About me
Whatever life has thrown at you, my role as a person-centred therapist/ counsellor is to offer you a safe, compassionate space to talk it all through, to heal and find a way to move forward.
Through counselling, I have helped many people of all ages learn how to cope with all kinds of mental health issues and life struggles, such as anxiety, stress, depression, grief, and being neurodivergent (ie: ADHD, ASC) in a neurotypically-centred world.
It can seem daunting and even impossible at times to talk about how we truly feel in fear of becoming a burden or being judged. I understand that this can mean that seeking therapy is a huge first step, and finding a counsellor you feel comfortable with can take time. That is why I've included a lot of information on this page about what you can expect from me, and I also invite you to check out my website for more details.
LGBTQ+ Affirmative
I am a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, and my therapeutic approach is LGBTQ+ affirmative. This means I provide a safe, accepting space for clients of all genders and sexualities.
I follow the Gender, Sexual and Relationship Diversity (GSRD) model. This is a broader framework inclusive of anyone who falls outside the societal norms relating to gender, sexuality and relationships. For example, some people might not identify with the letters in LGBTQ+, but may practice kink or ethical non-monogamy.
Person-Centred Approach
Person-Centred Counselling is rooted in the belief that we have an innate desire for personal growth, yet we all come across different obstacles that prevent us from reaching our full potential, such as the expectations of others and the pressures we put on ourselves. Counselling can help you become more aware of when these obstacles tend to arise, and over time, how to give them less control over your life.
Being person-centred means I am guided by you, and so tailoring my approach to fit each person's individual needs and goals is an huge part of how I work.
Couples and Relationship Counselling
I use the term Couples and Relationship Counselling because I work with all kinds of relationships. This might mean familial relationships, friendships, as well as romantic or sexual partnerships in which more than two people are involved. I have a lot of experience working with LGBTQ+ and neurodiverse couples, and the specific themes that emerge in these relationships.
I aim to help you identify where you each are at and where you want to be within your relationship. As the therapist, and therefore someone on the outside looking in, I may notice some unhelpful patterns that are continuing to impact your relationship in a negative way. My role includes helping you become aware of these patterns as they happen, and finding new and healthier ways to navigate them.
Feminist-Informed Approach
My approach is informed by feminist theory. This means that I acknowledge we are all different: we are different in gender, race, class, neurodiversity as well as many other intersections. I understand that this means we are also sometimes treated differently to each other, and often treated unfairly. I may address the impact that oppression or experiences of discrimination can have on mental health, if this feels relevant to the counselling work.
Creative Therapy
Sometimes it feels like there aren't the words to describe what we are experiencing. Working creatively, (drawing or using objects, for example), can allow us to see all of those things we would only normally experience inside ourselves, which can provide both clarity and a deeper connection to our feelings.
Testimonials
'I worked with Leonie for over 3.5 years, and I’m very grateful for the support she offered. She was easy to talk to, understanding, and always made me feel accepted. I appreciated her knowledge and positive approach to LGBT issues, which created a safe and open space for me to explore my thoughts, identity and neurodivergence. I’ve made a lot of progress in my personal growth journey, and I truly feel Leonie played an important part in that.'
'I was lucky enough to find the right counsellor... I worked with Leonie for over three years and I cannot recommend her highly enough. Her comments were always insightful and helpful, and the space we created really helped me process a lot of historical trauma as well as becoming happy and comfortable within myself. She's awesome!'
'Myself and my partner came to Leonie in a make or break situation. Thanks to Leonie's relaxed and non biased approach me and my partner began to listen and communicate with each other in a non judgemental safe space. We have grown as a couple over our sessions and feel stronger than ever. Thank you so much! :)'
Training, qualifications & experience
Counselling Qualifications
- 1st Class Honours Degree in Person-Centred Counselling
- FdSc Person-Centred Counselling
- Certificate in Gestalt Couples and Relationship Counselling
Further Training
- Certificate in Online and Phone Counselling
- ASIST Grassroots Suicide Intervention Training
- Understanding and Working with Different Attachment Styles
- Working with clients with ADHD
- Understanding Kink/ BDSM
- Working with Shame and Internalised Oppression
- LGBTQ Affirmative Training
- Understanding and Working with Self-Injury
- Working at Relational Depth
- Sandtray Workshop
- Samaritans Training
Areas of Experience
- Depression
- Chronic illness
- Anxiety
- ADHD, ASC (Autism), AuDHD & other neurotypes
- Self-harm
- Couples & relationship counselling
- Life transitions
- Anger management
- Bereavement/ Bereavement by suicide
- Parenthood/ Becoming a new parent
- Discrimination
- Sexual Abuse
- Suicidal ideation
- Low self-esteem
- Work/ study related stress
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
£40.00 - £50.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Our initial 30 minute appointment is free of charge. This is a chance for us to meet and for you to decide if you feel like I will be the right counsellor for you. After the initial meeting, all sessions are 50 minutes and at the rate of £50.
I offer a free 30 minute introductory appointment for couples too. Subsequent sessions for couples are £60 for 50 minutes.
I do offer some concessions for one-to-one counselling. Sessions for university students and counselling students are £40.
*Payments can be made via bank transfer, card or cash*
When I work
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