Introducing Inner Wild Counselling: A Journey from the Hair Salon

The path we take in life often makes sense when we look back. For me, the journey to founding Inner Wild Counselling in Shropshire grew from years of working closely with people, listening to their stories and recognising just how much we can carry beneath the surface of everyday life.

Before becoming a counsellor, I spent time managing a hair salon – Taylors – in Southend-on-Sea. It was a role that involved far more than appointments, running the salon, and making sure everything worked as it should. Like many people who work closely with the public, I experienced how a simple conversation can sometimes become something much more meaningful.

The salon chair became a place where people talked about their families, their relationships, their worries and the things they may not have found the space to say elsewhere. Sometimes, beneath the everyday chat, there are feelings of sadness, uncertainty, loneliness, or overwhelm.

Those moments really stay with you, as often they’d present themselves unexpectedly.

They remind you that we have very different lives to navigate, and being listened to without judgement allows a chance to decompress and even the feeling of safety.

At some stage there was a need to transition, and recognising that not everyone needs someone to fix things for them. Sometimes, they need to feel heard, to have space to untangle their thoughts, or just be themselves. That is when I decided it was time to follow a new path.

Today I offer adults a space to explore the experiences, emotions and challenges that can sometimes feel difficult to navigate alone. I recognise that everyone’s story is different, and that there is no single right way to begin understanding yourself or working through life’s difficulties.

Based in Shifnal (and now expanding to offer face-to-face services in Shrewsbury), Inner Wild Counselling offers in-person counselling, online sessions and walk-and-talk therapy, giving people different ways to access support.

For some, sitting in a counselling room feels right. For others, being outdoors and walking side by side can feel like a more natural way to begin talking. The important thing is finding an approach that feels comfortable and appropriate for the individual.

You can find out more about counselling with Inner Wild and explore the options available.

Finding space in the outdoors

Alongside my passion for counselling, I have always felt a deep connection to the outdoors and the sense of space, freedom and perspective that nature can bring. Becoming a Certified Outdoor Therapist felt like a extension of this, allowing me to bring together my love of the natural world with my desire to support others.

The beautiful Shropshire landscape offers something quite different from a traditional therapy room: open skies, woodland paths, changing seasons and the gentle rhythm of walking side-by-side. For some people, the thought of sitting face-to-face in an enclosed room can feel daunting or restrictive, particularly when talking about difficult or deeply personal things.

Being outdoors can offer a different way to begin, with less pressure to maintain eye contact and the freedom to walk, pause, breathe and find your own pace. Nature isn’t a solution to everything, but it can provide a beautiful, grounding setting in which to explore thoughts and feelings. Through walk-and-talk therapy and ecotherapy, I hope to offer people an alternative space where they can feel more comfortable, reconnect with themselves and discover that counselling doesn’t have to look the way they might have imaged.

Why Inner Wild?

The name Inner Wild reflects the idea that there is more to each of us than the roles we fulfil, the expectations we meet and the versions of ourselves we show to the world.

Beneath all of that, there is a person with their own feelings, experiences, hopes and needs.

Counselling can offer an opportunity to reconnect with those parts of ourselves, to become curious about our patterns and to explore what we might need moving forward.

It is not about becoming someone else. It is about making space to understand who you are, what you have experienced and what matters to you.

A space to be yourself

Starting counselling can feel like a big step. You might not know exactly what you want to talk about, or you might have spent a long time telling yourself that you should be able to manage everything on your own.

You do not need to have all the answers before you begin.

Inner Wild Counselling offers a space to slow down, reflect and explore what is happening for you, at your own pace.

My journey from managing a hair salon to becoming a counsellor is part of the story behind Inner Wild. At its heart is an appreciation of the importance of human connection and the difference it can make to have space where your experiences can be heard.

If you are considering counselling, you are welcome to explore the different ways Inner Wild may be able to support you.

How to book your counselling session

You can book a free 20-minute phone consultation through the website, call me on 07946 611136, or email hello@innerwildcounselling.co.uk.