Break through the ‘Stuck’ Phase with Hybrid Counselling & Coaching
Counselling-informed coaching for adults who look capable on the outside but feel overwhelmed, self-doubting or emotionally drained underneath.
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 Coaching
Therapeutic depth meets forward momentum, from session one.
Learn MoreIf you look composed on the surface but privately feel stuck, flat, or unsure of yourself, together we explore what is really holding you back and build the confidence and clarity to move forward.
- Breaking free from cycles of self-doubt and overthinking
- Turning self-awareness into confident, decisive action
- Replacing people-pleasing with authentic self-expression
- Building emotional resilience that lasts beyond our sessions
- Creating a life that feels aligned with who you actually are
Block booking discounts are available
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Counselling-Informed Coaching
Turn insight into action with structured, strategy-led support.
Learn MoreFor 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
Deep subconscious work to shift patterns and build lasting resilience.
Learn MoreA 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
Reclaim your voice in the relationships that matter most.
Learn MoreFor 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.
University of Chester · 2016
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.
SAFEcic Certification
SAFEcic Certification
Specialised therapeutic training directly assessing and addressing people-pleasing, over-accommodating others, and feeling directionless, helping you establish healthier relationship dynamics.
University of Chester · 2013
University of Chester · 2013
A postgraduate certificate in Work Based and Integrative Studies that serves as the academic precursor to the MA, focusing on foundational coaching interventions and professional development. This certificate demonstrates a long-standing, progressive commitment to academic excellence in coaching, particularly strengthening credentials in relationship skills and communication coaching.
MHFA England
MHFA England
Emergency mental health response certificate demonstrating specialised competency in emergency protocols, signalling that this practice is a safe, vigilant, and prepared environment.
Neurodivergent Support
Neurodivergent Support
A postgraduate award achieved with Distinction following specialised Level 7 research in autism, environment, and practice. This advanced qualification establishes a highly inclusive, aware, and adaptable framework, ensuring an individualised, neurologically supportive environment for neurodivergent clients.
Dr. Richard Bandler
Dr. Richard Bandler
Advanced training in Neuro-Linguistic Programming methodologies, creating targeted frameworks for challenging limiting beliefs to foster positive change.
School of Natural Health Sciences · 2010 & 2013
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.
130 Hours · Infinite Excellence · 2010
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.
Barefoot Coaching · 2009
Barefoot Coaching · 2009
A highly respected, intensive industry training program that establishes the core methodologies, ethics, and practical skills required for effective personal and business coaching. It serves as a foundational credential reinforcing the practical ability to tackle low confidence and guide clients who feel stuck.
Infinite Excellence
Infinite Excellence
Targeted practitioner training in safely releasing negative emotions and limiting decisions from the past, clearing deep-seated blocks for clients who feel directionless in life.
SAFEcic & Thrive LDN · 2026
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 first conversation. It's a chance to see if we're the right fit.
Book a Free First ConversationUsually 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, sessions are online, by phone, or in-person in the Essex area. Online sessions can be just as effective and much easier to fit into your 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.
Phone
Location
UK / Online
Serving Basildon, Brentwood, Chelmsford, Colchester, Southend, UK & worldwide online.
Availability
Daytime, Evenings & Weekends available
to accommodate working professionals