Leyla Swan

I am a British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy  (BACP) accredited Integrative Psychotherapist/Counsellor based in Southwater, West Sussex however I welcome clients from other surrounding areas. I have over 20 years experience and as well as working in private practice I have previously worked for 10 years within the NHS as a Psychological Therapist in primary care. I offer time limited and longer term therapy.

I work strictly within the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), ethical framework and you will find me on the BCAP Register of Counsellors and Psychotherapists. I combine the theories from various approaches within psychotherapy which include; Psychodynamic, Person Centred and Existential theory as well as offering Brief Solution Focused Therapy,  Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), and cutting edge neurobiological approaches such as Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR). I am therefore not bound by any one particular philosophy.

As every individual and their experiences are unique, no single counselling philosophy can work for everyone. Theoretical integration enables me to apply the theories I believe may work best in meeting clients’ needs within the therapy sessions.

I will provide a safe and confidential environment for you to talk freely about the issues that brought you to counselling and I will support you in exploring and gaining a better understanding of any issues that may be preventing you from leading a satisfying and resourceful life.

When choosing a counsellor/psychotherapist you need to know that you are turning to someone who is professional, externally verified, works to a high standard and is bound to work within an ethical framework. As an accredited member of the BACP, EMDR Association UK and having worked in the NHS for 10 years as a Psychological Therapist in Primary care you have absolute peace of mind that you have chosen to work with a well trained professional and that you are in safe hands.

Please read on for further information about me, how I work and how I am able to support you.  

• Exercise addiction
• Complex childhood trauma
• Boarding School Syndrome
• Obesity and weight related issues

The initial consultation fee is £60 (60 mins) and will provide an opportunity for us to meet and for you to decide whether counselling is right for you and appropriate for your needs. We will also discuss the nature of our future work together.

We will come to a mutual agreement on the time and the day for your sessions and I will book that time and space for you*. Deep rooted problems may need to be addressed in weekly sessions over a period of months whilst short-term counselling for a specific problem may only take a few weekly sessions.

Individual sessions face to face or video call  £50-£55 

EMDR- £70-£75 

Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) 8 week course- £300 (Group of up to 6 people)

MBCT 8 week course one to one- £400.

All courses include all course materials, individualised meditations and gift day.

Concessions made for counselling students, those on a low income needing long term support and NHS emergency key workers, police and fire service personnel (subject to availability).

*Missed sessions are still payable. However, if 1 weeks notice is given, I will do my best to make up a missed session.

**I am registered with ICO in line with GDPR guidelines. Data storage and retrieval with regards to your counselling will be agreed at the time of your assessment.

I began my counselling career over 20 years ago whilst working for HM Prison Service where I provided post incident support to members of staff who where directly involved in traumatic work related events.

Since then I have gone on to gain a BSc degree in Integrative Counselling from Roehampton University and I have also completed training in several evidence based NICE (National Institute of Health and Care Excellence) and WHO (World Health Organisation) approved psychotherapeutic interventions including Counselling for Depression (CFD), Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR).

I have been working as a Psychotherapist in private practice since 2009 and I previously worked for 10 years within the NHS as a Psychological Therapist in primary care. 

Over the past 20 years my theoretical approach has evolved due to extensive training and work experience in various settings which also includes social services and local authority initiatives therefore I have developed an integrative approach which I am able to tailor to suit the individual needs of the client.

I have a special interest in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD (CPTSD) as well as extensive and varied experience particularly in the areas of depression, anxiety disorders, low self esteem, anger, bereavement, relationship difficulties, boarding school syndrome, childhood trauma and attachment issues.

Whilst I draw my approach from a variety of models including Psychodynamic, humanistic, existential, and MBCT, my work is also influenced by evolving and ground breaking neurobiological informed approaches such as EMDR, Sensorimotor psychotherapy and ego state therapy which offers something different from conventional talking therapies. This way of working can often prove life changing for clients, particularly those who have had several rounds of therapy that have not led to any long term improvements. EMDR in particular is best known for treating PTSD, however, it can help with a wide range of issues including anxiety, depression, addiction, OCD, CPTSD and stressful life events such as bereavement, severe illness, traumatic births and divorce. 
 
I am extremely passionate about my work as a psychotherapist and I strongly believe that we all have the capacity to overcome life’s difficulties, develop a strong sense of self and live meaningful and satisfying lives. 

My style of working is very much underpinned by honesty and compassion and it is my job to provide you with a safe, confidential space for you to talk openly about your difficulties. Sessions are collaborative, interactive, engaging, focussed and geared towards supporting your personal development and overall wellbeing for the long term.

I am able to work short term should you wish to focus on a particular issue that might be bothering you and related to the here and now. This may require just a few sessions and will support you in gaining insight into your current difficulties as well as identifying your current resources and strengths to construct solutions that will support you achieve your desired outcomes.

For deeper rooted issues a longer term approach may be required and this may take several weeks or even months. This is because sometimes it is important to look at past experiences to see how they may be linked with current difficulties rather than 'pathologising' human behaviour particularly the behaviours of survivors of trauma.

In my therapeutic practice, the deep impact of traumatic experiences on individuals lives is something I encounter regularly. Research has shown that around 61% of adults have faced traumatic events during their lifetime with 1 out of 6 adults enduring four or more events during childhood (women being disproportionately affected). Therefore it is important to explore clients life experiences to gain an understanding as to why they may feel and behave the way that they do. In addition to this some clients may also present with somatic symptoms or illness that are medically unexplained.

This is because all of our life experiences not only influence how we feel about ourselves and others or experience the world around us, but they can have a profound effect on our minds, brains and bodies particularly our nervous systems. In other words 'the body tells the real story'.

Events during our developmental years such as repetitive or prolonged abuse, emotional neglect, school bullying, illness, parental divorce, abandonment or parental mental illness has been shown to have long lasting effects into adulthood. Similarly prolonged stress such as living with domestic abuse or going through a traumatic event in adulthood can also have lasting effects.

This can range from PTSD, complex PTSD, interpersonal difficulties, recurring depression, heightened anxiety, chronic physical health conditions, maladaptive ways of thinking or behaving, chronic low self esteem, feeling empty or disconnected, emotional dysregulation and addictions.

I am able to work with clients who may have problems stemming from traumatic experiences whether in childhood or adulthood and help them to comfortably and safely process memories associated to those experiences. 

Together we will work on developing new and more adaptive ways to deal with the emotions, beliefs, body responses and thoughts that accompany them to reduce emotional distress and nourish their capacity for wholeness, self acceptance and healing.

If you are looking for support please have a look at my website or contact me for further details.