Counselling in Irvine
When I was first looking for a permanent base for my counselling practice, I knew I was in for a challenge. I had an image in my head of somewhere you could just walk into and feel welcomed, cared for, at ease and safe.
I have worked really hard to create that. Like everything in life, it is still not finished and probably never will be, with wee touches added here and there to make the counselling room feel cosy, relaxed and somewhere you can settle into.
My Irvine counselling room
When you walk into my room, I hope you immediately feel cared for.
I’ve been in counselling rooms before that have felt crammed, and for you to be able to work at a gentle and healing pace in counselling, it was important to me to find a room that felt spacious and welcoming.
Upon entering, one of the first things you are met with is the drinks fridge and snack bar. Why? Because counselling can be hard, and I want to make that process feel even a little bit easier. If helping you not feel hungry or thirsty, or having your favourite drink or snack nearby, makes counselling even slightly easier, then I’m all for that.
Comfort is also a huge factor for me. Because of that, I made sure to get one of the comfiest three-seater sofas I know. I encourage you to get truly comfortable on it, whether that means sitting normally, lying down, or simply using the space in whatever way feels right for you.
There are plenty of pillows and comfy throws too. When you book your session, my room is yours. Please do whatever you need to help yourself feel as comfortable as you can be.
I also try to keep the whole room feeling calm rather than overly clinical. The lighting is kept soft, and right beside the seating area there is a large, peaceful fish tank which has quickly become one of my clients’ favourite parts of the room.
There are lots of live plants throughout the space, along with nature-inspired decor, bringing a little bit of the outdoors into the room too.
For me, all of those small things matter. Counselling can sometimes involve talking about difficult, emotional or uncomfortable things, so I want the space around you to feel as calm, relaxed and welcoming as possible while we do that.
Arriving at Sovereign House
When you first arrive at Sovereign House, you will immediately see that the building itself has a lot of character and some beautiful architecture. The building was once Irvine Royal Academy, so there is a bit of history behind the place too.
My Irvine office has a large free parking area directly outside the front door. There are a few steps at the main entrance, or an accessible ramp if that would feel easier for you.
On the right-hand side of the door there is an intercom system where you can select my name, Connor Lynch. I deliberately keep this as simply my name, without the word counselling, to further protect your confidentiality when you arrive.
I will let you into the building through the intercom. Once inside, there is a lovely relaxed seating area with a few booths and chairs where you can grab a seat until I come down to meet you for your counselling session. Some people prefer one of the booths as they can feel a little more private while you are waiting.
Accessibility
Accessibility is important to me, and I want you to feel as comfortable as possible getting to and from the room.
My counselling room is on the first floor and can be reached by a short flight of broad, shallow steps. There is also a lift directly within the reception area.
If lift access is important to you, please feel free to get in touch before your session and I can confirm that it is available on the day.
Finding Sovereign House
Maps can sometimes be a little tricky when finding the building for the first time.
Tap the button below for directions straight to the car park outside Sovereign House.
Outdoor counselling in Irvine
One thing I love about my Irvine counselling room is that there is a stunning River Irvine walk right outside it, which gives us the option to take your session outdoors if you would like to.
There is a lovely big field we can walk around, as well as a riverside walk with several benches along the way if you would rather sit for part of the session.
My Irvine office is in a great location if you would like the option of mixing indoor and outdoor counselling from the same place. There is never any pressure to choose one and stick with it either.
Indoor, outdoor or online
Sessions are fully flexible, and you can move between indoor, outdoor and online counselling at any point. You never need to choose one way of working and stick with it.
Some clients choose to mainly have their sessions indoors and only head outdoors when the weather is being kind to us. Others enjoy a mix of both. We can simply decide what feels right for you from session to session.
Starting counselling in Irvine
You don’t need to know exactly what you want from counselling or have the right words before getting in touch. Sometimes you just know something doesn’t feel quite right, you could do with a bit of extra support, or you simply want to make counselling part of looking after yourself.
You’re welcome to book a free 15-minute introductory call first, but there is absolutely no need to have one before booking a session. We can work out where to start together and go at a pace that feels right for you. You can also look through the areas I work with if that would help.
A space I’m proud of
My Irvine counselling room is somewhere I’m proud of. A cosy, spacious and welcoming room, designed with nature in mind and created to feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible.
I hope you leave feeling heard, a little lighter, and like you’ve had space to just be yourself for a while.
While this page focuses on my Irvine counselling space, I also offer sessions from my counselling room in Largs, outdoors across North Ayrshire, and online if one of those options feels like a better fit for you.
