The Safe Garden
Counselling & Psychotherapy
Face-to-Face Counselling in Portsmouth & Online Across the UK
Have you spent years feeling different, overwhelmed, or not quite good enough?
Perhaps you've recently been diagnosed with ADHD, are beginning to understand how ADHD may have shaped your experiences, or are struggling with the impact of difficult past experiences. You may feel exhausted from masking, people-pleasing, overthinking, or constantly trying to hold everything together.
Therapy offers a safe, confidential, and non-judgemental space to understand these patterns, process past experiences, and develop a more compassionate relationship with yourself.
Hello, I'm Elena, a UK-qualified Integrative Counsellor offering face-to-face counselling in Portsmouth and online therapy across the UK.
I specialise in supporting adults with late-diagnosed ADHD, trauma, anxiety, perfectionism, self-esteem difficulties, relationship challenges, and work-related stress.
As a neurodivergent therapist, I understand the impact of overwhelm, masking, burnout, and self-doubt. Together, we can develop self-awareness, understand unhelpful patterns, improve emotional wellbeing, and build lasting, meaningful change.
If you're looking for ADHD counselling, trauma therapy, or support with anxiety and self-esteem, you're welcome to get in touch to arrange an initial session or ask any questions.
- Free 15-Minute Initial Chat
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Your first 50-minute counselling session is offered at a reduced fee of £30 (usual fee £60).
No pressure and no further obligation — simply an opportunity to experience therapy, see how it feels for you, and decide whether it’s the right support for you.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO HOLD EVERYTHING TOGETHER ALONE
Life can sometimes feel emotionally heavy, confusing, or overwhelming.
You may find yourself:
- constantly overthinking
- feeling emotionally drained
- struggling to cope with stress or anxiety
- finding it difficult to switch your mind off
- feeling stuck in repeating patterns
- doubting yourself or losing confidence
- carrying painful experiences from the past
- feeling disconnected from yourself or others
Sometimes we become so used to coping alone that we stop recognising how much we’re carrying internally.
Therapy offers a safe and supportive space where you can pause, breathe, and begin understanding what’s happening beneath the surface — without judgment and at your own pace.
HOW I CAN HELP
I offer counselling support for:
- Anxiety & overthinking
- Stress & burnout
- Trauma & difficult life experiences
- Low self-esteem & confidence issues
- ADHD & neurodiversity-related challenges
- Depression & low mood
- Relationship difficulties
- Emotional overwhelm
- Boundary-setting difficulties
- Feeling stuck, lost, or disconnected
You do not need to have everything figured out before starting therapy.
Sometimes simply being heard and understood can be the beginning of healing.
FACE-TO-FACE & ONLINE COUNSELLING
I provide face-to-face counselling in Portsmouth, Hampshire as well as online therapy sessions across the UK.
Having the option of both in-person and online therapy allows you to choose the type of support that feels most comfortable and accessible for you.
Many clients value:
- a calm and confidential environment
- flexibility around work or family commitments
- the comfort and convenience of online sessions
- having a dedicated space to focus on themselves
Whether online or face-to-face, therapy provides a supportive environment where you can feel heard, understood, and emotionally safe.
A SAFE SPACE TO BE YOURSELF
The relationship you have with yourself affects every part of your life — your emotions, confidence, relationships, boundaries, and wellbeing.
At The Safe Garden Counselling, I offer a calm, supportive, and compassionate environment where you can:
- speak openly without fear of judgement
- explore your thoughts and feelings safely
- better understand emotional patterns and behaviours
- process difficult emotions or past experiences
- reconnect with your sense of self
Therapy is not about “fixing” you.
It’s about creating space for understanding, healing, growth, and self-compassion
MY APPROACH
I work integrative way, meaning I tailor therapy to your individual needs rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.
My work is informed by:
- Person-Centred Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Trauma-Informed Practice
- Compassion-Focused Approaches
I believe therapy should feel collaborative, supportive, and emotionally safe.
Together, we will work at a pace that feels comfortable for you.
WHO I WORK WITH
I work with adults who may:
- feel overwhelmed by life or emotions
- struggle with anxiety or racing thoughts
- constantly put others before themselves
- find it difficult to set healthy boundaries
- feel emotionally exhausted from trying to cope alone
- carry unresolved trauma or painful experiences
- feel disconnected, lost, or “not themselves”
You do not need to be in crisis to seek support.
