Leah Lithgow Bijelic
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
If you are struggling or are fed up with the same patterns repeating in your life, I can help you find and develop the skills and inner resource to deal with what challenges you and make conscious choices about your next steps. I will also help you develop awareness of how difficulties emerge and recur in your life and what those mean for you. I am interested in your unique nature. Your individuality and the direction that your life is taking will shape the way we work together. I will be alongside you, supporting you to discover your own resources and talents and to create choice for yourself.
I am a UKCP accredited psychotherapist and clinical supervisor offering therapy for adults - individuals and relationships. I am also an accredited EMDR therapist practising attachment-informed EMDR. I have worked as a therapist and clinical supervisor in the third sector and public sectors as well as in private practice.
I work in a holistic way - including attention to your mind, body and spirit. I am also interested in the impact on you of the social context in which you live. and on helping you to navigate your world so that you are able to express your whole self in different areas of your life.
I also work with couples (including LGBT+ couples) whether your relationship is in crisis or you want to find ways to deepen your relationship.
Sustainable change
Therapy is a collaborative relationship. You benefit through reflection on your own process and commitment to your own development. In that way, change is sustainable because you develop resilience and resourcefulness that supports you for the rest of your life.
What happens in a session?
A therapy session is a safe and confidential space for you to explore whatever has brought you to this point. I am interested to explore how you experience your world and how that can be different - including what happens in your body and mind when you face challenges.
My core training is in process work (process oriented psychology), a creative approach that may involve talking, imagery, movement or exploration of posture or body symptoms. Sometimes verbal exploration brings insight but change is limited. Using movement, body experiences, exploring dreams and images may bring awareness at a deeper level leading to sustainable transformation. The shape of a session depends on you – your own process leads the way.
I also practice EMDR - another therapy which supports a clients’ own wisdom to emerge. EMDR is different from talk therapy. Its efficacy is well documented and clients’ experiences of EMDR are widely reported in the media (see: https://emdrassociation.org.uk/a-unique-and-powerful-therapy/in-the-media/).
Training, qualifications & experience
- UKCP Accredited Diploma in Psychotherapy
- Diploma in Clinical Supervision
- Certificate in EMDR Therapy (Accredited by EMDR Europe)
- Training in attachment-informed EMDR including work with parts and intergenerational trauma (EMDR Focus).
- Certificate in Person-Centred Counselling
- Foundation Certificate in Gestalt Psychotherapy
I have worked as a therapist and clinical supervisor in higher education and in the third sector (most recently MIND) as well as in private practice.
I have worked successfully with people bringing a range of experiences including; depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties (family, friends, workplace), culture shock, issues of identity, trauma, and life crisis.
Member organisations
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 UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) is a leading professional body for the education, training and regulation of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors. Its register is accredited by the government's Professional Standards Authority.
As part of its commitment to protect the public, it works to improve access to psychotherapy, to support and disseminate research, to improve standards and to respond effectively to complaints against its members.
UKCP standards cover the range of different psychotherapies. Registration is obtained by training or accrediting with one of its member organisations, or by holding a European Certificate in Psychotherapy. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
EMDR Europe
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.
