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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.

Client Testimonials

Client Testimonials

"I’ve been working with Esther for a while now. She’s helped me in more ways than I can fit here but namely helping me deal with big work decisions that were affecting me mentally and spilling into my personal life. She’s helped me understand my own patterns of thinking and how to deal with those cycles when they happen. It’s been important for me to talk with her in times of stress as much as in times where I’ve been in a good place and thanks to Esther, there are far longer cycles of good and far shorter and fewer times of hard. I can’t thank her enough for everything she’s helped me with and I’ve recommended her several times to close friends and family.”

To preserve confidentiality, we do not use client names or any identifying details. 

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Start Here

Start Here

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:

  • A sense of disconnection from your own life or emotions

  • Feeling physically or emotionally drained, even after rest

  • A relentless drive to keep achieving, without space to pause

  • Losing touch with your sense of identity or direction

  • Struggling to express what you’re feeling, or why it matters

  • 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

 

  • Emotional disconnection, numbness, or detachment

  • Chronic stress and burnout that rest alone doesn’t resolve

  • High-functioning anxiety and the pressure to keep up appearances

  • Loss of identity, especially during periods of change

  • Repetitive patterns in relationships that leave you feeling unseen or unfulfilled

  • 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.

Esther Dietrichsen-Farley, person-centred therapist and founder of The Farley — offering private therapy in Southampton and online across the UK
BACP Registered Member 405143
About The Farley

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
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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

  • Emotional disconnection or numbness

  • Burnout and long-term stress

  • High-functioning anxiety or persistent low mood

  • Loss of identity, direction or meaning

  • People-pleasing, perfectionism, and hidden overwhelm

  • 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

  • £60 per session (before 5pm)

  • £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. 

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Contact Us

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

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Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy

Background
In order to provide you with the best service possible we need to hold your personal contact details and, in some cases, the records of your therapy sessions. This privacy notice tells you what we will do with your personal information from initial point of contact through to after therapy has ended. Your privacy is very important to us and you can be confident that your personal information will be kept safe and secure and will only be used for the purpose it was given to The Farley. We adhere to current data protection legislation, including the General Data Protection Regulation (EU/2016/679) (the GDPR) and the United Kingdom's retained version of the GDPR as implemented by the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003.

We also adhere to the ethical guidelines regarding protecting client privacy and confidentiality set by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

When you contact The Farley through our enquiry form or via email, you give us consent to store your personal information in order to provide our services to you. Please read this Privacy Policy carefully so that you understand how I handle your data.

Lawful basis for holding and using your personal information
The GDPR states that we must have a lawful basis for processing your personal data. There are different lawful bases depending on the stage at which we are processing your data. If you have had therapy with Esther Dietrichsen-Farley, and it has now ended, she will use legitimate interest as her lawful basis for holding and using your personal information. If you are currently having therapy with Esther Dietrichsen-Farley, or if you are in contact with The Farley to consider therapy, we will process your personal data where it is necessary for the performance of our contract. The GDPR also makes sure that we look after any sensitive personal information that you may disclose to The Farley appropriately. This type of information is called ‘special category personal information’. The lawful basis for us processing any special categories of personal information is that it is for provision of health treatment (in this case therapy sessions) and necessary for a contract with a health professional (in this case, a contract between you and The Farley).

The Farley will retain your name, your email address, your phone number and the dates when you entered and finished therapy on our system for up to two years of the date when you finished therapy.

Information we record
The information we request from you may include personal information, such as your full name, your phone number, your email address, your GP details, and your date of birth. We may also ask for sensitive personal information, such as ethnicity, gender sexuality, marital status, sexuality, offences, the status of your physical and mental health or religion and beliefs.

If you are currently having therapy with Esther Dietrichsen-Farley, The Farley will also hold information such as anonymised therapy session notes, anonymised risk assessments and safety plans. 

How we use your information
The Farley will never use your personal data for any purposes other than the administration of the therapy service provided to you i.e. to arrange, cancel and rearrange appointments. We will only retain your personal information for as long as it is necessary. This is in line with guidance from the Information Commissioner’s Office.

The personal information we collect about those who use our services is used to provide the services requested and to operate our business efficiently. We use it for billing, identification, authentication, service improvement, research, and for contacting you when necessary.
 
After therapy has ended: There are reasons why we might be required to keep records after your therapy has ended. For example, in the case of financial transactions personal information must be retained for as long as legally required in respect of tax or accounting purposes. In case of therapy with Esther Dietrichsen-Farley, retaining your therapy notes ensures that we can continue to offer you an efficient service if you make contact after therapy has ended. Your therapy notes do not include any personal details that could be used to identify you and continue to be stored securely on our password-protected computer equipment for two years after your therapy has ended. Two years after therapy has ended your therapy notes will be confidentially destroyed.

Your personal details form is confidentially destroyed on ending of your therapy sessions. Please note that we need to keep a record of your name, date of birth, email address and your client reference number for two years after your therapy has ended. Your client reference number corresponds with a client reference number on your therapy notes and therefore enables us to identify your therapy notes if necessary.
 
Third party recipients of personal data
We share a limited amount of personal data with third parties in order to provide our services to you and to fulfil legal obligations in respect of tax and accounting purposes. For example, our accountant is permitted access to my invoices. We will never pass on your contact details to any third-party organisations for the purposes of sales, marketing or research.
 
Data security
We take the security of the data that we hold about you very seriously. Our email account is password protected and mobile phones and laptops used to respond to your emails are password protected and have anti-virus software. Any email correspondence will be deleted within six months if it is not necessary to keep it.
 
Information Sharing
We may disclose personal information when we believe it violates our Terms of Service, when it is required to assist with a lawful investigation or comply with the law, if we believe disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, or if some or all of the assets and operations of our business are or may be transferred to another party.

If we believe that you or others might be at risk of harm, we reserve the right to share your personal information without your consent with either Police Service, Ambulance Service, Fire Service or Social Services.

We will not sell, rent or share your personal information with third parties in other ways without your consent unless we are entitled by law to do so.

Website visitors
By accessing the website, you are consenting to the information collection and use practices described in this privacy notice. Should you choose to contact me using the enquiry form on the website none of the data that you supply will be stored by the website or passed to any third-party data processors. Instead, the data will be collated into an email and sent to me over the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP). SMTP servers are protected by TLS (sometimes known as SSL) meaning that the email content is encrypted before being sent across the internet. The email content is then decrypted by local computers and devices.

The website uses cookies and Google Analytics. Almost all websites use cookies which are small files that get put on your computer by websites as you surf them. These cookies can store lots of information which can have privacy implications. Google Analytics is a service provided by Google that gathers anonymous data on how people are using websites and then provides visitor statistics, details of page views, etc. This service is used by many website owners as the data helps website owners to improve their websites. If you wish to change your cookie settings then you may do so through most browser settings. To find out more about cookies, including how to see what cookies have been set and how to manage and delete them visit www.aboutcookies.org or www.allaboutcookies.org.

In many cases the cookies are used to generate identical information to Google Analytics and indeed use Google Analytics, so opting-out of Google Analytics will also opt you out of these cookies too. You can opt out of Google analytics and other Google services here – http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout and https://www.google.com/dashboard/.

When you email us
The Farley uses Google Mail to supply our email service, and Wix to host our website including the online enquiry forms on our website. Both companies are required to be complaint in protecting your data.

We also monitor any emails sent to us, including file attachments, for viruses or malicious software. Please be aware that you have a responsibility to ensure that any email you send is within the bounds of the law.

Your rights
Under GDPR, 2018 guidelines you have the following rights: The right to request access to the personal information that we store and process about you. You can ask for corrections to be made to the information held or for your personal information to be deleted. You can also ask me to restrict the processing of your personal information or to object to the processing of it altogether in some circumstances. You can read more about your rights at ico.org.uk/your-data-matters. If you would like to make a request relating to any of the rights above, please send a request in writing by emailing to esther@thefarley.co.uk. Please be aware that in certain situations counsellors may be unable to comply with the above requests. For example, if compelled to retain the records by a court of law. Please also be aware that there may be a charge for complying with a request if it is deemed to be excessive in nature.

Queries
‘Data controller’ is the term used to describe the person or organisation that collects and stores and has responsibility for people’s personal data. In this instance, the data controller is Esther Dietrichsen-Farley and she is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office. If you have any questions about this privacy policy or the way in which we handle your personal information you can contact her via email at esther@thefarley.co.uk.

Access and Correction
You can request access to personal information we hold about you. We will provide this except in the limited circumstances in which we are permitted not to.

You may request that I correct personal information I hold about you that is inaccurate or out-of-date. If you request that I delete your personal information, I will take all reasonable steps to do so unless I need to keep it for legal purposes or for other exemptions to the right to erasure in GDPR Article 17(3).

Complaints
If you have a complaint about how we handle your personal data, please do not hesitate to get in touch by email to esther@thefarley.co.uk. If you want to make a formal complaint about the way we have processed your personal information you can contact the ICO which is the statutory body that oversees data protection law in the UK. The data controller is Esther Dietrichsen-Farley and she is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office: the registration number for Mrs Esther Dietrichsen-Farley is ZB661500. For more information go to ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint.

Changes to privacy notice
This privacy notice may be updated from time to time, so please check occasionally for any updates.

The Farley

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