Break through the ‘Stuck’ Phase with Hybrid Counselling & Coaching
Counselling-informed coaching for sustainable personal change.
Qualified Practitioner
Hi, I'm Des Hope
let's find your direction
"From the outside, you may seem capable and composed, but inside you're tired of second-guessing yourself, over-accommodating others, and losing your voice in the moments that matter."
I work with people who appear high-functioning on the surface but privately feel drained by self-doubt. You may not be in crisis, but something still feels off. Perhaps you keep the peace, say yes when you mean no, or look fine outwardly while quietly feeling flat, frustrated, or unsure of yourself underneath.
This is not about fixing you. It is about helping you build confidence and self-esteem from the inside out, so you can think more clearly, speak up for yourself, and feel more secure in who you are. I intentionally limit my practice to just 10 clients at a time, so you receive focused, high-quality support that feels personal, thoughtful, and genuinely tailored to you.
View Statement of Professional StandingConfidence First
Building self-esteem from the inside out
Integrative
Combining counselling and coaching with purpose
Ethical Rigour
A small client list for focused, high-quality support
Genuine Care
Safe, confidential, and deeply supportive
Free Guide: How to Stop People-Pleasing Without Feeling Guilty
A practical guide to setting healthier boundaries, speaking up for yourself, and putting your needs back on the list
- Learn to say "No" without guilt
- Identify your core values
- Instant download - start today
How I can help you
Every journey is different. These are the ways I work with people who want to feel more confident, more secure in themselves, and more able to handle life without constantly second-guessing who they are.
Integrative Counselling
If you often feel anxious or depressed, emotionally drained, or unsure of yourself, counselling offers space to understand what is really going on beneath the surface.
- Anxiety and emotional overwhelm
- Low self-esteem and self-doubt
- Understanding deep-seated patterns
- Relationship boundary struggles
- Assertiveness and finding your voice
Block booking discounts are available
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Counselling-Informed Coaching
For those who understand their patterns but need help actually changing them. This is forward-focused, strategy-led work designed to help you build confidence.
- Actionable confidence building
- Life direction & decision-making
- Overcoming "people-pleasing" patterns
- Speaking up more confidently
- Building sustainable, healthier boundaries
Block booking discounts are available
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Bespoke Hypnotherapy
A calm, tailored approach that works at a deeper level to help shift unhelpful patterns and strengthen your internal foundations.
- Subconscious reframing & inner calm
- Building deep-rooted self-esteem
- Relieving stress and overwhelm
- Breaking unwanted habits or patterns
- Fostering long-term emotional resilience
Block booking discounts are available
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Relationship Coaching
For people who lose themselves in relationships, struggle to express their needs, or feel caught between resentment and guilt.
- Communication & expressing needs clearly
- Navigating interpersonal difficulties
- Feeling more secure within yourself
- Understanding relationship patterns
- Establishing healthy connections without guilt
Block booking discounts are available
Book SessionQualifications & Accreditations
Built on rigorous clinical training and an unwavering commitment to the highest ethical standards in the therapeutic industry.
MA in Personal & Business Coaching
University of Chester · 2016
A comprehensive postgraduate degree providing the foundational analytical depth required for complex interpersonal work. As the flagship academic cornerstone of this practice, this qualification underpins forward-focused, strategy-led coaching to help you break through the "stuck" phase, navigate major life transitions, and build reliable, lasting confidence.
Professional Boundaries
SAFEcic Certification
Specialised therapeutic training directly assessing and addressing people-pleasing, over-accommodating others, and establishing healthier relationship dynamics.
PGCert in Coaching
University of Chester · 2013
A postgraduate certificate focused on evidence-based coaching interventions, ongoing professional development, and practical communication strategies.
Mental Health First Aid
MHFA England
Crucial certification ensuring strict preparedness for emergency mental health responses, reinforcing a vigilant and secure practice environment.
Barefoot Coach Training
Barefoot Coaching · 2009
Highly respected industry training establishing the core methodologies, operational ethics, and practical skills required to guide clients through low confidence.
Licensed NLP Practitioner
Dr. Richard Bandler
Advanced training in Neuro-Linguistic Programming methodologies, creating targeted frameworks for challenging limiting beliefs to foster positive change.
