Heather Ashford
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This professional is currently not accepting new clients at this time.
This professional is currently not accepting new clients at this time.
About me
Sometimes, when we are struggling with our mental health, it can feel isolating and frightening. It may feel as though no-one else understands what you are going through, and you may begin to feel disconnected from others and even from yourself. Therapy with me offers you a safe, compassionate space where you can express yourself openly and honestly, without fear of judgement.
Through developing a genuine therapeutic relationship with the right therapist, we can begin to reconnect to ourselves, with others, and with the world around us. By empathising and hearing your experiences with curiosity and compassion, I aim to help you develop a deeper understanding of yourself, empowering you to make positive changes and move forwards with greater clarity and confidence.
I am an integrative relational therapeutic counsellor, registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). I place great importance on building a safe, trusting and genuine therapeutic relationship. I will facilitate a relationship which enables you to feel safe enough to grow and change.
Working in an integrative way means I blend a range of different therapeutic approaches based on what works best for you as a unique individual. I will work collaboratively with you, and tailor how I work based on your individual needs and experiences.
Within my private practice, I have supported clients with many different issues, including:
- Depression and low mood
- Very low self-esteem and lack of confidence
- Anxiety, including social anxiety, health anxiety and panic attacks
- Challenging life transitions, such as starting a new job, starting university, beginning a new relationship
- University/exam stress
- Relationship difficulties, including challenges with family members, friends, romantic partners and breakups
- Unhealthy family dynamics
- Exploring past abuse, including child abuse and neglect, past sexual assault
- Loneliness
- Identity exploration
- Wishing to understand themselves more deeply.
This list is not exhaustive, and I can create and hold space for whatever you need to bring.
In our sessions together, our work may include:
- Understanding our present-day reactions and responses, and how these may be unconsciously influenced by our past experiences and early relationships.
- Identifying patterns in our behaviours, relationships and inner dialogue, and how these may have developed.
- Exploring new healthier ways to relate to ourselves, to others and the world around us, bringing clarity and choice to thoughts or behaviours that once felt automatic or out of our control.
- Developing and strengthening self-compassion and self-acceptance.
- Developing emotional regulation and body awareness, through mindfulness exercises and grounding practices, for example.
- Using evidence-based theory and science directly into the sessions through psychoeducation, if this is helpful for you.
- Identifying and strengthening boundaries with ourselves and others.
I work on an open-ended basis, often working long-term with clients. Working in this way supports lasting and meaningful change rather than short-term fixes or focusing on just symptom relief.
As opening up to someone can feel very daunting, it is important to do this with someone who makes you feel comfortable and safe. The quality of the relationship between you and your counsellor is the most important thing for achieving a positive therapy outcome. That’s why I offer a free initial 20-minute phone/video call for you to get a sense of who I am, how I work, and whether we might be a good fit.
Training, qualifications & experience
I am an integrative relational therapeutic counsellor, registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
My qualifications include:
- BACP-Approved Diploma in Integrative Relational Therapeutic Counselling
- BSc (Hons) in Psychology (BPS Accredited)
- MSc in Social Research Methods
My work integrates mainly person-centred and psychodynamic approaches. In practice, this means we focus both on what is happening in your life right now, whilst also working at a deeper level, exploring past experiences that may be unconsciously influencing how you feel, think and relate in the present. I will work with you at your own pace, and I will be guided by your individual needs and goals.
I may also bring elements of other theories, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Transaction Analysis, into our work, if appropriate for you. I also incorporate mindfulness practices into my work, when appropriate.
I work in a trauma-informed way, ensuring your safety is paramount and that you always have autonomy and choice.
Prior to working in private practice, I have worked in numerous well-established counselling services, gaining a broad range of experiences. These include:
- Cassandra Centre, London - a domestic abuse charity
- Camden Listening and Counselling Centre, London
- Westminster Kingsway College, London
- A secondary school in Bristol
I have also volunteered at The Listening Place (London), providing ongoing in-person listening support to those who feel suicidal. I have also been a crisis text line volunteer at SHOUT.
I regularly engage in ongoing training and personal development. It is important to me to ensure my ways of working are up-to-date and evidence based.
Member organisations
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred). Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision. Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training. All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
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
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£55.00 - £65.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
I offer both in-person and remote sessions.
Please note, I can only offer sessions on a weekly basis for new clients.
When I work
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Further information
Client Feedback
"When I needed someone to talk to most, Heather was there. During my toughest times, she guided me through them with professionalism and genuine warmth. Her support helped me not only navigate challenges but also gain a deeper understanding of myself, especially during moments of self-doubt. Heather's a rare combination: a highly professional therapist who also creates a warm and supportive environment for self-discovery and growth."
"My sessions with Heather, made a genuine improvement to how I view myself. She helped me to work through issues around my self-confidence and practice self-kindness through a period in which I suffered bouts of anxiety and depression. Heather encouraged me to lead sessions and frequently checked in to ensure the style suited me. Most importantly she was kind and gentle. As I felt my confidence improve, I could feel that she celebrated this transition with me."
