Beth Lazenby

In life, we all experience loss and major changes; we face difficult choices and overwhelming feelings. As a counsellor I know support and self-understanding are key in moving forward positively, but as a human I know this is easier said than done. Finding a counsellor and the process of psychotherapy is deeply personal, and should be rooted in trust, empathy and an accepting environment. The respect and understanding of each person’s unique story and context is key; anxiety, depression, stress or general life overwhelm, whatever you're experiencing, together we can explore your past, make sense of the present and plan for the future. 

Thanks for having a look! I’m Beth, an integrative counsellor, which means I work with a variety of psychotherapeutic approaches and techniques, dependent on what my client’s concerns or points of focus are. This is all underlaid with a ‘person-centred’ foundation; a belief in every individual as the expert of their own experience, with the innate tools and wisdom necessary to grow and achieve hope and happiness. I am not here to advise or tell you what to do, rather to provide a space to explore what is going on in your life and mind, helping to make sense of your thoughts, feelings and emotions, completely at your own pace. A large part of being a counsellor is constantly learning. Formal education and research is great but I have found the most valuable lessons have come through relational experience and collaboration with clients, witnessing the amazing results that can emerge when tailoring sessions to the individual and taking their ideas and feedback on board. Therefore I am open and keen to hear ideas and try out techniques you may be interested in, whether these are creative, theoretical or beyond. After all, you know yourself better than anyone.  

A big part of the work we will undertake together will be around your story. In combination with my experience and passion for counselling, I also hold a degree in English Literature and a life-long obsession with stories, believing that exploration of our personal narratives in therapy can generate new self-knowledge and awareness around how we experience the world emotionally and relationally. For example, you may come to therapy due to stress at work and find yourself talking about your childhood. This is because, in truth, how you experience and respond to stress is grounded by the formative early years’ relation to that emotion. This is just one instance, and it seems important to emphasise that our sessions in therapy are led by you with my constructive input- this time can also be for venting, offloading and simply figuring stuff out.

I provide a warmly accepting, confidential and non-judgemental space, online and in two locations in East Bristol. All are welcome, across the various spectrums of age, sexuality, gender, neurodivergence, race and culture. As a parent myself, I understand the necessity of support those early years can bring but also the logistical difficulty in accessing it. Consequently, I have some space available for baby and toddler friendly sessions, with a cosy, completely child-proofed (and toy-equipped!) practice room in Easton. Please get in touch for any further details around this, or further understand what to expect for working together. Thank you for reading.

My fee for a 50 minute session is £50.00. I can however offer alternative rates for individuals on a low-income and students.