About Me
Culturally aligned counselling and professional support rooted in compassion, care, and understanding.
A little about me
A culturally aligned and compassionate approach
I’m Manisha, a perinatal and baby loss counsellor, trainer, and speaker. My work is grounded in the belief that emotional support is most meaningful when people feel seen, understood, and respected within the context of their culture, faith, and lived experience.
I support individuals, couples, and families through pregnancy, baby loss, early parenthood, and relationship changes, offering a space that is gentle, thoughtful, and responsive rather than prescriptive or rushed.
I’m a registered member of the NCPS and work within perinatal and baby loss services, including Zephyrs, and am trained in the Circle of Security® Parenting approach.
My work & experience
I bring together professional experience, ongoing learning, and lived experience to shape how I work.
Alongside my counselling practice, I have years of experience supporting and advocating for families during the perinatal period, including working within the NHS as a previous Maternity and Neonatal Senior Advocate, and currently a Specialist Perinatal Facilitator. This work has given me insight into the emotional and systemic challenges families can face, particularly those from minoritised and underrepresented communities.
I am also the co-founder of Support Me CIC and Aasha Training, where I have developed and delivered training focused on culturally aligned practice, supporting Muslim families, pregnancy after loss, and baby loss care. Through this work, I continue to focus on bridging gaps between diverse communities and maternity services, and on breaking down barriers to compassionate, equitable support.
My professional work with counsellors, psychotherapists, and organisations sits alongside my counselling practice, allowing each to inform the other.
My approach
My approach is gentle, reflective, and grounded in empathy. I aim to offer a space where you don’t need to have the right words, explain yourself, or present things in a particular way in order to be understood.
I work with curiosity rather than judgement, and with an awareness that emotional experiences are shaped not only by what we carry internally, but also by our relationships, culture, faith, identity, and the wider systems we live within. These aspects are welcomed into the space rather than set aside.
I’m particularly mindful of how grief, transition, and emotional distress can be misunderstood or minimised, especially within perinatal experiences. Rather than focusing on fixing or moving on, my work centres on listening and making sense of what feels heavy.
Over time, this can support people to feel more steady within themselves, better able to understand their emotional responses, and less overwhelmed by what they’re carrying. For some, it can also create space for self-compassion, clearer boundaries, and greater confidence in how they move through this chapter of life.
Whether I’m working with individuals, couples, parents, or professionals, my intention is to support people where they are, to feel more grounded and less alone as they navigate what they’re facing, in a way that feels respectful and authentic to them.
NEXT STEPS
Finding a place to start
If you’re considering working together, we can start with a brief conversation to explore what you need and whether this feels like the right fit.