About Me
About Samantha Chater Therapy
A Bit About Who I Am
HI, I’m Samantha a BACP Registered counsellor in Sale based at at Thrive Wellbeing Hub, also in Carrington Nebula Centre (Forest Pod), and central Altrincham, walk-and-talk around Trafford and Manchester, and also work online and telephone.
People tend to reach out when life stops feeling manageable, when anxiety is taking over, grief feels unbearable, or past trauma is still affecting them in ways they can’t quite put into words. You might feel lost, confused, on edge, or simply not like yourself anymore. That’s often where our work begins.
Understanding What It’s Like to Hold a Lot
I understand what it’s like to hold a lot at once. Before training as a counsellor, I spent years raising a family, running my therapy business and supporting others while keeping everything going behind the scenes. I know how easy it is to put your own needs at the bottom of the list, until something shifts and you realise you can’t keep going like that anymore.
Outside of my work, I find a lot of steadiness in nature. Walking outdoors helps me slow down, breathe and feel grounded again, and I often take my dog Amber with me. She’s a gentle reminder of how much calmer life feels when we take things one step at a time. That calm, steady presence is something I bring into my work too.
My Experience and Approach
I’ve been working therapeutically since 2006, supporting people through anxiety, loss, trauma, life changes, chronic health worries and that deep sense of “I don’t know who I am anymore.” Over the years I’ve worked in settings such as Trafford Carers, Cruse Bereavement Support and with employees at Pladis (McVitie’s/Jacob’s), supporting people carrying all kinds of unspoken fears, responsibilities and emotional pain.
People who work with me say my style is gentle, steady and down-to-earth. I don’t rush you, push you or expect you to have everything neatly worked out. There’s no judgement, no pressure, no need to perform. Just space, your space, to slow down, breathe and talk honestly about what’s been going on.
And while sessions can hold very deep and painful moments, there’s also room for lightness when it naturally shows up. Sometimes a small smile or shared bit of laughter can bring a moment of relief or connection, and I welcome those moments too. Therapy doesn’t have to feel heavy all the time, it can be human, warm and real.
The People I’ve Supported Over the Years
Over the years I’ve worked with a wide range of people whose lives have been shaped by responsibility, loss and change. Many have been unpaid carers — people who quietly carry an enormous emotional load while feeling unseen or stretched thin. I’ve supported those who are bereaved, whether the loss was sudden, expected, complicated or something that continues to ripple through their everyday life.
I’ve also worked with people navigating identity changes: the “Who am I now?” moments that come with midlife, menopause, parenting, relationship shifts, children growing up, or stepping into caring roles for ageing relatives. These transitions can shake your sense of self in ways that are hard to name, especially when you’re still trying to keep everything going on the outside.
A number of people I support are living with chronic health worries or long-term conditions and are trying to make sense of how illness, pain or fatigue are affecting their confidence and identity. I’ve also worked with many who are holding old or recent trauma, and those who feel disconnected from themselves after years of coping quietly.
More recently, I’ve supported people exploring undiagnosed or newly diagnosed neurodivergence, such as autism or ADHD. Often adults who have masked for years and are only now beginning to piece things together. This can bring relief, clarity, frustration or a mix of emotions all at once. Having a space to talk openly about what it means for them, without judgement or expectation, can be incredibly grounding.
Many of the people I meet are holding more than anyone realises. They’re trying to stay strong for others, even when their own inner world feels messy or fragile. In our work together, they finally have a place where they don’t have to be the strong one, a place where they can be honest about how heavy things have become.
What You Can Expect When We Work Together
What I offer is a calm, steady place where you can explore your story at your own pace. Together we look at the weight you’ve been carrying, the thoughts, feelings, responsibilities or memories that have been piling up quietly in the background. This is a space where you can begin to make sense of why certain things feel so heavy, why certain patterns keep repeating, and why parts of you might feel lost, silenced or overwhelmed.
Our work isn’t about “fixing” you or pushing you towards quick answers. You don’t need to arrive with everything neatly understood or put into words. We take our time. We slow things down. We notice what’s going on underneath the surface — the places you’ve been holding tension, the emotions you’ve been swallowing, the parts of yourself you’ve hidden to keep going.
Therapy with me is about giving yourself the same care and compassion you’ve spent years giving to others. It’s about having a space where you can lay things down for a moment, breathe, and be met with warmth and honesty. Over time, people often describe feeling more connected to themselves, clearer about what they need, and more able to move through life with steadiness rather than overwhelm.
You’re not expected to be “okay,” to be strong, or to have all the answers. You just need to show up as you are and we take it from there.
When You’re Ready
If you’re wondering whether counselling might be right for you, you’re welcome to get in touch. I offer a free 20-minute call where we can talk things through and see if it feels like a good fit — no pressure, no commitment.
Professional membership and insurance
- Registered Member with the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
- Fully insured, supervised, and committed to ethical practice
- Enhanced DBS
Training and Qualifications
- Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling - person-centred counselling, CBT, Transactional Analysis (TA)
- Certificate in Counselling Skills Level 3
- Advanced Diploma in Clinical Hypnotherapy
- Walk and Talk Therapy
- Autism Awareness Training
- Mindfulness and Meditation
- Safeguarding Adults and CYP
- Working with Suicide and Self-Harm
- Cruse Bereavement Training
- Dr John Wilson’s Working with Bereavement
- Working with Trauma
- Online and Telephone Counselling
- IEMT (Integrated Eye Movement Therapy)
- Solution Focussed Therapy
- Rewind Technique
- NLP
- Hypnosis for Long Covid and Long-Term Health Conditions
- Hypno-oncology - Cancer Support with Hypnotherapy
- Menopause Recovery Programme
- 3rd Age Woman Course
- Oldpain2Go