Counselling, Psychotherapy and Well-being in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, Enfield, Online & Phone.
Hi I'm Lisa ...
My own life challenges and struggles with mental health have led me toward wanting to help others improve their mental health and well-being. This is achieved through supporting my clients better understand their own challenges, belief systems, values, boundaries and behaviours.
I bring together both my personal and professional experience around the ways mental health can significantly impact quality of life. This unique lens enables me to see mental health challenges from multiple perspectives and essentially better places me to support you in identifying and reaching your preferred outcomes.
Together we can work toward a clearer, more sustainable way of living for you.
“The curious paradox is
that when I accept myself
just as I am, then I can change.”
Carl R. Rogers
What Brings You Here ... ?
Noisy messy head ... so many voices or parts of you speaking at once, grabbing for your attention, so noisy that you just can't think straight, perhaps it feels like you need to run or fight.
Silence ... no thoughts or feelings, empty head and body, emotionless and flat like you just want to give up!
Has a recent situation or life event left you feeling confused, emotional or empty? Or maybe issues from the past are bubbling up to the surface causing uncomfortable or unbearable thoughts and feelings? Maybe present and past issues are merging together, leading to an even heavier and more confusing state of mind!
Life can leave us feeling nervous and on edge, yet we can’t always see why we feel this way or how to resolve it. Perhaps you can’t stop worrying or you are worrying about several things a once. Almost like there are multiple voices or parts of you all speaking at once trying to make their point or take control or the situation.
Life in general can feel heavy, suffocating and like it’s lacking in pleasure, this can leave you feeling stuck or trapped like there is no resolution to the problem or way out.
Relationship issues, financial difficulties, parenting or family challenges, intimacy problems, poor self-esteem or low self-worth, loss of any kind, attachment issues…. The list of life challenges goes on!
The jumbled messiness and twists and turns of life can lead
to feelings of hopelessness, lack of energy or hyperactivity, a sense of failure, inability to concentrate, fluctuations in appetite, sleep problems, or even thoughts you’d be better off harming yourself or not being here at all…
If any of this resonates with you or strikes a cord, read on ...!
I specialise in supporting my clients find relief from their relentless, confusing thoughts and feelings no matter how big or small they may seem. I can help you quieten down the inner voice and help you make sense of your parts. Whether you feel depressed, hopeless, anxious, angry or overwhelmed, counselling can help you develop a better understanding of yourself, develop clearer boundaries, improve your relationship with yourself and others and can enable you to feel more socially connected, focused and confident.
Reaching out for therapy can be daunting and anxiety provoking. To help aid this process, I offer a free 20 minute call so we can get to know each other a little first. My approach is encouraging of a two way engagement, I will be an active part in guiding the sessions. I will support and meet you human to human. All of my clients say that I'm authentic, easy going, down to earth, real, warm, open and funny. They say that these traits make counselling sessions with me feel safe, easy to access and enable a genuine connection to be built. Good and successful therapy is, after all, built on human connection and authenticity.
Areas I Specialise In
Trauma Recovery
We can experience trauma at any point in our lives. Trauma can result from a single event such as an accident, violent crime or sexual assault, or multiple event exposure such as domestic or sexual abuse. These events may have happened historically or in recent days. In many cases, the legacy of trauma can be long lasting, far reaching and can be difficult to live with. Counselling can help create a sense of safety in your life again and can help you move toward a healthier more meaningful way of living. In my work, I very much like to keep up to date with the current research in my area of expertise. Research in the area of trauma recovery now suggests that establishing a sense of safety and stability in the here and now should be the main focus of trauma recovery therapy and should happen before working with with the trauma history its self. Further still, it is not always necessary to share the trauma story to recover from the trauma, despite what has been previously thought. Contact me for more information on how I work with trauma.
Depression & Anxiety
Feeling low, depressed or anxious can leave you feeling alone and isolated. As well as offering counselling in specific areas, I also offer general counselling for those who are experiencing low-mood, depression, anxiety or a general sense of unease. Perhaps you're feeling low or struggling to make decisions. Speaking to a professional counsellor can be a valuable way to make sense of your situation and begin to move forward when there seems no way through.
