For those rebuilding themselves from within.
Start the Conversation
Here at Black Sheep, we know taking the first step can feel difficult, but you don’t need to have everything figured out before reaching out.
1. Get in touch Call, text, email or send a WhatsApp message to arrange an initial conversation.
2. Explore what you need Here at Black Sheep, we’ll talk about what has brought you here, what’s feeling difficult, and what kind of support might feel right for you.
3. Begin your journey If it feels like a good fit, here at Black Sheep we’ll work together at a pace that feels safe, supportive and centred around your needs.
Call or text: 07468 727721
Email: info@blacksheepwellbeing.com
WhatsApp: Message us using the link below
Here at Black Sheep, there’s no pressure and no expectations — just a space to start the conversation when you’re ready.
If what you’ve read feels like a good fit, you’re welcome to explore the support we offer, learn more about our fees and session options, or simply start the conversation.
Everything you need to take the next step is here, with clear information to help you decide whether Black Sheep Wellbeing feels right for you. There’s no pressure or expectation — just the opportunity to explore support at a pace that feels comfortable.
Where We Work
Black Sheep Wellbeing is based in Hemsworth, between Wakefield and Barnsley, and all sessions take place online or by phone, meaning you can access support from anywhere in the UK.
Whether you’re in Yorkshire, Leeds, Manchester, London, or somewhere quieter, you’ll receive the same calm, relational and trauma‑informed support, without the need to travel or walk into a building.
For some people, being in their own space can make it easier to talk, feel safe, and begin the process of exploring what they’re carrying, at a pace that feels right for them.
Why Black Sheep Wellbeing?
Not everyone fits the mould. Not everyone heals in the same way. And not everyone wants traditional therapy.
This is support for people who want to rebuild slowly, honestly, and from within.
Black Sheep is for the ones who don’t fit the mould. The ones who think differently. The ones who’ve had to be strong for too long. The ones who have survived more than they talk about.
Here, you don’t have to mask, perform, or explain yourself from scratch. You are met with steadiness, respect, and someone who understands what it means to rebuild after life knocks you sideways.
People come to us for support with:
Trauma and unresolved experiences
Grief, bereavement and loss
Anxiety, depression and low mood
Feeling overwhelmed, stuck or disconnected
Burnout and workplace stress
Relationship challenges and boundaries
Building resilience and self-compassion
Reconnecting with themselves and what matters most
We understand that trauma isn't always about one event. It can shape how we cope, connect, work and move through the world. Whatever has brought you here, you don't have to carry it alone.
Black Sheep Wellbeing exists for people who have lived through experiences that have shaped them — trauma, loss, upheaval, or simply feeling different from the world around them. It is a space built on honesty, steadiness and compassion, grounded in the understanding that our experiences can leave lasting marks on how we see ourselves, relate to others and move through life.
Here, you don’t have to explain away your struggles, fit into expectations, or carry things alone. You are welcome to come exactly as you are.
Ken Etchells – Level 7 Masters trained Integrative Counsellor & Psychotherapist (MA, MBACP)
Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
You might be carrying more than you let on. Maybe you’ve spent years holding things together, keeping your head down, getting on with it. On the outside you look capable and steady — but inside, you might feel overwhelmed, disconnected, or weighed down by experiences you’ve never had the space to unpack.
I help people make sense of what they’re carrying, understand their reactions, and reconnect with who they are beneath the pressure, the expectations, and the past. My approach is calm, relational and trauma‑informed. You don’t have to perform, pretend, or arrive with the “right” words. You can simply show up as you are, offload what’s weighing on you, and we take it from there.
Whatever has brought you here, you will be met with compassion, curiosity and acceptance — at a pace that feels right for you.
What therapy with me feels like
People often come to me because they’re tired of being the strong one, the quiet one, the one who copes. They want a space where they don’t have to hold everything together. A space where they can slow down, breathe, and speak honestly without worrying how it sounds.
Working with me feels:
Steady, grounded and human
Free from jargon or clinical detachment
Safe enough to explore difficult experiences without rushing
Collaborative — we figure things out together
Focused on understanding, not judgement
This is not about “fixing” you. It’s about helping you understand yourself, your history, and your emotional landscape so you can move forward with more clarity and less weight.
Who I work well with
My practice naturally attracts people who:
Have lived through trauma or difficult life experiences
Feel overwhelmed, burnt out or emotionally shut down
Carry responsibility for others and struggle to prioritise themselves
Have military, engineering, frontline or high‑pressure backgrounds
Feel different, misunderstood or like they don’t fit the mould
Want therapy that feels real, grounded and straightforward
If you recognise yourself in any of this, you’re not alone — and you don’t need to have everything figured out before reaching out.
Where This Began
I’m Ken, founder of Black Sheep Wellbeing.
My path into counselling wasn’t straightforward. It was shaped by service, injury, graft, and years spent supporting people through some of life’s hardest moments. I didn’t grow up imagining I’d become a therapist — life took me the long way round.
I began my working life in the British Army, where I found purpose, structure and a sense of belonging that’s difficult to put into words. Leaving the forces meant losing that camaraderie overnight, and like many veterans, I had to figure out who I was without the uniform. That experience changed me, and it taught me what it feels like to rebuild from the ground up.
After the military, I moved into engineering — refrigeration, air conditioning, technical service. Engineering taught me precision, problem‑solving, and how to stay calm when everything around you is kicking off. It taught me how to walk into chaotic situations, understand what’s happening beneath the surface, and work alongside others to restore safety and stability.
Looking back, the qualities that guided me then continue to shape my work as a counsellor today: being present, listening deeply, building trust, and supporting people as they make sense of their experiences and find a way forward. My lived experience sits alongside my professional training, and together they form the foundation of how I show up for the people I work with.
The Heart of Black Sheep Wellbeing
Black Sheep Wellbeing exists for people who’ve carried more than they’ve ever said out loud. People who’ve lived through hard experiences, learned to survive in ways others don’t always understand, and often feel like they’re standing on the outside looking in.
It’s a space built for those who think differently, feel deeply, and have spent years holding things together without a place to put any of it down. A space where you don’t have to perform, mask, or explain yourself from the start. You can arrive exactly as you are — tired, overwhelmed, guarded, unsure — and still be met with steadiness, compassion and respect.
Here, rebuilding happens slowly and at your own pace. Not through pressure or perfection, but through honest conversation, understanding, and the kind of support that helps you reconnect with yourself after a long time of just getting through.
Black Sheep Wellbeing is here so you don’t have to carry things alone anymore. It’s a place to find your footing again, rediscover a sense of belonging that feels real, and begin to feel more like yourself — one steady step at a time.