See what our clients say about their experiences at Counselling in Clapham

“Hannah strikes the right balance between empathy, understanding and insight. She really helped me to organise my thoughts and process the things going on in my life. She’s direct with her advice but always delivers her thoughts in a kind way. Seeing Hannah was my first experience with therapy and it was very positive, I’m sure I’ve come out a better person from the time I spent with her.”

Victoria

“I have worked with Hannah in short and long-term therapy at various times over the last 10 years. I have chosen to work with Hannah to overcome a range of personal and professional challenges in my life because of her clear values and experience. She is non-judgmental and pragmatic, whilst also encouraging self-reflection and accountability. I value that she takes a holistic approach to problems; she has used her experience of different types of talking therapy to tailor our sessions to what I have needed in the moment. And she has been able to show me the connections between different elements of my life, in ways that have surprised me and enabled me to make wider positive changes. I have worked with Hannah both in person and by phone and have found both ways of working to be positive and effective.”

Jane

“Hannah supported me through the most testing and stressful part of my life – divorce, domestic abuse and going through family court. Her warm compassion was balanced by a gentle ability to push me to explore difficult choices and to take control of my boundaries. These changes were instrumental in helping me navigate the rollercoaster I faced and enabled me to look forward with confidence. Her care ensured that both myself and my family are now able to thrive. I am so very thankful for her incredible support.”

Nay

“I knew that talking therapy was something I needed for a long time after struggling on my own for nearly 10 years. But, as a young professional at the start of my career access to therapy seemed impossible. After my consultation with Hannah, I raised my financial concerns, and she provided me with some options to make therapy more accessible to me allowing me to begin to explore my traumas in a safe space. I would say to anyone thinking about talking therapy to give it a go and I only wish I had started sooner, due to my delayed start I feel it took me a year to be able to fully open up and trust. Having a safe, non-judgemental space to talk and feel held has helped me so much.”

Jackie

“I came to Hannah initially because I was experiencing a lot of anxiety around relationships and fertility issues. Over the course of several months, Hannah worked with me through my anxieties, giving me practical tools to manage and helping me to see new perspectives. The therapy has had a hugely positive impact in all areas of my life, far beyond the issues I initially came to talk about. Hannah was warm, kind and patient throughout. I had been nervous about therapy in the beginning, but I couldn’t have asked for a better experience.”                                              

Lisa

“Hannah Gallager has been my therapist for a year or so, having been referred to me as having an excellent professional reputation. I have seen a number of therapists and Hannah is without doubt, the most sincere and empathetic counsellor. What stood out for me from the get go with Hannah was her warmth and ability to understand my situation, as if it were her own, and to always give sound professional support. As a gay woman, that is something that I have struggled to find in a therapist. Hannah has been incredibly understanding, she listens openly and is entirely non-judgemental. I have never had any qualms to discuss issues with her that centre around my gender or sexuality or felt that she was in anyway unable to support me with them.”                                        

Hattie

“Hannah Gallager was my therapist for 2 years, helping me to work through a number of personal issues. Hannah was always warm, kind and empathetic during all of our sessions. I never had a single reservation or issue discussing my sexuality as a gay man with her. I always felt very secure discussing my sexuality with her and would do so again should I need to.”                                                                                          

Alex

“I originally saw Hannah face to face previously and really valued our sessions. She helped me process very painful events and move on from what I was struggling with. Two years later, I found myself in a similar situation and having had such a positive experience with Hannah previously, I approached Hannah again. We have been meeting through skype (covid19) and the support, guidance, empathy and professionalism has been just as present as before. Hannah has helped me push through barriers, really work on myself and break patterns, whilst always containing and keeping me feeling safe. Hannah has helped me process raw pain into healing. Our sessions have been the perfect blend of flexibility and structure. I am very grateful for Hannah’s time, expertise and caring nature. I can’t recommend Hannah enough – our sessions have been invaluable for my personal and emotional growth”

Susan

“I am use to meeting with Hannah in a face-to-face setting however I found the move to remote sessions very easy (COVID-19). This was mainly due to Hannah’s approach to this. She gave me options around how I would prefer to have my sessions (phone or video call). This allowed me to make the best decision for me and one which fitted with my new routine of being in lockdown. Hannah has always been flexible where possible and this has been the case during COVID-19. This has meant that boundaries are still maintained which are containing, however if unexpected events occur such as sickness, I feel comfortable talking with Hannah about this and I know where possible, she will try to be flexible although this is understandably not always possible.