LGBT Affirmative
I also offer counselling to those in the LGBT community particularly around gender and identity issues, intimacy challenges, relationship issues, LGBT parenting and fertility. As someone who personally identifies as part of the LGBT community and as an LGBT parent, I have a wealth of personal and professional experience in this area. Perhaps counselling could help you make sense of your own individual experience or face past, present or future challenges.
Bereavement, Loss & Grief
Loss, Grief and Bereavement can be one of the most challenging life experiences you may face. Whether that be the death of a friend, partner, family member or pet, a relationship breakdown, loss of a home, job etc. In the early stages of loss there is often a wealth of support from those around you, but over time that support drifts off and you're left feeling alone and isolated in your grief. I am able to offer a space where you can bring all part of you in relation to your loss, grief or bereavement no matter what stage you are at.
Fertility
Fertility issues can affect us in more ways than we could ever imagine. With personal and professional experience in this area, I specialise in supporting those with fertility issues such as conception difficulties or fears, loss through miscarriage or still birth as well as fear of pregnancy, labour or child birth. I can support those considering or going through IVF or IUI type procedures as well as donor conception. Perhaps you are considering solo fertility treatment, or maybe there are relationship and sexual factors that need to be considered where relevant.
Parent Child Relationship
Looking for parenting support or children's behaviour support, I also specialise in the parent child relationship dynamic practically parents of primary age children and below. I can offer a safe space for parents and carers to explore their parenting style and connection with children in their care and can support you in creating plans and strategies to help you to move toward a therapeutic parent/career relationship with your child. This will assist with the implementation of therapeutic behaviour strategies and improve communication and connection. Although I will not work directly with your child, I do offer child observations to aid our work together. Please contact me to discuss this further.
Compulsive Behaviours & Tendencies
I have a particular specialism in working with those who live with compulsive tendencies such as cleaning, organising or hoarding. All of which, I have personal and professional experience in. Perhaps you wish to better understand your behaviours, wish to reduce them or enable yourself to enjoy life more fully along side such challenges. Speaking can help put things in perspective and can help you develop better coping strategies and move toward a more fulfilling and sustainable lifestyle.
Women's Mental Health & Wellbeing
I offer specialist and individualised counselling to meet the unique wellbeing needs of women across the life span. Whether that be hormonal challenges or changes, such as counselling for menopause, mother daughter relationships dynamics, intermate or professional relationship interactions, sexuality, fertility, conception, postnatal depression, birth, miscarriage or loss of a child at any developmental stage… I can work with you to tailor therapy to meet you where you are and help you make sense of your experience.
Issues I Work With
Counselling can help with a wide range of mental health, wellbeing and life challenges. In my practice, I have supported people with the following life challenges...
Children's Behaviour
Parenting Support
Depression
Parenting Support
Hoarding
Anxiety
Bereavement
Animal Bereavement
IVF - IUI & Fertility
Suicide – Thoughts or loss by
Fertility Challenges
Menopause
Miscarriage
Abortion
Domestic Abuse
Drug and Alcohol Difficulties
Sexuality
Identity
LGBTQT+
New Parent Challenges
Trauma
Sexual Trauma
Unresolved Childhood Trauma
Gender
Hormonal Issues
Parenting Challenges
Children's Behavioural Challenges
Special Educational Needs – Caring for
Relationship Issues (Partner, Sibling, Friend, Colleague)
Divorce or Separation
Mother Daughter Relationship
About Me
Qualifications
I'm a qualified and accredited, Integrative, Person-Centred Counsellor and hold the following Qualifications:
⦁ Clinical Psychology – Masters of Science (Distinction) - University of Hertfordshire
⦁ Psychology – Bachelor of Science Degree (First Class Honours) - Open University
⦁ Integrative Therapeutic Counselling – Level 4 Diploma - SEG Awards
⦁ Bereavement Practitioner – Level 2 Certificate - Cruse Bereavement (Ascentis Awards)
⦁ Trauma Informed Practice - Certificate - Counselling Tutor
⦁ Counselling Online - Open University & BACP Level 2 Certificate
⦁ Fertility Counselling Foundation - CPCAB Accredited Course - BICA
⦁ Addressing Postnatal Depression - BPS Approved Certificate University of Exeter
⦁ Parent Child Therapy - Advanced Practitioner Certificate Trauma Informed Schools
⦁ Mindfulness in Schools Practitioner – Certificate - Mindfulness in Schools Project (MiSP)
Experience
With both professional and first-hand experience of many mental health and life challenges, I bring a wealth of knowledge to my counselling practice. I’ve worked for over 10 years in the NHS, education and charitable sectors and for local authorities in a variety of capacities. Beginning my career in psychology, I have conducted academic research at degree and master’s level in the field of psychology as well as lecturing psychology at the University of Hertfordshire. At present I work as a Trauma and Addiction Recovery Therapist for a Hertfordshire based Community Interest Company. This enables me to draw on a rich and diverse range of experience to support mental health and well-being recovery.
