Esme Campbell Therapist & Counsellor
About Me
I'm Esme (she/her), a Psychodynamic Psychotherapeutic Counsellor working mostly with adults and young adults (18+).
You may be feeling stuck, overwhelmed, uncertain about yourself or your relationships, or simply aware that something doesn't feel quite right. Perhaps you find yourself repeating patterns that you don't fully understand, struggling with your emotions, or finding that difficulties in relationships keep resurfacing.
Therapy can offer a space to slow things down, make sense of what you're experiencing and develop a deeper understanding of yourself. We can explore the thoughts, feelings and relationship patterns that have developed over time, including those that may operate outside of our conscious awareness.
My style is warm, professional and non-judgemental, as well as active and collaborative. I aim to create a space where you can feel safe enough to explore difficult things, without feeling judged or pressured.
How I Can Help
I have worked regularly with a diverse range of clients and issues, including:
Depression
Anxiety
Trauma
Family issues and conflict
Relationship difficulties and dating
Exploring identity, sexuality or gender
Self-understanding
Perfectionism and procrastination
Setting boundaries and self-esteem
Neurodiversity, including ADHD and ASD
This is a selection rather than a full list. You don't need to know exactly what's wrong, or have a clear goal for therapy, before getting in touch. Sometimes knowing that something doesn't feel right is enough to start exploring what might be going on.
How I Work
My core way of working is psychodynamic, which means I'm interested in understanding how your past experiences, relationships and emotional world may be influencing how you feel and relate in the present.
We explore thoughts, feelings and patterns together, with curiosity rather than judgement. Through collaboration, and at a pace set by you, we work towards greater self-understanding, emotional awareness and the possibility for change.
There is no expectation to talk about anything before you feel ready. Therapy unfolds over time, and part of the process is noticing patterns, feelings and thoughts as they emerge, both within and outside of sessions. Together, we reflect on these experiences to support greater understanding and emotional resilience.
Within a safe and holding therapeutic space, I may also offer appropriate challenge where it feels helpful, to support new insights and perspectives. Empathy and sensitivity are always at the forefront of my approach.
Alongside my core psychodynamic background, I am also trained to offer CBT (with heart!). I can draw on CBT techniques alongside counselling and psychotherapy where they feel helpful in supporting recovery, acceptance and change.
The therapeutic relationship is consistently identified as one of the most important factors in therapy outcomes, and it is therefore central to the therapy I offer. This incorporates a consistent, reliable and confidential space where you can speak freely and feel supported in exploring whatever feels important to you.
What To Expect From Therapy
Beginning therapy can feel like a significant step. You don't need to have clear answers before starting — therapy can be a place to explore your experiences at your own pace, within a safe and supportive space.
In the early sessions, we will begin by getting to know one another and exploring what has led you to seek therapy at this time. You may have clear goals, or simply know that you need support — both are welcome.
Some clients come to therapy with specific goals or difficulties that can be explored over a shorter, fixed number of sessions. Others may benefit from longer-term therapy when difficulties are more complex, longstanding or deeply rooted, or when more profound change is being sought.
Ultimately, the duration of therapy is something we will discuss together and will be guided by your needs and preferences. Many people seeking therapy have experienced trauma or have felt powerless, and part of my work as your therapist is to support you in developing a greater sense of agency. My practice is therefore always client-led, collaborative and at your pace.
Sessions take place at a regular, agreed time and last 50 minutes and session costs start from £65 (I offer a sliding scale based on client’s capacity to pay). I offer both in-person and online sessions. In our initial meetings, we will discuss practical arrangements such as the time, place, cost and expected duration of therapy (short/fixed-term or open-ended), as well as your therapeutic contract, including policies on confidentiality and GDPR.
My Experience
I'm a qualified therapist and have worked extensively since 2017 in both private practice and organisational settings. Alongside my private practice, I work as a senior therapist at a well-established Brighton & Hove clinic. Prior to this, I worked across public health and mental health services, including a Local Authority and Mind in Brighton & Hove.
I'm accredited by the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP), which recognises my practice as meeting their higher standards for competent, ethical and independent practice. I hold a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychodynamic Psychotherapeutic Counselling (Distinction), and I undertake regular supervision and continuing professional development to keep my work informed by best practice.
Throughout my career I have worked with a wide range of clients. Over time, I have developed particular experience working with neurodivergent clients, as well as those from the LGBTQ+ community. I have also worked significantly with young adults (18+) and previously worked with teenagers aged 16+.
Location
I work in several therapy clinics across central Brighton & Hove:
Brighton Therapy Rooms in the beautiful North Laine area on Trafalgar Street and a few minutes from Brighton Station BN1 4ER: https://www.brightontherapyrooms.co.uk
The Rock Clinic in East Brighton on Eastern Road, BN2 5TA: https://www.rockclinic.org.uk
Brighton and Hove Therapy Rooms with sites across Central Brighton & Hove including on Princes Street in Brighton (BN2 1RD) and Church Road in Hove (BN3 2BB): https://brightonandhovetherapyhub.co.uk/
Accessibility & Inclusivity
I aim to create a safe, welcoming space for ALL the clients who come for therapy with me. I'm committed to understanding each person's unique experiences, needs and ways of communicating, and to making therapy accessible and effective. I have extensive experience supporting neurodivergent clients (including ADHD and ASD) and those from LGBTQIA+ communities.
Therapy can feel intimidating, especially if you've felt misunderstood in the past. I work in a warm, non-judgemental and flexible way, and I welcome open conversation about what helps you feel safe and supported — including practical things like session structure, pace and communication preferences.
I continually update my training to stay current with best practice in inclusive therapy. Everyone is welcome, and you're invited to get in touch to discuss any accessibility or inclusivity needs before starting.
Am I the Right Therapist for You?
Psychodynamic therapy may be helpful if you are interested in developing a deeper understanding of yourself, your emotions and your relationships, and are open to reflection and exploration. It can be particularly supportive if you find yourself feeling stuck, repeating patterns, or struggling to understand why certain experiences feel especially difficult.
CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) can be helpful in providing practical tools to help break patterns of thoughts, feelings and behaviours that feel stuck.
Finding the right therapist is one of the most important aspects of therapy and I welcome any questions you may have and encourage you to get in touch if you would like to explore whether the way that I work feels right for you.
Contact Me
For more information or to set up an initial consultation, please use this contact form: