The Farley

Private Therapy for
Burnout, Anxiety & Emotional Struggle -
In Southampton and Online Across the UK
You’re still showing up.
But inside, you feel detached. Drained. Unreachable.
Burnout. Anxiety. Stress that won’t switch off.
You’ve carried it for so long, it’s hard to know where to begin.
This is private therapy for those who are used to coping, even when it’s costing them.

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Is Therapy (or Counselling) at The Farley Right For Me?
From the outside, things may seem fine. You’re doing what needs to be done. You show up. You keep going. But underneath it all, something doesn’t feel right. And it hasn’t for a while.
For some people, it shows up as a gradual fading. Life feels more functional than meaningful. For others, it arrives more suddenly. You reach a point where your usual ways of coping stop working.
You might recognise:
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A sense of disconnection from your own life or emotions
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Feeling physically or emotionally drained, even after rest
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A relentless drive to keep achieving, without space to pause
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Losing touch with your sense of identity or direction
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Struggling to express what you’re feeling, or why it matters
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A loneliness that persists, even when you're not alone
Some clients arrive in crisis. Others come when they realise they’ve been carrying too much, too quietly, for too long. Whatever has brought you here, it’s valid. Therapy at The Farley offers a place to slow down, reflect, and reconnect. You do not need to be at breaking point. You simply need to be ready for something to shift.
What Therapy at The Farley Feels Like
This is not therapy with a clipboard. It is not about ticking boxes or being told what to do.
I’m Esther Dietrichsen-Farley, a Person-Centred Counsellor and Psychotherapist based in Southampton. The work we do together is relational and reflective. I offer a steady space where you can bring what feels unclear, painful, or unresolved.
There is no pressure to perform or explain everything perfectly. What matters is that you feel heard. Together, we pay attention to what’s underneath the surface, at a pace that feels manageable for you.
A note on language
In the UK, people often use the terms counselling and therapy interchangeably. I use both too. While some people view counselling as more short-term and therapy as deeper work, the two often overlap in real life. In my practice, what matters most is that the space feels human, safe, and attuned to you.
Whether you're searching for counselling Southampton, private therapy in Southampton, or exploring private therapy online across the UK, The Farley offers a consistent, grounded space to come back to yourself - whether you think of it as therapy, counselling, or something you’re still figuring out.
Common Things We Explore
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Emotional disconnection, numbness, or detachment
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Chronic stress and burnout that rest alone doesn’t resolve
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High-functioning anxiety and the pressure to keep up appearances
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Loss of identity, especially during periods of change
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Repetitive patterns in relationships that leave you feeling unseen or unfulfilled
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A vague but persistent sense that something is missing
You do not need a diagnosis to begin. And you do not need to have the words yet. Many people come to therapy unsure of what they will say. That is more than okay.
How We Can Work Together
I offer private counselling & psychotherapy in Southampton and online across the UK. Whether you are local or trying to fit therapy around a busy life, we will find a way to make it work.
In-person: My quiet, private practice in Shirley, Southampton
Online: Secure, confidential video sessions (UK-wide)
Session length: 50 minutes
Frequency: Weekly
Duration: Short or long-term, depending on your needs
If something in you recognises what you’ve read here, you are welcome to reach out. You do not need to explain it all. You just need somewhere to begin.
About The Farley
A space where you can be real - even if you’re not sure what that means yet.
I’m Esther Dietrichsen-Farley, a Person-Centred Counsellor and Psychotherapist (MBACP Registered Member, 405143), and the founder of The Farley. I’m based in Southampton and also work online with clients across the UK.
Most of the people who reach out to me are carrying a lot. They may look like they’re coping - and in many ways, they are - but privately, something feels off. They might describe a sense of emotional flatness, or say they feel like they’re going through the motions. Some feel overwhelmed by life’s demands and can’t find a way to pause. Others feel numb, lost, or unsure who they are anymore.
You might be someone who is usually reflective, independent, and outwardly composed. But lately, that inner steadiness may feel harder to access. The more you push through, the more distant you feel from yourself.
I’ve worked with a wide range of adults - professionals experiencing burnout, business founders in high-pressure roles, creatives, carers, and deep thinkers. Many share a quiet struggle that isn’t always visible to others but is deeply felt within themselves.
How I work
My approach is grounded in Person-Centred therapy and shaped by ongoing training in relational, trauma-informed, and somatic work. In practice, this means I won’t analyse you from a distance or try to fix you. I work collaboratively, attuned to what you need, and careful to meet you with respect and emotional presence.
This is a space where you can show up exactly as you are, even if you don’t have the words yet. Some people arrive unsure what they feel. Others feel everything, all at once. There’s room for all of it here.
We start slowly. We build trust. And in time, new insights and connections may begin to emerge. Often, the work begins in the quiet places - the confusion, the heaviness, the moments of not knowing.
My private practice is based in Shirley, Southampton. The space is quiet, calm, and intentionally designed to feel safe and contained. I also work with clients across the UK via secure online sessions.
Whether you're right at the edge or simply ready to go deeper, you're welcome here.

Services
I offer weekly, 50-minute counselling sessions for adults, in person or online. We’ll talk about whatever feels important. There’s no agenda or performance. Some sessions might be quiet. Others might be emotional. All of them will be shaped around you.
Areas I work with
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Emotional disconnection or numbness
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Burnout and long-term stress
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High-functioning anxiety or persistent low mood
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Loss of identity, direction or meaning
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People-pleasing, perfectionism, and hidden overwhelm
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Feeling "off" even when life looks fine
You don’t need to tick a box or label what’s going on. If something feels wrong - or like it’s just not working anymore - therapy is a good place to begin.
Location & Format
In-person: My quiet, private practice in Shirley, Southampton
Online: Secure, confidential video sessions (UK-wide)
Session Length: 50 minutes
Frequency: Weekly
Duration: Short or long-term
Fees
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£60 per session (before 5pm)
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£65 per session (after 5pm)
I am a recognised provider with WPA and Vitality Health Insurance. If you're covered by either insurer, you may be able to claim for your therapy sessions. Please check your policy details and request a pre-authorisation code before we begin.
Support Group
In addition to individual therapy, I run a small, supportive group for adults who feel emotionally disconnected or lost. It's a space to connect, reflect, and realise you're not alone in this. The group meets in Southampton and is open to people of all backgrounds. Please contact me to register your interest or join the waitlist.
Still unsure?
If something here resonates - even if you don’t know what you need - reach out. I offer a free 30-minute initial consultation video call so we can see whether this feels like a good fit.

Say hello
I would love to hear from you! If you have any questions please complete the form below. Or email directly:
esther@thefarley.co.uk
Request a call back
11 Norfolk Road, Southampton, SO15 5AT,
United Kingdom