Welcome to Fern Counselling

Welcome to Fern Counselling, my little corner of calm in the sometimes chaotic world of life. I’m Lorraine, a counsellor offering therapy for adults and children across Chester, Ellesmere Port, and beyond, and I’m so glad you’ve found your way here.

If you’ve landed on my website, chances are you’re curious about counselling, or maybe you’ve decided it’s finally time to put yourself first (go you!). Either way, let me tell you a bit about how I got here, jeans, hoodie and all.

My counselling journey began back in 2017 when I started my adult placement with Age UK in Birkenhead. I worked with older adults facing a mix of life’s tougher moments, loneliness, grief, and the challenge of adapting to new stages of life. A few months later, I joined the children’s charity Place2Be, working in a primary school on the Wirral.

I loved both placements for totally different reasons, the wisdom and reflection of my adult clients, and the honesty and imagination of the little ones. The contrast was eye-opening, and it confirmed something I’ve always believed: whether you’re eight or eighty, we all just want to be heard, understood, and supported.

When I qualified in 2018, I carried on working with both groups, adults and children. Life, of course, had other plans. I took a short break for maternity leave, thinking I’d ease back into things gently. Then, one day, when my son Calvin was just seven weeks old, I got a message from Laura at Healthbox, a Chester based not-for-profit saying, “Pop down for a chat.”

What I thought was a casual coffee turned out to be a full-blown interview. Laura and Lizzie (another colleague and now dear friend of mine) were dressed to the nines (all very profesh!) and there I was in my postpartum uniform = jeans, hoodie, and the “I’ve slept three hours” look! But somehow, that meeting turned into something special, and my career as a counsellor truly began to take shape.

Fast forward to today, and Fern Counselling was born, a name that means a lot to me. I grew up in Ireland, just across from Lough Fern, a beautiful, peaceful place surrounded by greenery. Ferns, for me, have always symbolised growth and quiet resilience, the way life can unfold gently, even after difficult seasons.

It felt like the perfect name for the kind of counselling I offer: grounded, nurturing, and real.

In this new venture, I plan to work with both children and adults - helping people untangle thoughts, understand emotions, and find a bit of breathing space again. Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, low mood, stress, or just feeling a little lost, I offer a warm, down-to-earth approach that meets you where you are.

So, if you’re looking for counselling in Chester or therapy in Ellesmere Port, pull up a chair (jeans and hoodie welcome) - and let’s start the conversation.