Eleanor Bigden
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Warm and genuine therapist with 25 years' experience helping people who're feeling anxious, depressed, stressed and overwhelmed build the strength, clarity, confidence and positive energy to enjoy life more, through EMDR, CBT, ACT and Personal/Professional Development Coaching. I can help you move forward - right away - with an encouraging and practical approach.
My approach is based on the strategies I’ve found to be the most helpful in my 25 years' qualified experience supporting people to positively move forward. My specialism is helping people find genuine clarity, strength, confidence and wisdom in the face of complex, multi faceted challenges related to anxiety, fear and phobias, depression, stress, overwhelm and burnout; low confidence and self esteem; identity, loneliness and sadness; criticism and self-blame, perfectionism and OCD, and traumatic or disturbing life events.
My mission is to help hard working people ruminate and criticise themselves far less; get back in the saddle with much better balance; and enjoy life a whole lot more!
I can support you to achieve this by helping you release core fears, transform old mindsets that no longer serve you, and build in tools, strategies and habits for better body-mind-lifestyle balance and wellbeing.
I’m passionate about helping people connect to the deeper well of insight, wisdom, courage, and wholeheartedness that we can only really acquire through leaning into the challenges life is already presenting and not trying to avoid them!
Creating a truly safe and supportive space for healing and growth; with teamwork that's deeply attentive, authentic, encouraging and practical is core to the way I work.
What you'll gain - for both your current situation and for the long term
I'll help you learn valuable tools and strategies to:
- change unhelpful thinking patterns such as worry, over-analysis, self blame, rumination, hyper-vigilance and threat-focus and instead, create perspectives that strengthen you
- develop a helpful relationship to difficult feelings and complex emotions and stop using coping strategies that backfire on you
- take empowered practical action to make concrete, tangible differences in your life
- achieve more inner stability, balance and emotional safety in uncertain and challenging times
What strengths can you develop?
I can help you:
- handle major stressors with resilience, creativity and calm
- wisely respond to your personal challenges and triggers
- navigate life's hardships with inner and outer resourcefulness
Even when life seems really hard, I can help you:
- break free from limiting beliefs & habits, and do the things that matter to your heart
- build your confidence, personal strengths and sense of value that you bring
- create a deeper sense of meaning, passion and perseverance
And in the face of insecurity or conflict I can help you:
- enhance the way you relate to yourself, and transform self criticism to good inner guidance
- enhance the way you relate to other people so you stay true to your core values
- enhance your adaptability and perseverance in your career even in limiting circumstances
What's it like to work with me?
It's my commitment to ensure you have really practical tools to walk away with after every session, AND you experience a wholehearted human to human connection that helps you compassionately release that which no longer serve you.
I know from my personal journey of freedom from perfectionism, exhaustion and overwhelm in response to trauma, anxiety and being an HSP, that deep listening, attention and attunement to different layers are key factors that enable understanding, healing and positive new movement to occur.
I work with people from wonderfully diverse backgrounds and cultures, who do and don’t identify as LGBTQ+, neurodiverse, HSP, or dis/differently abled.
I really look forward to holding space for you in a truly connecting, authentic and liberating way so you can build much more confidence and empowerment to show up as all of YOU - your worst, your “meh”, and your best! All aspects of your humanity are most most welcome.
You can self, family or work fund your sessions, use WPA insurance, or the Access to Work scheme.
I have 15 years experience helping people get the most out of their WPA policy funding. I also have a secure and streamlined WPA liaison process.
Check out my website www.eleanorbigden.com
Training, qualifications & experience
My Specialist experience
I have built up specialist skills over the past 24 years to best meet the following common needs my clients bring:
- Overcoming generalised anxiety, social anxiety, health anxiety, OCD, worry, depression
- Handling stress, uncertainty, anger and frustration constructively
- Building strength, resilience and wisdom in the midst of challenges
- Healing the pain of major trauma, loss and bereavement
- Freedom from fear, addiction, perfectionism, unhelpful coping strategies
- Building confidence, assertiveness, authenticity and self esteem
- Better family, work, social relationships and communication
- Greater wellbeing, peace and respect in relationship with yourself
- Deeper trust, emotional connection and intimacy in partnerships
- Overcoming avoidance and procrastination
- Growing in courage, daring and focus to go to a new level
- Developing the drive, resources and skills to properly maintain success
My aim is for all my clients to be enabled to move forward, achieve wellbeing and empowerment - and gain maximum value every time we meet.
Core Qualifications
- Bsc (Hons) in Occupational Therapy (1998)
- Certificate of Extended Training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (2002)
- Post Graduate (Masters Level) Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, with Distinction (2005) and Accreditation with BABCP
- Diploma in Therapons Belief Therapy for Addictions (2007)
- Diploma in Teaching Adults in Lifelong Learning (2009)
- Intermediate and Advanced Training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (2011-2015)
- Intermediate and Advanced Training in Compassion Focussed Therapy (2010-17)
- Full EMDR Core Training for trauma, PTSD, panic and phobia (2017-18) and Accreditation as an EMDR Trauma Therapist
Additional Training
I've trained in a wide range of approaches that I can draw on and share their key insights and skills with you, as best fitting with your particular needs. I think it's essential that the breadth and depth of what's possible to accomplish in therapeutic teamwork is not constrained by a therapist's gaps in experience, so I'm a bit of a training junkie! I participate in several training workshops every year, as well as extensive personal development workshops, to continuously broaden, update and deepen my specialist areas.
