Leonie Hilliard
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
I am currently offering sessions face to face and by Zoom.
I offer short and medium term individual psychodynamic psychotherapy and long-term analytic group psychotherapy. Both individual and group work is unstructured and exploratory, an approach which at best can lead to a greater understanding of the self, and in turn the capacity to manage feelings better. My practice is in Chapel Allerton, Leeds 7 and I have spaces for individual clients as well as in my analytic psychotherapy group, which meets weekly on a Wednesday at 5.30 - 7.00 pm. I have recently retired from working as a Principal psychotherapist/group analyst in the NH. Please don't hesitate to contact me by email leoniehilliard1@gmail.com or by phone 07890 444570 . I would then arrange an informal initial telephone call or Zoom meeting which would be a chance for you to tell me something about yourself, and for me to tell you something about the way I work.
Training, qualifications & experience
I initially trained as a psychodynamic counsellor with WPF (Westminster Pastoral Foundation) in the mid-1990s, continuing to train with the same organisation as an individual psychotherapist, and then as a group analyst with the IGA (Institute of Group Analysis).
I am currently a staff member at Group Analysis North where I provide group psychotherapy for students on the Qualifying Course in Group Analysis over ten weekends each year. I also co-convene the Supervision Diploma, Using the group as a medium of supervision, at the Institute of Group Analysis in London, over five weekends each year.
.I co-direct the Diploma in Supervision at the Institute of Group Analysis in London (currently being run online).
I have worked in many different settings, including private practice, voluntary sector settings and the NHS (recently retired as a Principal Psychotherapist). Between 2003-6 I spent three years setting up a counselling service for asylum seekers and refugees, employed by LASSN (Leeds Asylum Seekers and Support Network) in partnership with the NHS, using interpreters to work with non-English speaking asylum-seekers. I have considerable experience of offering brief therapy (4-6 session contracts in the Student Counselling Service at Leeds University, and 6-session E.A.P. (Employee-Assisted Programme) contracts.
The focus of my work now is predominantly in running long-term psychotherapy groups, training and supervising. I also offer brief individual work with clients, either as a stand-alone treatment, or for those wishing to gain insight prior to joining a therapy group.
Links to my training organisations are as follows: IGA, London: www.groupanalysis.org GAN, Manchester: www.groupanalysisnorth.com WPF (Westminster Pastoral Foundation): www.wpf.org.uk
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 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.
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
Group psychotherapy, group analysis. Clinical supervision.
Therapies offered
Fees
£60.00 per session
Free initial telephone session
Additional information
Long-term group psychotherapy: the fee is currently £28.00 per session, charged calendar monthly at £93.00 for 40 sessions over a one-year period. There is a small increase in fees each April.
Individual therapy, supervision, assessment and group preparation is charged at £60.00 per fifty minute session.
When I work
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There is some flexibility for assessments and for very brief interventions. The long-term psychotherapy group is 5.30 - 7.00 pm on Wednesday evening.
Further information
What is Group Psychotherapy?
Group psychotherapy is a long-term, exploratory therapy. A small number of clients, generally a maximum of eight, meet regularly, usually weekly, and usually for an hour and a half, with a group therapist. The group itself is on-going, with new members joining the group when there is a space and leaving when they are ready to. It is important that group members are not known to each other and don’t meet outside the group. This protects the confidentiality of information, the quality of the therapy and is a powerful indicator in promoting an experience of the group as a safe space.
What Happens in a Therapy Group
The group is unstructured and group members can talk about whatever they need or want to talk about. This is likely to include current concerns and unresolved past issues. Group members are encouraged to talk about their thoughts, feelings, dreams, memories, hopes, fears and preoccupations. At times this will include what is happening in the group itself. The therapist facilitates a process in which all group members contribute to exploration and analysis.
How Does this Help?
Most clients new to group therapy are surprised at how helpful it can be simply to discover that they are not alone with their difficulties. Putting thoughts and feelings into words in a setting that is safe and confidential can produce feelings of relief which in turn makes further exploration possible. As personal issues and developing relationships in the group are explored and analysed over time it is possible for lasting change to take place, leading to a significant reduction in the symptoms of distress, increased insight and improved relationships with others.
What Does the Group Therapist Do?
The group therapist is there to facilitate discussion amongst group members, and to help with making sense of group process. As thoughts, feelings and memories are voiced in the group, often for the first time, it is likely that strong feelings, previously felt to be unmanageable or even unacceptable will be experienced. The therapist’s role at these times is to help make sense of these more difficult, often confusing, sometimes frustrating feelings. However, generally the group therapist will allow the group to find its own way as far as possible, avoiding giving advice or offering solutions; rather striving to deepen and extend the range of expression of feelings in the group.