The warmth and support which I feel from Hannah remotely is the same as when I was in the room with her. The environment she creates over the phone is continually therapeutic and containing. Importantly, even if I am not in the therapy room Hannah creates a safe space which I know is mine and so I have been able to continue to explore the difficult areas which I have chosen to talk about with Hannah.

Hannah has always been professional, engaged, reflective and empathetic. She continues to supportively guide me through difficult areas and where needed, challenge me. I am happy to say that despite not being able to see Hannah I feel that our therapeutic relationship has maintained during this pandemic and may have even gotten stronger due to learning to work in this new way together.”

Steph

“I contacted Hannah just as the Lockdown started (COVID-19) as I’d realised that I really needed some help. She was very quick to respond and after our initial consultation and deciding to work together we started our weekly Skype sessions.

She was very open and clear about the process and how it would differ from being in the room together, while also making sure that I was happy and comfortable to proceed through every step. Even though our sessions are over Skype, I feel very safe and at ease, Hannah is very attentive, clear and always makes sure that I’m comfortable. I feel very much that I’m listened to and that we have a very good level of trust. She is always upfront about any difficulties or interruptions that may arise in our sessions and will always make sure we still get our full time. I couldn’t be happier with the care Hannah has given me so far and no matter what’s covered in our sessions I always feel better for them. She is a wonderful guide and I look forward to my sessions each week.”

Stefan

“Hannah was extremely professional, helpful and direct in working with me to address my concerns. Hannah really helped my relationships and building trust with partner which has previously been a constant struggle.  My experience with Hannah was absolutely delightful, well as delightful as therapy can ever be I suppose. We got along from the jump and what followed was months of hard work but I’m so grateful to Hannah for being a great listener, compassionate therapist and just providing a safe space for me to explore my thoughts and feelings. She is the right blend of supportive and yet challenging. I will forever be thankful for the work we did during our time together because I feel like a better me because of it. In fact, I would go as far to say Hannah saved my life, she went above her duty of care to ensure I was coping outside of the therapy room.  I would highly recommend Hannah. Thank you Hannah.”

Amanda

“Although I wasn’t sure what to expect moving to having sessions over the phone (COVID-19), I would say the transition from having counselling sessions face to face counselling to over the phone has been very smooth. At the beginning of my phone sessions Hannah always makes sure I feel safe, comfortable and in a space that I can remain for the duration without being disturbed, which I think is very important. By doing this, the safe space of the therapy room where I would normally have my sessions is extended out into the room that I am in at home; it allows me to picture myself back in the therapy room with Hannah. I feel like I can still discuss anything openly and honestly.”

Marina

“I saw Hannah as a level 3 counselling student for 6 sessions. I found Hannah to be warm and empathic. Her breadth of knowledge and experience were evident in the sessions. I came away with having had an enriching experience and a valuable first experience of how good practice works.”

Dee

“This was the first time I had had any therapy and Hannah’s professionalism, experience and warm nature made my time with her incredibly worthwhile. I sought out her help when I was particularly confused and wanting to make sense of some of my irrational behaviour – which I did.

I would definitely recommend her to others, and would not hesitate to contact her again if I felt I needed to.”

Faye

“For many years I had downplayed the issues I was struggling with and had resisted help as I felt I could work through things personally and unfortunately got myself to breaking point which really wasn’t a pretty sight and this is where thankfully Hannah came into the equation. Through different length sessions of varying frequency depending on what I felt would help me I have in a way become a whole new person as I understand the importance and benefit that therapy can bring to help you see the route of the cause of many deep ridden ways of thinking and therefore help create a new way of thinking and rationale when experiencing situations or life experiences that before I couldn’t handle. I’m very grateful for her helping me to stand on my own two feet again and not emotionally depend on my family and friends but to have another healthier outlet to work through my problems which I now bring into new life challenges. She helped un tap things I had never realized I needed to focus on or were a cause for how I was feeling and therefore helped me to heal from events I wasn’t aware were still an issue, which as a result has made a massive impact. All I can say is I’m very grateful that I found Hannah when I did otherwise things could have been very different!”

Tanya

“Hannah is the first and only therapist I have approached and spent time with. From the first contact, to the first session and throughout my treatment Hannah has always made me feel welcome and at ease. She finds the perfect blend of professionalism and empathy and has helped me immensely on my journey to leading a happier life. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Hannah to anyone looking for help.”

Patrick

“I’ve been seeing Hannah on and off for 3 years now. She has picked me up at my lowest points, it used to be the one hour in the week I really used to look forward to! She guided me through crucial life decisions, helped me understand and break bad patterns in my behaviour. Me and my partner also had two relationship counselling sessions with Hannah and one has completely turned things around for us. It was there where my partner and me have learnt to actually listen to each other. I am not seeing her now as life is back on track and I’m feeling content but whenever I have a bad day, I say to myself ‘What would Hannah say?’ and go from there.

I’m very grateful to Hannah for the work she has done with me and for the skills she has equipped me with to be emotionally stronger, wiser and happier.”

Albina

“Hannah has always been professional, appropriate, and compassionate. These qualities have allowed me to explore both long-standing issues and a current personal loss to understand myself in a way that I have not done before. I am in my fifties and wish I had had the opportunity to meet this skilful practitioner earlier in my life as through the work we have engaged in together I now going forward in my life feeling heard and empowered to make decisions that are right for me rather than trying to please everyone but my self. I have had previous experience of counselling following divorce and relationship breakups, which were helpful in the short term but did not explore elements that would have enabled me to move, forward with tools and skills in the way that Hannah has done. Hannah’s approach has facilitated me to look at what my patterns of behaviour have been and the reasons for them. As a result I have gained insight and courage, which with her support has enabled me to make healthy changes for me. As a result I feel focused and hopeful.”

Teresa

“Hitting rock bottom completely in February 2015 was one of the rawest moments of my life.  I had been asking for help, but like a ship with no mast I was cast adrift, my vulnerabilities unnoticed by the endless community services I had been passing through.  Another year, I could have been dead.  Hannah was the first person to spot that I had been slipping through the regulatory net.  She could also see that I was ready to embrace the new and difficult decisions that lay ahead.  Having the opportunity to begin counselling with her, right inside my actual building, was like finding a sail to steer the choppy waters of life; up until this point, I had no direction to pursue for hope.

Counselling services like Hannah’s are so rare to find, particularly for vulnerable people with financial insecurity.  It provided a safe place within my hostel building and initiated a routine immediately.  I soon discovered that the help on offer here was to be life changing for me.  Hannah provided access to a new network of information, opened doors to services and kick-started opportunities for me to be assessed for further treatment.  I had the desire and the intellectual capability to move towards good health, I just needed proper emotional guidance and Hannah took this responsibility into her hands.  Later, she became an advocate and signposted me towards further long-term care.

It’s a two-way street; you have to be prepared to work towards your goals and I came to Hannah willing.  Her counselling service is effective for people who may lack stability, but are receptive and ready to make changes.  There are many more vulnerable people like me who need her help, not least within my building.  I was lucky; within a short while, with her guidance, I have uncovered mental health diagnoses, I have a fixed place on a waiting list for treatment at a world-renowned trauma hospital, as well as now receiving all of the correct entitlements.  My future life is a tangible goal in the near distance.

Knowing how unprecedented it is to find people with the capacity to spot vulnerability in people, particularly those with antisocial behaviours and to encourage them on to the right path, it is amazing to me that this happened within my own building.  I feel incredibly fortunate and grateful to Hannah, but also to the service providers that enable brilliant people like her to open doors for those in need.”

Luke

“I saw different therapists before I found Hannah and I can imagine where I would be without her today. It is safe to say she changed me for the better and for that I will never be able to repay her. To try and synthesize, her method of work seems to me the most valuable, because she is a guide or a mirror in which you look at. It is “you” who discover your self with her great help and this seems to me the only effective way for a change, overcoming problems and self-knowledge. Because when ideas and change come within you, is when they really work. Hannah makes all that seems easy, opening your doors from the inside, remaining complete isolated and being with you in a very intimate way in the process. In my case of course, it has been fundamental to understand and face my own future and find myself again with her help. Hannah earned my respect and trust by enduring most of my secrets and personal issues. She was able to see the obstacles and challenges that I was not able to see myself. The way she carries herself is unlike anyone and I admire her for that.”

Bibianne

“Thank you Hannah for your hard work, commitment, dedication and professionalism. I very much appreciate your service. With your help I believe I am developing the skills to self-healing.”

Carol

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Registered with the Counselling Directory.
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Providing Professional Counselling Service in Clapham

Jackie