Fiona Henderson

Hi I'm Fiona. Thankyou for stopping by. I appreciate there may be many reasons you are searching for counselling support. You may be wondering if it’s the right thing for you, or how it could help, who to talk to, what is involved... 

Firstly, please let me reassure you that there doesn't need to have been a crisis or significant event happen in your life to feel that you need support. Life is busy, and often involves juggling competing commitments. At times, things can become difficult to manage. We can lose sight of what's important to us, feel off balance, and find it hard to cope with everyday life.  Sometimes you can sense that things just don’t feel right, and may be unsure why - this can leave you feeling unsettled or uneasy. 

I have been able to support clients experiencing these very feelings; those who feel overwhelmed, anxious, stuck, disconnected, uncertain, unfulfilled, unable to switch off, or low in mood.

Similarly, when life does throw us a curveball, we can find ourselves needing support to navigate these challenges. I have had the privilege of supporting clients through such events as bereavement, loss, life transitions, ill health, identity crisis, low self-esteem, employment, family and relationship troubles, and trauma. 

Counselling offers you the dedicated time to focus solely on you, your needs, your fears; to discuss and explore whatever may be going on for you at this point in your life; to say the things you may find difficult to voice out loud elsewhere.  

I offer you a uniquely unconditional, non-judgmental, uncensored, compassionate, safe space to do this.

How I work

I am trained in a modality called person centred therapy. As the name suggests, this approach puts you at the centre of our time together; recognising you as the unique and complex individual that you are, with valuable contributions to make towards your own self-exploration and growth. In simpler terms, you are in charge!

I am here to guide and support you on your journey; I won't tell you what to do, or give advice - you will be the driver, and what we talk about in each session will always be entirely your choice.   I will respect your decisions, and you will not be pressured to talk about anything you don't feel comfortable with.  I know first-hand how hard it can be sometimes to identify or even articulate how you feel, especially if you are new to counselling, or not quite sure what has brought you here. It is completely natural to feel nervous or unsure. It can feel strange at first to have this unique time and space solely to talk about you. Rest assured we will move at your pace, ensuring you feel safe and comfortable, and I will be right by your side.

I also know that sometimes we don't know how to talk about certain things; we don't even know how we feel about them. If you feel comfortable, I have a variety of creative tools to help you connect to your inner emotions.

I often draw on mindfulness and somatic (body centred) theory, which involves tuning into the body and the messages it holds about how we feel; exploring the connection between body and mind. In practical terms, this can involve us practicing breathing, regulation, and grounding exercises during our sessions, to deepen your awareness of how your body responds physically to emotional distress; and learning how to regulate this to release stress and tension.

Sandtray therapy

I offer sandtray therapy for those who are interested in exploring their emotions more deeply.  

Sandtray work is a nonverbal therapeutic intervention that allows us to reconnect with our creativity and imagination - promoting emotional expression and healing. It is a unique way of bridging the gap between our outer and inner worlds, our conscious and unconscious feelings. We don't just think in words, we think in images, and sandtray work is particularly useful when we are struggling to describe or even identify what is going on for us, and words either don't come to us, or don't feel enough.

Through the use of the sandtray, and the figures and objects provided to choose from, you will create your own miniature world that reflects your inner thoughts, feelings, struggles and concerns that you may be experiencing. We will then explore together the connections between your creation and your real world, and invitations are made to make adjustments to your creation, which in turn can empower you to make similar changes in the real world.

A client shared the feedback below on her recent sandtray session:

"Using the sand tray has been a valuable part of my therapy journey. It gave me the opportunity to explore my thoughts and feelings creatively, revealing subconscious ideas that I may not have expressed through words alone. Through the process, I was able to see clear boundaries, such as identifying who I wanted to allow into my inner circle, which helped me better understand my relationships and personal needs.

The sand tray also reflected important aspects of who I am and what matters most to me. As a non-verbal form of exploration, it felt freeing because I was able to make my own choices and create meaning in my own way. Fiona’s questions encouraged me to reflect more deeply, recognise that I have choices, and consider how setting healthy boundaries can help me live more authentically and stay true to myself.

I would like to use the sand tray in future again in my journey to explore other aspects e.g. childhood; grief; future self.

Sand therapy was an enlightening experience that helped me to know and understand myself better."

About me

My passion for supporting others has shaped my working life. I've worked in residential care with young people, in student and family care within a secondary school, and as a Mental Health Advocate, with adults, for the charity MIND.

Alongside my work here, and my private practice, I offer counselling support to patients, carers and families of St Barnabas Hospice in Lincolnshire. This work has given me great experience of working with the complexity of feelings associated with grief, pre-bereavement, end of life, and life-limiting health conditions.

I also volunteer for the charity First Steps ED; a UK based Eating Disorder charity, where I support patients and their family members affected by eating difficulties and disorders.

Having encountered my own personal and health challenges, those being around disordered eating, a debilitating health condition, and self esteem, I have lived experience of how counselling can offer the time and space to explore feelings and emotions, to understand oneself better, and to develop self-awareness and resilience. 

I would be honoured to offer that same support to you.

I offer a free 15 minute introductory telephone conversation - an opportunity for us to have a brief discussion about what has led you to counselling; for you to see if you feel comfortable talking to me and whether you feel you can work with me, and for me to offer guidance on if I feel I'm the best person to support you.

There is no obligation to book a session following the call, however should you decide we're a good match, subsequent sessions will be 50 minutes, and will cost £40 - payable 24 hours in advance to confirm your session.

My hours are generally between 10am (first appointment of the day) & 6.30pm (last appointment of the day). If you require sessions outside these hours please get in touch to discuss options.

A few testimonials from clients:

You’ve helped me rediscover parts of me I thought were forever lost. (37 year old female, July 2024)

I was so relieved having been able to talk, and not feel judged, or feel that I was too much to deal with.  I  was really nervous and didn't know if I’d be able to do it, to talk, to share things. I ended up sharing things I didn't even know I needed to share.  (35 year old male, November 2024)

Fiona offered a good listening ear. It was nice to be able to talk about things I don't want to discuss with others. (87 year old female, April 2025)

Fiona was very kind & understanding, she was very easy to talk to & made me feel comfortable right from the start,  which for me with anxiety was very helpful. (37 year old female, April 2025)

It's been really helpful to have someone to talk to, and open up to; I haven't opened up as much to anyone. I've reevaluated alot in my life, like what I'm prepared to tolerate, and it's helped me reflect on enforcing my own boundaries. (44 year old female, July 2025)

As a newbie to counselling and a prior skeptic, I was immediately put at ease by Fiona who was kind, adaptable, and a great listener throughout all our sessions. She was able to guide the conversation to allow me to explore different approaches to handling my worries. It never felt like "work" speaking with Fiona - the sessions felt fluid and varied week on week. (37 year old male, October 2025)

It was very helpful talking to someone outside the family - it made it easier to talk. It really did help me being able to get things off my chest  (69 year old male, September 2025)

Having someone who was so understanding and kind allowed me to open up more as the sessions progressed, and I looked forward every week to our appointment. (22 year old female, December 2025)