About Carla

A Little About Me

As a bold teenager in the mid-80s, I left rural Shropshire on the National Express bus, drawn towards the bright lights of London. School had never really been my thing - it felt too noisy, too rigid, too structured. I met some lovely people there, but never thrived in that environment. What I did know was this: I wanted to be an artist, and I loved hearing people’s stories. Those two passions - creativity and listening - have shaped everything I’ve done since.

A Creative Journey

In those early days, I painted and drew, often while listening to people open up about their lives. I showed my work in a London gallery before moving into the fabric trade, where I created designs to be embroidered and printed onto textiles. Over the years, I worked in many creative and organisational roles: arts project organiser for the BBC; jazz band manager; book designer in publishing. For nearly 40-years, mostly freelancing, I’ve made my living in design, painting, drawing, and photography. Alongside this, I often found myself helping people set up businesses, helping them to slay their problems, face their challenges, and work out what they wanted from life.

In 2001 I moved back to Shropshire. Life outside of work is full and rich: I’m a mum to four adults; a nanny; a mother-in-law; a wife; a daughter and a traveller. A collection of animals keep life lively and grounded. I’ve never stopped learning - I’ve studied European languages, business, fine art, coaching, and counselling. I’ve always been curious, always drawn to understanding people and the world in different ways.

Discovering a Different Way of Being

It was later in life that I began to understand some of my own struggles with school and nine-to-five jobs. They weren’t about me not trying hard enough - they were about neurodivergence. In this middle chapter of my life, I discovered ADHD. I don’t much like the word ‘disorder’ - I see myself as ‘differently ordered’. Over the years I’ve built my own strategies for staying organised and working well, and I think this is why I feel so comfortable being alongside other people as they evolve in their own lives.

Looking back, the thread that runs through all my experiences is communication, interpretation, and listening. Whether through art, design, or conversation, I’ve always been tuned into people’s stories and perspectives. That’s what eventually led me to train in a more formal way as a qualified Person-Centred Counsellor, Supervisor and Coach, bringing together real-world life experience with professional skills.

Counselling, Coaching & Supervision

Today, I offer counselling, coaching, and supervision in Shrewsbury and online across the UK. Though each service is different, they are all built on the same foundations: listening without judgment, creating a safe space, and supporting people to find their own way forward.

• Counselling gives you time to talk about whatever’s weighing on you - stress, anxiety, low mood, relationships, confidence, or simply feeling stuck.

• Coaching is more future-focused. It’s about clarifying your goals, finding direction, and creating change in a way that feels right for you.

• Supervision is for counsellors, trainees, or professionals who need a reflective, supportive space to explore their work and look after their own and their clients safety and wellbeing.

Whether it’s counselling, coaching, or supervision, the pace is yours. You set the direction - let’s collaborate.

My Approach Today

My approach is straightforward and down-to-earth. I’m not here to give you homework or tell you what to do. I’m here to listen, to walk alongside you, and to create a place where you can figure things out for yourself - at your pace, in your way. The work we do together might be about navigating stress, low mood, relationships, self-confidence, life transitions, or simply that stuck feeling that tells you something needs to change. It might also be about professional growth, creativity, or finding a new ‘design’ for your life. Whatever brings you, whether you are laughing, crying or appreciating the quiet - this is your time.

So if you’re curious about counselling, coaching, or supervision, and you’d like to talk things through, I’d love to hear from you. My real-life experience, combined with professional training, helps me meet you as a whole person, not a label or a problem to fix. Let’s have a conversation and see where it leads.