Lesley Redfearn
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This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
This professional is accepting new clients but may have a waitlist. Please enquire with them directly to discuss availability.
About me
Hi, I’m Lesley. How are you……… really?
It’s a question we get asked all the time, but how often do we feel like we can answer honestly? Maybe you’re used to saying “I’m fine” even when you’re not feeling that way. Maybe it feels easier to stay quiet than try to explain your feelings if you’re not even sure how or what you feel?
Therapy can be a space where you don’t have to pretend. Having experienced long-term therapy myself, I understand how daunting it is to take that leap of faith to connect with someone when looking for help. It's ok, you don’t have to have it all figured out before you start therapy, you don’t have to explain everything perfectly, you don’t have to apologise for how you feel, I’m here to meet you exactly where you and help you work that out where you want to be.
I’ve worked with individuals facing many different challenges and I believe that the therapeutic relationship between the client and therapist is the key to successful therapy and my aim is to support, encourage and empower you throughout your therapy journey. I have a flexible approach to therapy, I understand everyone is individual in their needs and there's no one size fits all with me. Therefore, we can use the time and space to explore and talk about whatever is worrying you and we will work at your pace to find the answers. My job isn’t to “fix” you, because you’re not broken. It’s to walk alongside you, helping you to make sense of what you’re carrying, and gently support you in finding new ways of being that feel more aligned, more grounded, and more you.
Our first session will be focused on you, your life experiences, how you’re feeling and what you want to achieve from therapy. Why is this important? I like to explain the fundamentals of how therapy works with the following analogy: Throughout our lives we all carry an unconscious backpack, we carry all our significant life experiences in there. There is only so much room in it and sometimes when something happens in life it can feel full and weigh us down, become too heavy, and the contents split & spill out causing anxiety and overwhelm in our lives, and relationships. My job as a therapist is to help you hold the weight of that bag, provide a safe and confidential space to unpack it and think together about how it might be affecting you in your present life. We often find that problems in the present can be affected by thoughts, feelings, memories, and experiences from our past and by understanding, recognising and becoming aware of these, we can begin to think about how to re-pack that bag, to figure out what needs attention, what you want to keep, what you’re ready to let go of and how to carry what’s left in a way that feels lighter.
You don’t have to do this alone. Whether we meet online or in my counselling facility in Wilstead, my goal is to create a space where you feel safe, welcome, and accepted just as you are, no masks needed and no judgment. If you feel like my profile resonates with you, please feel free to reach out for an initial, free, no obligation introductory telephone or video call and I can answer any questions you might have.
Thanks for taking the time to look at my profile.
Training, qualifications & experience
I've worked for a number of years seeing clients for The Counselling Foundation in Bedford and Bedford Counselling and Training Charity (BCaT) alongside my own Private Practice.
I am Registered Member of the BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy). I adhere to their Ethical Framework, receive regular supervision and I am fully insured to work in private practice.
- Professional Doctorate - beginning October 2023 – Essex University
- Masters of Arts (MA with Distinction) in Psychodynamic Counselling – Essex University
- Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling - Bedford
- Foundation Certificate in Psychodynamic Counselling - Luton
Every year I undertake and update my knowledge and skills base by attending new training events and conferences.
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
£60.00 - £75.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
£60 per session – online/telephone
£75 per session – in person
I know that accessing counselling can sometimes be difficult especially when finances are tight. That’s why I offer a limited number of discounted online sessions for those on a low income or facing financial challenges. If this could be helpful for you, feel free to reach out via email and we can talk through what’s available.
I also understand that choosing a counsellor is a big step and it’s important to find someone who feels like the right fit. To help with that, I offer a free 20-minute phone or Zoom call. It’s a chance for us to connect, talk through any questions you have, and see if working together feels right for you. At the moment the introductory call option has been temporarily. Please reach out by email if you'd like to discuss starting counselling and we can organise a call.
There’s no pressure and no set timeline. My counselling sessions are open-ended, meaning you’re welcome to continue for as long as it feels helpful and supportive for you.
When I work
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Further information
I’ve had the privilege of supporting people through a wide range of difficult life challenges, and I approach this work with empathy, kindness and respect. I work with a wide range of clients and presentations including:
Those managing anxiety and or depression.
I am a neurodiverse positive counsellor with personal experience of neurodiversity. I work with neurodivergent individuals or those who recognise neurodiverse traits in themselves, helping them to find their way through the unique challenges that neurodiversity can bring. I work alongside patient's to find ways of being that align to their individual needs and help them to feel empowered, understood and accepted.
Helping people navigating complex family relationships or challenging domestic situations.
Individuals struggling with their relationship with food, especially those facing binge eating or overeating.
I also support those managing the emotional and practical impact of an illness diagnosis, helping them find strength and resilience during what can be a hugely challenging time.
