering but also transformative.
Flexible and Convenient Sessions
One of the great benefits of BWRT® is that sessions can be conducted over video calls (such as Zoom or WhatsApp) or even by phone, giving you the flexibility to access therapy no matter how busy your schedule is or where you’re located in the world. Whether you’re at home, in the office, or traveling, you can still benefit from BWRT® therapy.
The BWRT® Process: Practical, Straightforward, and Effective
BWRT® is a logical, practical, and straightforward therapy that works while you are fully awake and aware. For it to be successful, all you need is a genuine desire for positive change in your life. Whether you’re struggling with a phobia, stress, anxiety, or another emotional issue, BWRT® can help you unlock lasting transformation.
If you're considering counselling, I encourage you to contact me to discuss your needs and see if I'm the right fit for you.