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Counselling Service


Annabelle's Challenge Counselling Service

As living with vascular EDS happens within the context of your everyday life, it’s inevitable that the ‘ups and downs’ of both impact on each other. You can talk to our counsellors about anything that you are struggling with, and may impact on your ability to live as well as possible with the impact of vascular EDS. This might include:

  • Impact on your family
  • Anxiety or low mood
  • Identity, including feeling different, lonely or isolated
  • Your relationship with health care professionals, or navigating systems
  • Dealing with difficult, unpredictable or increasing symptoms
  • The psychological burden of being the ‘vascular EDS expert’
  • Coping with unpleasant tests, surgery or treatment
  • Worries about the future


It’s not always easy to access counselling. Annabelle’s Challenge Counsellors provide a safe, confidential relationship to work through difficult thoughts or feelings, think about options that are open to you, and explore new ways of approaching your difficulties.


Annabelle’s Challenge is pleased to be working in partnership with Rareminds to offer a new Free, Confidential Counselling Service for individuals aged 16+ impacted by vascular EDS in the UK.


8 - 12 sessions can be provided either via Zoom, or by telephone with both evening and daytime appointments available.


The Annabelle’s Challenge Counselling Team for our adult members are Zubyda Azzam (Lead Counsellor) and Louise Brookes. The Young People's Counsellors are Anna Smith and Rebecca Hargreaves.


All are trained and experienced therapists who have undertaken additional training in Counselling for Rare Diseases including vascular EDS.

Our Counsellors

Zubyda Azzam UKCP Accred.


Zubyda has been a psychotherapist for over 15 years, and has worked in a variety of settings including the NHS, prisons, refugee camps, and residential therapeutic communities. She was also a volunteer with the Samaritans for over 10 years.


As well as being a Lead Counsellor she is the Therapeutic Groups Lead for Rareminds, and is particularly passionate about the therapeutic potential of groups for individuals and communities living with rare conditions.

Louise Brookes MBACP


Louise is an Integrative Psychotherapeutic Counsellor, and a registered member of BACP. She has worked in both the NHS and third sector with clients living with MS, ME, Cerebral Palsy and Neurodiversity as well as other disabilities and long-term health conditions.


She has a particular interest in issues around body-image, self-esteem and eating problems. She is an LGBTQI+ ally and particularly enjoys working with clients from this community too.

Anna Smith UKCP (Memb.)


Anna has worked predominantly with children, teenagers, young adults

and families within both educational settings and private practice. She is experienced in providing support to help manage family dynamics, developmental change and transition, trauma and the impact of neurodiversity and other special educational needs.


She has a special interest in how the needs of a child impact the family set up and how the needs of a family unit impact a child.

Rebecca Hargreaves MBACP


Rebecca is an Adult and Young People's Counsellor with a particular  interest in the psychological impact of health conditions on the family as a whole. She originally worked as a Nurse for over 20 years including in hospices, and is the former Lead for a large schools counselling service.


She works as a counsellor with several rare disease patient organisations.

Counselling FAQs

How long will I have to wait for an appointment?
We aim to respond to your initial enquiry within 72 hours. We are usually able to then offer an Initial Appointment within 5 -10 days, depending on your availability and the next soonest appointment time.

What happens in an initial session?
You will spend some time exploring what has brought you to counselling, the nature of your difficulties, and what you might want to get from coming. Logistics such as session times, frequency etc will also be talked through. Meeting for an initial consultation (50 minutes) also allows us the opportunity to think together about whether you would like to continue with further sessions, and whether therapy feels right for you at this time. It is important that you feel comfortable enough both with your Counsellors approach, and the idea of therapy overall.

How can counselling help?
Counselling can offer a reliable and confidential relationship to talk through whatever is troubling you. It can offer support during difficult times or help make sense of present difficulties that may stem from past experiences. 

Counselling can help you find ways of understanding and managing difficult feelings or ways to deal with situations differently. We can also help you with strategies for managing particular issues such as panic attacks, fatigue or anxiety around scans/treatments.

How often will sessions happen and how long are they?
Usually 50 minutes. The number and timing of sessions will be agreed between you and your counsellor at the Initial Appointment. It can be usual to have a number of sessions weekly or fortnightly, and then a few more around key dates such as particular hospital appointments.

Is there any cost?
No, sessions are free to Annabelle’s Challenge members in the UK.

Is it confidential?
Yes. Therapists are bound by a professional Code of Ethics which includes confidentiality. This means that no information will be disclosed about you to a third party without your agreement. There are a few exceptions to that which will be explained in your initial consultation and are primarily if you or another person was felt to be at risk of significant harm.

If you have any questions about confidentiality, do please feel free to raise them in our initial meeting.

Can you talk to my hospital doctor or nurse for me?
We can support you in building a good working relationship with your hospital team or GP. We would only talk to them on your behalf if we were very concerned that you were at risk in some way.

I’ve had counselling before but it didn’t really work for me. Why should this be any different?
Talking about private and personal matters is often not easy, especially with someone new. 
If you feel unsure about counselling, or have had a disappointing counselling experience before, do let us know. That way we can try and work together this time for it to feel a more positive experience.

Annabelle’s Challenge Counselling Service counsellors also have particular understanding and awareness of Vascular EDS and the challenges of living with a rare disease, and this can often help in understanding its impact on you as an individual.

I’m not very confident with technology, is this a problem?
No. Sessions can always be over the telephone. If you’d prefer to have Video Counselling though, we can also talk you through how to set that up. Our counsellors are all experienced in telephone/online counselling, so do raise any concerns with us.

Annabelle’s Challenge Counselling Service is available to individuals in the UK impacted by Vascular EDS regardless of ethnic, cultural or religious background, sexual orientation or disability status.

All our counsellors are registered with either the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy or The UK Council for Psychotherapy and are bound by their Professional Good Practice and Ethics Guidelines.

The Annabelle’s Challenge Counselling Service is provided in partnership with the non-profit organisation Rareminds.
Access Wellbeing Hub

Please be aware that we are not able to offer emergency support in a crisis. If you are concerned that you may not be able to keep yourself (or another person) safe, please contact your GP, or dial NHS 111 for advice. If it is an urgent emergency, call 999 or go direct to your hospital Emergency Department.


The Samaritans also provide a 24-hour listening and support service, call free 116 123.

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