Samantha Cooke Counselling

Samantha Cooke, integrative counsellor in Ascot offering support for life transitions.

Life Transitions Counselling in Ascot & Online

For when life shifts in ways you didn’t expect.

Some changes arrive quietly, others all at once - and suddenly the life you knew no longer fits. When the ground beneath you shifts, it can leave you questioning who you are now, what you need, and how to move forward.

Counselling offers a steady, grounded space to slow down, make sense of what’s happening, and begin to feel more like yourself again.

Support for Life's Unexpected Changes

Transitions have a way of reshaping how you see yourself, your relationships, and your place in the world. Even changes you “saw coming” can bring uncertainty, grief, or disorientation that feels hard to explain to others.

You might be here because:

a relationship has ended and you feel unanchored or unsure who you are without it
the grief of childlessness has left you feeling out of step with others, or painfully alone
retirement, redundancy or career change has unsettled your identity and sense of purpose
a chronic health condition has altered your daily life, energy, and sense of self
midlife or ageing is bringing quiet questions around meaning, visibility and direction
or you are in an in-between place where the old no longer fits and the new hasn’t arrived

Whatever brings you here, it matters.

And you don’t have to make sense of it on your own.

How Counselling Can Help

In our work together, you can begin to:

soften the “shoulds” that appear during big transitions - the beliefs about how life should look by now, or how you should be coping, and explore what feels right for you instead
make room for the loneliness that can arise when your life no longer matches what you imagined, or what others around you seem to be living
understand yourself with more clarity and compassion, especially when everything feels uncertain or unfamiliar
adjust to life with chronic illness - navigating shifting limitations, identity changes, and the grief of your former self
make sense of the emotional aftershocks of a relationship ending: the grief, relief, confusion, and the tender fear of beginning again
explore the layered grief of childlessness, including identity shifts and the ache of feeling “out of step” with others
navigate the unsettling freedom of retirement or career change when routine and purpose fall away
find steadiness within the realities of midlife and ageing - changing roles, shifting visibility, and caring for others while trying to care for yourself

Counselling offers space to explore all of this gently, at your pace, with someone alongside you.

You don’t need to arrive with answers.
You just need a place where you can pause, reflect, and feel supported.

Imagine Feeling More Steady

Imagine waking up feeling just a little lighter - not fixed or finished, simply a touch more steady inside yourself. A sense that you don’t need to brace quite as tightly to get through the day.

Imagine having moments where your mind feels quieter, where decisions feel less overwhelming, and where you trust yourself enough to take the next small step.

Imagine being able to speak openly about the things you rarely say out loud - the loneliness, the uncertainty, the shifting roles, the questions about who you are now - without feeling rushed, judged, or misunderstood.

Imagine reconnecting with small things that make you feel more like yourself again, such as a forgotten hobby, a routine that brings grounding, or moments of ease that don’t feel forced.

Imagine beginning to picture a future that isn’t only about coping, but about living in a way that feels honest and spacious.

And imagine recognising yourself - even gently, even in glimpses.

Counselling doesn’t remove the challenges, but it can offer a steadier place to stand as you move through them.

Get In Touch

If you’re navigating a transition that’s left you feeling uncertain, unsteady, or unlike yourself, I’m here to help.

⬤ Contact me to arrange a free 15-minute consultation.
Together, we’ll explore what you need and how therapy could support you.

Working Together

Counselling sessions are available:

in person in Ascot, Berkshire
online
by telephone

Sessions last 50 minutes and take place weekly.

I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation to help you decide whether we feel like a good fit.

Other Areas I Support

While I specialise in life transitions, many people come to me with more general concerns.

If something is affecting your emotional wellbeing, it’s welcome in the room.

I regularly support clients with:

anxiety and overwhelm
depression and low mood
bereavement and loss
low self-esteem or self-worth
workplace stress and burnout
relationship difficulties
feeling “not good enough” or unsure of themselves

You don’t need to be facing a major transition to begin counselling.
If you’re struggling, feeling stuck, or simply needing support, we can explore that together.

About Me

I’m Samantha, a counsellor based in Ascot, Berkshire.

Before becoming a counsellor, I spent two decades in the corporate world - appearing steady and capable while navigating a profound grief and a life transition that reshaped the path I thought I’d follow.

That experience changed how I understood identity, loss, and what it means to rebuild. It softened me, challenged me, and ultimately led me towards more meaningful work. I began my training and later retrained fully as a counsellor.

Because of what I’ve lived through, I have a deep affinity for supporting people whose lives no longer look or feel the way they expected - whether through endings, changes, health issues, ageing, or the quieter grief of plans that didn’t unfold.

My counselling style is gentle, relational and grounded. I aim to offer a steady, compassionate space where you can explore what’s shifting and reconnect with yourself at your own pace.

👉 Learn more about me.

Counselling in Ascot, Berkshire

I’m based in Ascot, Berkshire, and many of the clients I work with come from nearby areas such as Bracknell, Sandhurst, Crowthorne, Windsor, Maidenhead, Slough, Camberley, Reading, Earley and Woodley.

My practice offers a calm, private space for face-to-face sessions in person in Ascot, with online and telephone options if travelling isn’t practical or if you prefer support from home.