Maggie Stanley
Counsellor in Axbridge

Maggie Stanley is based in Axbridge Somerset. She is an experienced practitioner with over 23 years working as a therapist and trainer specialising in stress management and behaviour change. Maggie believes that individuals respond to life and events according to their life experiences, life skills and personality. If coping mechanisms and life skills are poor or ineffective then this can affect the individual both physically and mentally. She has become very interested in meditation and mindfulness and uses this in her one to one therapy and teaching.

Over the years Maggie has run workshops and developed training packages for the commercial, voluntary and statuary sectors. Maggie’s keen interest in behaviour change led her on to becoming involved with The University of West England co writing the behaviour change module for the NHS health Trainers course which she delivered for two years. She also has written and co written psycho /social skills courses which she delivered to patients at South Gloucester PCT for over 7 years.

Maggie has a keen interest in animal healing she is an animal lover owning two cats three dogs, chickens, ducks and bees. Animals have always been drawn to Maggie people are often heard saying to her “I am surprised my (dog/ cat/ rabbit/horse…) has come to you they don’t usually”. Maggie has had some interesting and wonderful results with Reiki using it with animals.

Background & Counselling Qualifications

Maggie originally trained as a hypnotherapist and soon became interested in stress management, addictions and behaviour change. She initially studied with Dr Stephen Palmer at the Centre for Stress Management and went on to study stress and personal skills in wider arenas. Maggie realised that not everyone is in a place where they can talk about stress or personal problems sometimes they just need a place to “be”. She realised that people sometimes just needed space. Maggie then went on to train in Reiki healing, Indian Head massage, oriental face and hand massage. She has also studied Meditation and mindfulness which she is able to teach.

Maggie started her working life in the NHS as a Cardiac technician and most recently as a specialist Stop Smoking Advisor for seven years. She taught counselling skills and assertiveness in adult education for a number of years and had a counselling skills course accredited through the open college network. Maggie has worked with disabled people and was a consultant training coordinator for three years for a charity when she lived in Essex. She continues to teach a range of soft skills courses within community education. She has been a volunteer mediator, a Somerset cancer care volunteer, a first responder and more recently a volunteer for the Secret world animal rescue centre.

Maggie has training in -
Hypnotherapy
Counselling
Emotion Freedom Technique
Stress Management
Reiki
Indian Head Massage
Meditation
Mindfulness

My Specialisms

Maggie passionate about helping people to find their own place of calm and peace. She has experience of working with disable people, Drugs and Alcohol rehab, and people with mild mental health. Helping people to move forward and find a more peace for and content life is what she does best. She is also passionate about animals and has a gift of working with animals especially dogs and cats.

Approach to Counselling & How I Work

Maggie's approach to therapy and teaching is very person centred. Everyone is different and everyone needs to find their own path. Maggie likes to feel she is the travel guide on someone else's journey.

Therapies & Rates

Please note the rates detailed below are there to give you an idea of the therapists standard rates, we strongly advise you contact the therapist for more detailed rates and any offers they may have.

Therapy	Appointment Type	Rate
Hypnotherapy	In Person	£30 per 60 minutes
Reiki	In Person	£30 per 60 minutes
Counselling	In Person	£30 per 60 minutes