Therapy can help anyone wanting greater emotional support, self-understanding, or positive change.
About Me
Welcome, I'm Elena.
Reaching out for support isn’t always easy — especially when you’ve been holding things together for a long time.
I’m a BACP registered Integrative counsellor offering face-to-face sessions in Portsmouth and online therapy across the UK, supporting adults experiencing anxiety, trauma, ADHD, and emotional overwhelm.
I work with adults experiencing anxiety, trauma, ADHD, low self-esteem, stress, emotional overwhelm, and relationship difficulties.
My aim is to offer a calm, supportive, and confidential space where you can talk openly, feel understood, and begin to make sense of what you are going through at your own pace.
WHO I AM
I understand how easy it is to reach a point where everything feels like too much.
Many of the people I work with describe feeling overwhelmed, stuck in their thoughts, emotionally drained, or unsure how to move forward — often after a long time of coping alone.
My approach is warm, grounded, and relational. I believe therapy works best when you feel safe enough to be honest about what’s really going on for you.
You don’t need to have the right words or a clear direction — we figure it out together.
MY APPROACH TO THERAPY
I work integratively, which means I draw from different therapeutic approaches and tailor sessions to your individual needs, rather than using a fixed method.
My work is informed by:
- Person-Centred Therapy(working at your pace, focusing on your experience and what matters to you)
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)(exploring how thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are connected)
- Gestalt Therapy(supporting awareness of emotions, patterns, and what is happening in the present moment)
- Transactional Analysis (TA)(understanding relationship patterns and communication styles, including early influences and life scripts)
Therapy is not about changing who you are.
It is about helping you understand yourself more deeply, reduce emotional distress, and develop healthier, more supportive ways of coping with life.
WHAT I SUPPORT YOU WITH
I work with adults experiencing:
- Anxiety and overthinking
- Trauma and past experiences
- Low self-esteem and self-worth
- ADHD and neurodiversity-related challenges
- Stress, burnout, and emotional exhaustion
- Depression and low mood
- Relationship difficulties
- Emotional overwhelm
- Feeling stuck or disconnected
You do not need a diagnosis or crisis point to start therapy — if something is affecting your wellbeing, it matters.
About the Therapy Process
The first session is a gentle starting point where we explore what has brought you to therapy and what you would like support with.
There is no pressure to talk about anything you are not ready for.
Together, we will:
- understand what feels difficult right now
- explore patterns in thoughts and emotions
- gently process past experiences when ready
- work towards emotional clarity and stability
Everything moves at your pace.
FACE-TO-FACE & ONLINE COUNSELLING
I offer:
- Face-to-face counselling in Portsmouth, Hampshire
- Online counselling across the UK via secure video call
Both options provide the same level of care and confidentiality, allowing you to choose what feels right for you.
MY VALUES
In my work, I prioritise:
- Safety — emotional stability and trust
- Respect — your experience matters
- Compassion — no judgment, only understanding
- Collaboration — we work together
- Authenticity — real human connection
WHY PEOPLE CHOOSE TO WORK WITH ME
People often come to me because they are looking for:
- a calm and grounded therapist
- a space where they feel safe and understood
- support that feels human, not clinical
- help making sense of their emotions
- experience with anxiety, trauma, ADHD, and overwhelm
FINAL WORD
Starting therapy can feel uncertain, especially if you’ve been managing things on your own for a long time.
You don’t need to be ready — just open to beginning.
If you would like to explore working together, I offer a free 15-minute initial chat to see whether it feels like the right fit.
Elena Gava
Counsellor
How I Can Help You
Free first call
I do offer a brief chat via Zoom where I could explain how do I work and you could ask me any
questions about therapy and decide from there..
15 minutes - FREE
Introductory/Assessment session
On first session we will explore what brought you to therapy, what you would like to achieve and how we could work together.
50 minutes - £30
Following sessions
Individual counselling for both short-term and long-term work.
50 minutes - £ 60
Get in Touch
Contact me to learn more about taking the next step towards changing the rest of your life.