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About Me – Samantha Cooke Counselling, Ascot
Warm, grounded counselling in Ascot, Berkshire and online/telephone
I’m Samantha, a counsellor based in Ascot, Berkshire.
Before becoming a counsellor, I spent more than twenty years in the corporate world - holding everything together on the outside while privately navigating a profound grief and a life transition that changed the path I thought I would follow.
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That experience reshaped my sense of identity and meaning. It challenged me, softened me, and ultimately led me towards work that felt more connected to who I was becoming. I retrained over four years to become a counsellor, and now work with people who find themselves in similar moments where life no longer feels familiar.
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I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP).
Why I Do This Work
Because of what I’ve lived through, I have a deep affinity for supporting people through times of change - the expected ones, the unexpected ones, and the ones we never feel prepared for.
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I understand how transitions can:
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unsettle your identity
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shake confidence or self-worth
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disrupt relationships or routines
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stir grief for the life you imagined
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raise questions about purpose or direction
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leave you feeling lost, stuck or unlike yourself
You don’t need to navigate that alone.
I work particularly well with people who are reflective, thoughtful, and navigating complex emotions or major shifts in their lives.
How I Work
My style is warm, steady and gently paced. I won’t rush you, minimise your feelings, or expect you to have everything figured out.
Instead, I offer a compassionate space where you can:
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explore your thoughts and emotions
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understand what’s shifting inside you
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reconnect with who you are and what you need
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make sense of what this transition means for you
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find a way forward that feels aligned and grounded
You don’t need a “big” problem to come to therapy.
If something is affecting your emotional wellbeing, it’s welcome in the room.
The Human Behind The Counsellor
Counselling is always about you - your story, your needs, your journey. But I also know that choosing a counsellor can feel like a leap of trust. For many people, it helps to have a sense of the person behind the professional - to know they’re not just a name and a headshot, but another human being.​​​
​Outside of my work, I’m someone who finds comfort in simple, grounding things. I’m often soothed by water - the sea, rivers, quiet spaces where things feel a little clearer and calmer. Some of my happiest moments are walking with Clara, my dog, especially by the coast. Those gentle, unhurried walks help me breathe a little more deeply and settle myself.
I love reading - especially stories about people, their inner worlds, and the turning points that shape them. I’ve always been drawn to the way stories reveal what sits beneath the surface, and that curiosity naturally threads into the work I do.
I try to live life at a pace that allows room for reflection, noticing, and simply being rather than rushing. That same steady, grounded presence is what I bring into the counselling room - so you have a space where you can slow down too, and meet yourself with a little more gentleness.
Issues I Support
I specialise in therapy for life transitions, including:
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I also regularly support clients with more general concerns such as:
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anxiety and overwhelm
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depression and low mood
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workplace stress and burnout
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bereavement and loss
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low self-esteem
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relationship difficulties
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feeling stuck, lost, or not yourself
Whatever brings you here, we can explore it together.
Where and How I Work
I offer counselling to adults aged 18+:
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In person in Ascot, Berkshire
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Online (UK-wide)
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By telephone (UK-wide)
My counselling room in Ascot, Berkshire is within easy reach of Bracknell, Windsor, Crowthorne, Sandhurst, Maidenhead, Slough, Camberley, Reading, Earley and Woodley.
Online and telephone sessions offer flexibility if travelling isn’t practical or if you need support that fits around a busy life.
Qualifications & Professional Membership
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Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
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Registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP)
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Bound by the BACP Ethical Framework
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Experience working with EAP (Employee Assistance Programme) clients
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Ongoing professional development in grief, identity, change, and life transitions
What You Can Expect
Most people describe our work together as:
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grounding
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reflective
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spacious
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gently challenging
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steady and supportive
My role is to walk alongside you - offering clarity where things feel foggy, compassion where you’ve been hard on yourself, and steadiness where the ground feels uncertain.
You don’t need to arrive with answers.
Just yourself, exactly as you are.
Next Step
If you’re navigating a transition - or simply feeling out of touch with yourself - I’d be glad to help.
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⬤ Contact me to arrange a free 15-minute consultation.
Together, we can explore what you’re carrying and what you might need for the next part of your journey.