Heather Ashford
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This professional has no current availability for new clients. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
This professional has no current availability for new clients. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
About me
You deserve to be heard. I offer a calming, supportive space where you can explore your thoughts and feelings without fear of judgement. Through empathising and hearing your experiences with curiosity and compassion, I aim to help you develop a deeper understanding of yourself allowing you to make positive changes and move forwards.
“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.” - Carl Rogers
I am a qualified counsellor (registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) who has worked with many different adults and young people. I work at developing a safe, trusting and genuine therapeutic relationship with all my clients. I work with people on a range of issues, including depression, low self-esteem, anxiety, relationship difficulties, and past abuse.
I integrate mainly person-centred and psychodynamic approaches - essentially this means I work with you to help you make sense of things that are happening in your life currently, and also work with you on a deeper level, exploring your past experiences and how that may be unconsciously influencing you now. I will work at your pace, and to your own goals.
I work with clients on a range of issues, but in particular with clients struggling with depression and low self-worth/self-esteem. I gently explore with them where these feelings may have come from, and help them develop self-acceptance, self-compassion and resilience. It isn't a quick fix, but over time I have witnessed the huge positive impact counselling can have on people's lives.
Opening up to someone can feel very daunting and so it is so important you 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 good therapy outcome - so I offer a free initial phone/video call for you to get a sense of what I'm like.
Training, qualifications & experience
I spent four years training to be a therapist, and I have a BACP-Approved Diploma in Integrative Relational Therapeutic Counselling. I also have a BSc (Hons) in Psychology. I have worked as a counsellor in many different settings:
- a higher education college
- a domestic abuse charity
- a general mental health counselling service.
As well as my clinical training, I have provided mental health support for many years. I have previously volunteered at The Listening Place, providing face-to-face fortnightly support to people who felt suicidal. I also volunteered with SHOUT, providing immediate text support to people seeking immediate emotional support.
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
£50.00 - £60.00
Free initial telephone or online session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
- 20 minutes initial phone/video consultation: Free
- 50 minute online/video therapy session: £50
- 50 minute in-person therapy session: £60
When I work
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I provide in-person counselling on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, in Clifton, Bristol. I use a confidential, quiet, welcoming therapy room. I offer remote therapy on Thursdays.
Further information
Client Feedback
"I'm incredibly grateful for your dedication to my well-being, and I can't thank you enough for being there for me. Your compassionate guidance and the safe space helped me explore and understand my emotions. I was able to achieve incredible personal growth I didn't think I could". Client M
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"Heather is a great therapist! She's a great listener and she created a safe environment for me to feel comfortable enough to talk about my problems. She has helped me learn a lot about myself. After our sessions together, I am more confident in identifying my emotions and knowing how to deal with them." Client R