Diplomas in Psychotherapy, Counselling & CBT
School of Natural Health Sciences · 2010 & 2013
Clinical diplomas covering fundamentals of psychotherapeutic exploration, active listening, and structured Cognitive Behavioural Therapy techniques for reframing negative thought clusters. These credentials form the clinical foundation of the integrative counselling service - providing therapeutic frameworks to safely help you explore deep-seated patterns and rebuild self-esteem from the inside out.
Hypnotherapist Certification
130 Hours · Infinite Excellence · 2010
An intensive 130-hour programme verifying advanced hypnotherapy techniques for safely accessing the subconscious. Distinguishing the Bespoke Hypnotherapy offering, this certification proves deep expertise beyond surface-level techniques, enabling guided subconscious reframing to help you break unwanted habits, alleviate emotional overwhelm, and foster lasting mental resilience.
Time Line Therapy®
Infinite Excellence
Targeted practitioner certification in safely releasing negative emotions and limiting decisions from the past, assisting clients who feel directionless in life.
PGCert Autism
Neurodivergent Support
A dedicated academic postgraduate certificate establishing a highly inclusive, aware, and adaptable structural approach for neurodivergent clients.
Safety, Ethics & Trauma-Informed Care
SAFEcic & Thrive LDN · 2026
Rigorous professional development covering adult safeguarding legislation, risk evaluation, and psychological trauma-informed practices. Recent 2026 certifications include Trauma Informed Family Liaison Practice (Bronze, Silver, and Gold), demonstrating that this practice operates within strict clinical governance to provide a non-maleficent safety net for emotionally vulnerable clients.
My Commitment
I work with care, clarity, and professional integrity. I only take on clients where I believe I can offer meaningful support and genuine value. The initial consultation is there to help us decide whether the work feels right for both of us.
The Process
A thoughtful, structured experience from first enquiry to completion
Inquiry & Consultation
A complimentary initial consultation to explore what is bringing you here, understand your needs, and decide whether we are the right fit to work together.
Onboarding
If we decide to proceed, we complete the necessary agreements, including consent and GDPR, and clarify the focus of our work together.
Delivery
50-minute sessions delivered within a clear and supportive structure: Check-in, Focus, Exploration, Insight, and Close.
Review & Completion
Regular reviews help us reflect on progress, refine the work where needed, and bring the process to a considered, well-supported close.
Real stories of change
Helping the stuck become unstuck
I was struggling with direction... Des didn't just listen, he got it. He helped me understand my own thoughts and calm what felt like constant racing in my mind... I now understand that how I feel comes from within me, not from outside influences. That shift alone has been life-changing.
From the start, Des made me feel completely at ease. Over six months, he helped me rebuild my self-belief and start making positive changes... I went on to study at university and eventually became a social worker. That journey wouldn't have happened without the foundation he helped me build. I dedicated my dissertation to him.
Des believed in me when I doubted myself. He helped me manage my emotions and fears when making important life decisions... breaking down life's struggles and creating pathways to navigate them. I genuinely don't know where I would be without his support.
Ready to take the first step?
Book a free, no-pressure consultation. It's a chance to see if we're the right fit.
Book My Free ConsultationUsually responds within 24 hours
Common questions
Everything you need to know before getting started
It is a hybrid approach. We use the depth of counselling to understand your blocks, and the momentum of coaching to actually move past them. It's for people who are tired of just talking about their problems and want a plan to change them.
This varies, but most clients find that 6-12 sessions allow for significant, lasting shifts. Some stay longer for ongoing support, while others come for a 'sprint' to solve a specific issue.
Yes, I work primarily online via Zoom, or in-person in Tunbridge Wells. Online sessions are just as effective and much easier to fit into a busy professional's schedule.
I require 48 hours notice for cancellations. This allows me to offer the slot to someone else and keeps our work consistent.
Let's start a conversation
A small step before we speak...
"Try to identify one specific boundary that feels difficult to set right now. We'll start there during our call."
Taking the first step can feel daunting. Simply reach out, and we'll take it from there together.
Location
Essex (Rented professional room) Online sessions worldwide
Availability
Daytime, Evenings & Weekends available
to accommodate working professionals