Hayley Rivers

If you have found yourself here you are probably thinking about finding someone to talk to about something that is troubling you. You may have feelings of anxiety or depression, experienced a traumatic event(s) either recently or in the past that has caused you distress, have difficulties in your relationships with others, or you might not know why you are feeling what you are feeling, all of it is welcome here.

I offer compassionate, non-judgemental, experienced counselling in the Bristol area at my practice in Bishopston, just off Gloucester Road.

I believe that making the decision to begin addressing things in your life that you are struggling with is an act of courage.
You may have been finding things difficult for a while hoping that things would get better, or the thought of coming to counselling and speaking to someone you don't know about very personal things may feel daunting.

Having someone outside of your family and friends can be really helpful to explore how you feel about something, without worrying that what you are saying may upset them or cause conflict, this is where I can help.

​When we are experiencing distressing feelings and emotions with no where to safely process them, it can all become overwhelming and you may start  to struggle to cope with everyday life.
You may even find yourself turning to other ways to cope like drinking more than usual, excessive exercise, prescription and non-prescription drugs, or over/under-eating in an attempt to cope or numb the feeling of distress. 

Counselling can help by having a space outside of your everyday life to think about how you are coping with things, helping you to navigate difficult emotions and have them heard in a non-judgmental space.
Not being alone in those feelings can reduce the intensity of them and help you gain a new perspective, whilst helping you find a way forward.

​​There is no doubt that our past experiences has an effect on how we think, feel, and believe about ourselves.   As we get older these beliefs can stay with us and this can often be unhelpful and difficult to be conscious of.

Patterns of thinking are like well worn paths in the circuitry of our brain, it can be hard to see that there are other paths we can take especially as we are often not aware of them. This means that the way we see ourselves and the world can start to feel limited.

Each individual person is unique, so I use a different approach to therapy depending on the person, but at the heart of my work is the relationship, I get to know you first and foremost.

I work mainly from an integration of Person-centred, Psychodynamic, and Existential approaches, this means I use different types of counselling theory to help you make sense of things.

I work with several organisations in Bristol providing supervision to other counsellors, and train people to become counsellors lecturing on the CPCAB level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling. 

I have experience of helping people with a wide range of issues including, but not limited to:

• PTSD
• trauma
• abuse; domestic/sexual/financial
• addictive behaviours
• difficult childbirth experiences
• depression/post-natal depression (men and women)
• anxiety
• depression
• life transitions
• loneliness
• relationship difficulties
• parenting children and young adults with ASD/ADHD
• self-esteem/self worth

Therapy is best delivered face to face, but I am also able to offer Zoom or Skype sessions.

I have specialist knowledge and/or training in: Autistic Spectrum Disorders, post-Natal depression and trauma through birthing, Early/Peri/Post Menopause, trauma and Addiction  

• 1:1 therapy sessions are 50 minutes 
• If you are on a low income/benefits I have some limited concessional spaces.  Please get in touch to discuss session rate.
• Equine Assisted Therapy is booked in 1 or 1.5 hour slots at Red Horse Foundation in Stroud.
• I am currently practicing from the very accessible Gloucester Road in Bristol, which is served by many bus routes

Please give me a call or drop me an email, I will be happy to talk to you about your needs and arrange an initial appointment.