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Eleanor-Rose Counselling settles into a new home at The Business Village
Some ambitions stay with us for years. They can take a back seat as careers, families, and everyday life take over, but they’re never fully gone – waiting instead for the right moment to resurface.
For Eleanor-Rose Barr, becoming a counsellor was one of those ambitions.
“When I was at school, I wanted to be a psychiatrist,” she says. “Then we did a youth counselling course, and I decided I wanted to be a counsellor instead.”
She went on to study forensic psychology at university with every intention of following that path. But, like many people, life took her in another direction. She built a career in retail, met her husband, and raised two children. Even then, the idea of working in counselling never really left her.
“I’ve always been drawn to it,” Eleanor says. “Life gets in the way a little bit though, doesn’t it? You need money, so you get the job available.”
As her children grew, Eleanor began finding her way back into counselling. She took short courses before returning to college for four years of training as a therapeutic counsellor. She qualified in 2025 and, a few months later, opened Eleanor-Rose Counselling.
Today, Eleanor divides her time between supporting clients through the Barnsley Bereavement Support Service and building her private practice at The Business Village.
Counselling means something different to everyone, but Eleanor’s approach is person-centred. Rather than following a set programme, clients talk about whatever is on their mind.
“People bring whatever they need to speak about into the room,” she says. “We unravel that together and think about the emotions and experiences behind it.”
Many of the people she sees come with relationship difficulties, family issues or bereavement. Others are counselling students completing the personal therapy needed for their own qualifications. But whatever brings someone through the door, her aim is always to offer a relaxed, confidential space where people feel able to speak freely.
“It’s giving people a safe space to say things they probably wouldn’t say to family or friends,” she shares. “A lot of the time people even hide what they’re feeling from themselves.”
Eleanor is very aware that choosing a counsellor is a personal decision. That’s why she always offers a free telephone consultation before anyone commits to sessions.
“I came into this because I want to help people,” she says. “If I don’t think I’m the right person, I’ll tell them. It’s important that people get the best support.”
Although telephone and online appointments are available, most clients still choose to meet face to face. For Eleanor, that in-person connection is important, especially being able to read body language which she says adds something extra to the sessions.
Long before she qualified, Eleanor knew where she wanted to base her business. She’d looked at several locations, but one kept coming back to the top of the list. In fact, she joined the waiting list at The Business Village before she’d even finished her training.
“This has always been my plan,” she says. “It’s only a five-minute walk from my house.”
When a smaller office became available earlier this year, everything fell into place.
For Eleanor, it wasn’t only about finding somewhere to work. She wanted a professional setting where clients would feel comfortable from the moment they arrived. Reception now welcomes visitors, and the Bistro gives them somewhere to wait if they arrive early, creating a calm and reassuring start to their appointment.
“I liked how secure and professional it felt here,” she says. “If it’s someone’s first appointment, they can go to reception, and they’ll contact me to collect them.”
The office itself was only part of the appeal. Accessibility was important, especially for clients who struggle with stairs, and free parking makes visits easier. But even the surroundings play their part.
“There’s quite a lot of green around,” Eleanor says. “It’s nice to be able to look out of the window and see trees.”
For someone focused on creating a calm environment for others, it feels like a natural fit.
Eleanor admits she enjoys learning, so qualifying was never going to be the end of her journey. She’s already looking ahead, with plans to train in trauma-informed counselling so she can support people living with PTSD. After that, she hopes to expand into counselling for children and young people and eventually work towards becoming a counselling supervisor.
“I’ve got a lot of ambition,” she laughs. “Maybe too much, but I do like learning.”
Alongside her training plans, she’s also working towards a longer-term goal of shifting the balance of her week. Like many new business owners, she currently splits her time between counselling and other work but hopes to gradually spend more time with clients as her practice grows.
That growth is something The Business Village is already helping to support. As a relatively new tenant, she’s welcomed practical advice from the team, including guidance on small business rates and support to raise awareness of her business locally.
“The team have shared things that I’d never even have thought of,” she says. “Now, it’s about getting my name out there a little bit more.”
She’s also looking forward to getting involved in the wider business community. Networking events will give her the chance to meet other tenants, and she’s especially keen to connect with other counsellors based at The Business Village. This will make it easier for her to refer clients on when specialist support is needed.
For Eleanor, it’s all part of building something sustainable and in the right environment.
After years of working towards her goal, she’s now creating the counselling practice she always hoped for. And, from her new home at The Business Village, she’s now helping others take the first step towards their own next chapter.
