Counselling gives you a regular, confidential appointment to talk something through with someone outside your everyday life. Our counselling and talking therapy in Haywards Heath is a calm, private space to understand what is going on for you, and to work out what you would like to be different.
The clinic is at Naldred Farm Offices on Borde Hill Lane, in quiet countryside just outside Haywards Heath town centre, with free on-site parking and disabled access.
If you need help urgently rather than a booked appointment, see Urgent support below.
What people come to counselling for
Our practitioners are experienced, compassionate therapists offering a safe space to explore stress and burnout, anxiety and low mood, family or relationship difficulties, and trauma, loss or life transitions.
Counselling for anxiety
Anxiety looks different in everyone — broken sleep, a mind that will not switch off, avoiding situations that once felt ordinary. In counselling you get room to describe what happens, to look at the thoughts and habits that keep the cycle turning, and to look at coping strategies you can use between appointments. Counselling here sits alongside the care you receive from your GP, not instead of it. If you have been searching for an anxiety therapist near you in Haywards Heath or Burgess Hill, an initial consultation is a straightforward place to start.
Counselling for depression and low mood
People often come to counselling for depression and low mood when motivation has drained away, or when they cannot work out how they arrived here. Sessions might look at how thoughts and emotions connect, at confidence and self-esteem, and at what feels manageable this week. Again, this sits alongside any treatment you are already receiving rather than replacing it.
Counselling for stress and burnout
Work pressure, caring responsibilities and the sheer volume of life admin build up quietly until something gives. Counselling for stress and burnout gives you space to name what is draining you, to look honestly at what can and cannot change, and to look at coping strategies that fit your week.
Bereavement and grief counselling
Grief rarely follows the tidy stages people expect of it. Bereavement counselling gives you somewhere to say the things you may be protecting other people from — including the anger, relief or numbness that can sit alongside sadness. There is no correct timetable: some people ask about grief counselling within weeks of a death, and others years later. Trauma, loss and life transitions are among the areas our practitioners work with.
Relationship and couples counselling
Relationship difficulties are one of the most common reasons people first pick up the phone. Counselling can be a place to look at recurring arguments, at what is not being said, and at patterns that have hardened over years. Michelle Thornton works with adults and families, and family or relationship difficulties are among the areas she works with. If you are looking for couple counselling with both partners in the room, please ring and we will tell you honestly whether we can help.
Urgent support, and counselling alongside your GP and NHS care
Counselling here is complementary to the care you receive from your GP and NHS mental health services, not a replacement for it. If you are already under the care of a health professional, please keep them in the picture.
If you need support urgently, contact your GP, call NHS 111, or call Samaritans free on 116 123 at any hour. If someone’s life is at immediate risk, call 999.
CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) in Haywards Heath
CBT is a structured, practical form of talking therapy built on a simple observation: thoughts, feelings and behaviour feed each other. A CBT session is more focused than an open conversation — you and your counsellor pick something specific, such as a situation you have been avoiding or a thought that turns up every time, and take it apart together. You will usually agree something small to try or notice before the next appointment.
CBT tends to suit people who like structure and would rather leave with practical tools than with insight alone. Michelle Thornton combines CBT and talking therapy in 50-minute sessions at £65, and an initial consultation is where you find out whether it fits what you need.
Counselling for children and young people
We see children and young people as well as adults. If you are looking for counselling for a child or young person, please ring the clinic — arrangements are discussed when you first make contact.
Your counsellor: Michelle Thornton (MA, MBACP)
Michelle Thornton is a Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP). She works with adults and families, combining CBT and talking therapy. Her approach is practical and warm — building tools for everyday life, and working with thoughts and emotions as they turn up day to day. Her practitioner page has more on her background and how she works.
Other therapies at the clinic
April Dautlich also practises at Borde Hill, using Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) — a distinct approach with its own page, rather than a form of counselling.
Fees and availability
| Practitioner | Session length | Fee | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michelle Thornton — counselling and CBT | 50 minutes | £65 | Monday: 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm Wednesday: 2:00 pm – 6:30 pm |
| April Dautlich — EFT | 75–90 minutes | £75–£85 | Various days and times |
To book, call 01444 616797, email info@clinicatbordehill.com, or use the contact form. See also our fees page.
What to expect from your first session
The first session is mostly a conversation. Your counsellor will ask what has brought you here, agree goals with you, and explain how confidentiality works.
Choosing a counsellor is largely about what therapists call the therapeutic alliance: whether you feel safe and heard. How many sessions follow is something you decide together.
Where to find us: counselling in Haywards Heath and across Sussex
The Clinic at Borde Hill, Naldred Farm Offices, Borde Hill Lane, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 1XR.
We are just outside Haywards Heath town centre, with easy access for clients from Lindfield, Cuckfield, Burgess Hill, Hassocks, Crawley, Horsham and East Grinstead. There is free parking on site and disabled access to the building.
Frequently asked questions about counselling
How much does counselling cost, and how do I book? Michelle Thornton: 50 minutes, £65 (Monday 4:00–6:00 pm; Wednesday 2:00–6:30 pm). Call or email the clinic to book, or use the contact form.
Is your counsellor BACP registered? Michelle Thornton is a Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP). Registration is held individually rather than by a clinic, so do ask about the practitioner you will be seeing.
Is counselling confidential? Yes. Sessions are confidential except in rare safeguarding situations where there is a risk of harm. Your counsellor will explain this at the first session.
Do I need a counsellor or a therapist? In everyday use the words overlap, and in the UK neither title is legally protected. What matters more is the practitioner’s training and whether you feel able to talk to them.
How do I know if counselling is right for me? We recommend an initial consultation to see whether you feel safe and heard; there is no obligation to continue.
Can you see my child or teenager? Yes, we see children and young people. Please ring the clinic first so we can talk through what you are looking for.
Ready to talk?
Taking the first step is often the hardest part. Call 01444 616797, email info@clinicatbordehill.com, or send a message through our contact page.