Lesley Twitchen

Embark on a transformative journey with me—an Integrative Counsellor and Somatic Informed Trauma Therapist—driven by a passion for unraveling the intricate tapestry of the human experience. Utilizing a unique blend of neuroscience and psychotherapy, my commitment is to collaborate with you in unlocking the profound healing potential within. My services include non-invasive treatments such as Dr. Stephen Porges' Safe and Sound Protocol, using a polyvagal-informed approach to access and harness our own body's unique way towards self-healing. Additionally, I offer Flow Neuroscience, a non-invasive brain stimulator treatment for patients suffering from depression, providing relief for those with drug-resistant depression.

Whether you seek support online or in person, my private practice is tailored to meet your specific needs. Drawing from a rich background in creative therapy as a school counsellor, I enable those who find communicating with words challenging to access thoughts and feelings via creativity.

I have experience specialising in safely guiding adults and teenagers through the aftermath of complex trauma such as sexual violence, rape, and childhood sexual abuse.

I champion a bottom-up approach, fostering safety, self-regulation, and co-regulation through the art of connection. Experience compassionate-focused care, and rest assured, my commitment to staying at the forefront of therapeutic innovations makes me best placed to understand trauma's profound impact and navigate a way out of the suffering.

I work with clients experiencing existential crises, guiding them through pivotal life moments, helping them create meaning and understanding. Let's navigate these challenges together for a more purposeful and fulfilling journey.

Clients include:

• Low mood and depression
• Anxiety disorders
• Attachment disorders
• Traumatic life experiences & C/PTSD
• Loss and bereavement
• Anger and troublesome emotions
• Relationship difficulties
• Life transitions

My professional career began as an Anaesthetic Nurse (operating practitioner), working mainly in the NHS and private healthcare. I worked in Australia, Queen Elizabeth’s pediatric cardiac hospitals as well as major London teaching hospitals such as St. Bartholomew's, The Royal London, St Marks, St Thomas's, Great Ormond Street Hospital, and University London College Hospital. I practiced for twenty-eight years, assisting clinically alongside anesthetists and intensives. My role was highly complex, including cohesive relationships in emergencies. These skills created a safer, improved environment for patients. I gained a great deal of job satisfaction working for the NHS.

The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (NHNN) was where I became interested in Neuroscience, working with teams innovating medical trials with patients struggling with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders, brain injuries, and Parkinson's disease, using invasive brain stimulators.

I have worked and assisted patients having surgeries that held significant risk to life, many reaching the anesthetic room with the knowledge that this was their final moments before being anaesthetised. Patients recognised their risks and that the outcomes they faced may be unbearable. Some risks included brain damage or even death. My role was immense yet rewarding and humbling, psychologically holding patients in the anesthetic room with the impending uncertainty of the surgery's outcome.

After receiving professional treatment for my own mental health illness, with another wiser, trained, compassionate professional, this experience brought me to an existential dilemma of changing careers. I have always had a passion for understanding what it means to be human, curious about our vulnerability, intrigued by our incongruent behaviours and our fragility. With the mental health illness and a new passion for the human condition, a curiosity about what it means to be human this motivated me to retrain as a counsellor, embarking on a new career change.

In 2014, I began my journey to become a counsellor. I successfully attained the CPCAB Level 4 Higher Diploma in Integrative Counselling, a comprehensive course encompassing various modalities. This training program had its roots in Person centred therapy whilst also offering training in cognitive-behavioural therapy, psychodynamic theories, and experiential techniques using creativity, including mediums such as clay and paints. It also explored psychodrama and existentialism.

This rich multifaceted training has empowered me with a versatile and integrated approach, enabling the synthesis of different therapeutic modalities. By combining these diverse methods, I have discovered a rich tapestry of techniques for facilitating personal growth and finding meaningful solutions that allowing me as a therapist to tailor my approach to each individual's unique needs and fostering a comprehensive path toward healing and self-discovery.

Coming from a science and medical background, I extended my training, obtaining a qualification from BACP in one of the country's first Somatic Informed Trauma Counselling courses. Influenced by theorists like Bessel van der Kolk, author of "The Body Keeps the Score," and therapists Peter A. Levine and Deb Dana (Author of The Poly-vagal Theory in Therapy), I delved into understanding the effects of psychological trauma. 

Exploring somatic-informed approaches to psychological issues, I recognised the significance of the brain and body in our responses. Furthering my expertise, I became a YMCA Accredited yoga teacher, adding valuable skills in utilising breath, movement, and meditation to influence the nervous system—aids in therapy for those facing challenges.

Post-qualification, I've crafted a proactive counselling style in private practice. With a co-relational, multifaceted approach, I blend cutting-edge non-invasive neuroscience treatments with established psychodynamic theories. My unique touch involves incorporating somatic-informed practices.

As a warm and empathic human-to-human guide, my skills include a deep understanding and insight into knowing how to be with another's suffering. I foster a compassionate environment, specialising in diverse clientele—children, teens, and adults. From sexual abuse to existential challenges, I help clients uncover strengths for lasting change.

I hold a current, enhanced DBS (formally CRB) certificate and insurance.