As a result of my extensive training, knowledge and mental health sector experience, I specialise in supporting individuals who are feeling stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed, through working with both the mind and the bodily sensations associated with panic and distress. I have experience in helping people navigate these relentless, difficult thoughts, feelings and emotions. Together, we can develop skills and techniques that will help bring a sense of ease, safety and control, we can then unravel the reasons behind your feelings, enabling you to worry less and enjoy life more and feel safe again.
My Approach
I’m a person-centred, integrative therapist who specializes in offering a mindfulness-based approach to mental health and wellbeing. As an integrative therapist I work with a variety of therapeutic theories and models which enable me to tailor therapy sessions to meet the unique and individual needs of each of my clients.
My approach to therapy means that I offer traditional counselling as well as contemporary and creative approaches to enable me to meet the needs of each individual client. I am a big believer of the mind and body connection and very much consider how mood and emotion also impact and affect the body in terms of pain, energy, immunity, overall health, and wellbeing. I often guide clients to explore their bodily responses to situations, feelings and emotions to help deepen their understanding of themselves. This integration of the body and mind in a therapeutic capacity is referred to as somatic therapy.
Professional Memberships
As part of my ongoing professional development and therapeutic practice, and continued commitment to safe and ethical therapeutic service delivery, I am a member of the following professional bodies:
British Psychological Society (BPS)
British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS- Accredited)
British Infertility Counselling Society (BICA)
Mindfulness in Schools Project (MiSP)
Fees & Payments
I offer face to face counselling the Goffs Oak and Cheshunt and as well as online and telephone counselling.
Initial consultation:
Free 20-minute phone consultation
Ongoing Sessions
Sessions for Individuals (Face to Face or Online):
£60.00-per 50 minutes
Student Counsellors & Concessions (limited availability):
£45, 50 minutes
Single Session Therapy
Single Session Therapy (Face to Face / Online):
£70.00 - per 60minutes
£85.00 - per 90 minutes
Parent Child Relationship Work:
£120 (Starting from)
Locations
I currently work online nationwide via online platforms and phone. I offer face to face sessions in the Cheshunt and Goffs Oak (Monday am, Wednesday and Friday all day) which are easily accessible from the surrounding areas such as Cuffley, Waltham Abbey, Pottersbar, Hatfield, and Herford.
To find out more ...
Room 11 The Old Building, Bishops College, Cheshunt, Herts, EN8 9XB
This property is situated off of Churchgate Road in Cheshunt, and forms part of the Broxbourne Council site. There is parking on site which is free for 1 hour (a ticket MUST be obtained from the machine or via the App). The counselling office is situated on the first floor (level 3) and can be accessed via the stairs or lift.
Get in Touch
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the counselling and therapy I offer, or to arrange a free consultation appointment.
This will enable us to discuss the reasons you are thinking of coming to therapy, whether it could be helpful for you and whether I am the right therapist to help.
You can call me on 07732767168 if you would prefer to leave a message or speak to me before booking a consultation. I am happy to discuss any queries or questions you may have prior to arranging an initial appointment.
All enquires are usually answered within 24 hours, and all contact is strictly confidential and adheres to my privacy and data protection
policy.