Alongside the contemporary, scientifically researched models of EMDR and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy that I am accredited in, (both recommended within NICE guidelines and the World Health Organisation), I have trained in other specifically research-developed models, including: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Behavioural Activation, Compassion Focussed Therapy, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, Schema Therapy and Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (what a mouthful!).
I have trained in the following coaching and therapy models: Life Coaching, Strengths Based Coaching, Internal Family Systems Therapy, Voice Dialogue, Interpersonal and Transpersonal Psychotherapy, Transactional Analysis, Tantra, Ecotherapy and Eco-Psychology, Gestalt Psychotherapy, Integrative Relationship Therapy, as well as several really useful interpersonal skills training models - from public speaking to assertiveness to conflict resolution.
I have a geeky passion for studying the art and science of what makes good therapy great therapy as I know first hand that theres a big difference between making a bit of change, compared to making really smashing progress!
Professional membership
My accreditations with the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) as well as the EMDR Association of UK and Ireland, means that my practice is well regulated and in line with national standards of clinical excellence.
I am also professionally registered with the Health and Care Professions Council, Association of Contextual and Behavioural Sciences, and as a teacher/trainer with the Society for Education and Training.
I think it’s probably becoming obvious that I genuinely love learning and developing! Helping other people go past struggle and into truly valuing their own progressive journey - including post traumatic growth - is something that lights me up, and I hope I can do the same for you. 
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
The BABCP is the lead organisation for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in the UK. Membership is open to anyone with an interest in the practice, theory or development of CBT. BABCP also provides accreditation for CBT therapists. BABCP accredited members adhere to the Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics in the Practice of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies, and are willing to be scrutinised in this adherence as required.
EMDR UK
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
LGBTQIAPK - I welcome people of all gender and sexual orientations and mutually consenting sexual communities to use therapy and coaching with me as a space to safely think through, process, navigate and celebrate topics related to identity and exploration. I see myself as pan sexual and I understand a sense of gender fluidity.
Bereavement, Grief and Loss Counselling - I have certified training in this.
Compassion Fatigue - I have certified training specifically to help people who are struggling with compassion fatigue in their personal or professional caring roles
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£150.00 - £300.00
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
Flexible choice to match your aims
My fee is flexible according to the length you’d like to book.
This means you can match session lengths to your various needs, aims and circumstances in a flexible way rather than having to stop when you’re getting somewhere really useful in the session - just because the clock says so!
Online and in person sessions
Online and in person sessions are £150 for 50 minutes, £210 for 70 minutes and £270 for 90 minutes for example.
Phone session offer
You’re welcome to use my phone session offer of an additional 20 minutes free of charge on all phone sessions that you’re self funding of 50 minutes or more. That’s £60 worth every time!
Why this offer?! It’s to encourage (entice?!) people to try out the various benefits of working in a way that means we can be more creative and practical, as well as and responsive to what the hard working body-mind-brain needs to get grounded and refreshed in each session. This could mean that you sit or stretch out somewhere cosy or walk and potter about in the fresh air outdoors.
It could mean that you choose to close your eyes to go inside to listen more deeply within, rather than getting pulled out by eye contact.
It could mean we are able to work in a more creatively practical way whether it’s from your office, home, park or in your local community, where you accomplish some things you’ve been avoiding!
Taking practical action while you have me right there to encourage and guide you, or having a “sandwich session” where you get some support, ring off, go do, and ring back is likely to help you take more “bold moves” forward. You know what is personally courageous for you. Whether it’s getting that assignment over the line, sending THAT message, or confronting a fear in a way that could even be…surprisingly playful.
Who knew that therapy could actually be fun right ?!!
I really like offering the opportunity to work in this way on the phone as it’s rewarding to help people make more progress sooner! And without the pressure of either of us having to rush against the clock. Phew.
Of course: we can still be creative, practical and productive in sessions online and in person I hasten to add! You won’t get the fee discount but I am committed to make each session - however we meet - a truly valuable, meaningful, genuine and collaborative experience for you.
A cost effective investment
My commitment is to help you:
- make immediate observable changes where it will make the biggest difference
- increase your life long skills, confidence and resilience
- adapt and transfer skills, tools and strategies from one situation to another
An obvious outcome of this is greater success in all areas of your life that matter to you.
My fee is set to realistically enable me to make a much higher investment straight back into offering not just good quality therapy, but the very best that I can bring, through a very high level of commitment to study, training, reflective practice, supervision and mentoring.
And, for every hour of session time, I will typically take another 30-60 minutes for "behind the scenes work", including session planning, follow up and research that is specifically focussed on you.
You can self, family or work fund your sessions, use WPA insurance, or the Access to Work scheme.
I have 15 years experience helping people get the most out of their WPA policy funding. I also have a secure and streamlined WPA liaison process.
When I work
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Spring 2025: I’ve got availability Mondays and Thursdays between 7.45am and 8.15pm (latest start time), and Fridays 7.45am start and 4pm (latest start time)
Let me know your ideal times!
Further information
Flexibility to fit your needs
My aim is to make sure that therapy and coaching fits well in the context of your life. This is exactly what it’s designed to do! You can choose to either work with me at the same time each week or to take a very flexible approach.
Sessions by phone are particularly flexible to last minute bookings and from any location so you can get the help you need when you need it most.
