About me
Hello and welcome to this profile page.
What brings you here?
I imagine you're feeling the need for some kind of support, with something that needs to change within yourself or some area of your life.
Are you faced with the challenge of living with chronic anxiety or depression, that zaps the joy out of life? Perhaps you struggle with relationship/s or social anxiety, which cause feelings of being alone and isolation. Or maybe you are living with the impacts of trauma or are you simply want to get to know yourself at a deeper level?
Whatever brings you here; I'm a warm, down to earth counsellor & therapeutic nature healing with guide. Having over 30 years experience of mindful and meditation practice, I've developed skills in supporting you to gain a deeper sense of self connection, and insight into what's most needed. I've also trained in a polyvagal approach to counselling, which is very practical.
These days, chronic stress has become so much more common to daily life, with endless daily do lists, unsatisfactory work, relationship or health challenges, not to mention the poly crisis within the world today. Living with chronic stress is not something to ignore! As it has a profound impact upon your daily life experience, it changes the way you relate with yourself, others and how much freedom you feel to live into and create the life you want.
Imagine how would it be; to have a kind and skilled companion guiding you to gently explore your current challenges. Perhaps a past trauma or other challenges in a way that fosters change, more freedom and enjoyment within life.
What to expect.
We'll meet for an hour in person, over zoom or outside in a nature location, if you'd like nature's presence to also support your process.
During each session, I'll deeply listen and feel into what you share, as we explore whats present. At times, I also teach simple psychoeducation as a way to build both understanding and resources. At other times I'll suggest some mindful practices as a way to develop certain qualities or skills to enable you to feel more empowered or connected in your day to day life. In essence; our work together is collaborative, where we become a team exploring what most serves your growth.
My approach to Counselling.
I trained as an integrative and person centred counsellor. Believing a kind, non-judgmental, honest and respectful space provides the right conditions, for our innate capacity for healing and wisdom to thrive.
I'm also a trauma therapist, working with a polyvagal and somatic (body awareness) approach to counselling. Learning some basics about how your autonomic nervous system (ANS) reacts and responds to daily experiences, while also developing ways to regulate this primal part of you, can be a game changer! One that puts you more in the drivers seat and can lead to a much more empowered and enjoyable life.
Unfortunately; within our modern-day ways of living, it's common for our ANS responses to get stuck in the protective cycles of fight, flight or freeze. This leads to living a life, which can feel like a grind, where feelings of anger, anxiety or depression, fear and isolation dominate.
When living within chronic defensive patterns, our bodies healing capacities, ability to thrive and enjoyment in life is profoundly reduced.
However; with a polyvagal approach to counselling, you can learn to become aware of this process, while developing new skills to regulate the ans to feel more at ease in daily life. Skills that can go on to support your life way after your counselling process has ended.
Ways to work with me.
In Person counselling; based in the Findhorn, Scotland. You can choose to have traditional counselling sessions which are held indoors or walk and talk therapy which are outdoors. I also offer counselling support online, via zoom.
Nature Connection sessions; is another pathway to healing, where the natural world becomes a co counsellor guiding your healing process. Held within quiet natural spaces around the Findhorn area. This kind of support can be deeply transformational and has been shown to improve physical, mental emotional and spiritual health. Fostering a relationship with the natural world is incredibly wise, nature nourishes a sense of belonging and discovery of fresh solutions and new ways of being within the world.
If you'd like to learn more about Nature Connection visit:
https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/types/econature-therapy
Get in touch to find out more or to arrange a free initial 30 min introductory appointment, via zoom. The introductory session is an opportunity to gain some sense of me and ask any questions. And I can find out more about you and what your needing.
Website: www.befriendinglife.org
Email; lisa@befriendinglife.org
Phone: 07852994399
Training, qualifications & experience
Current Training
- EMDR Training - Jennifer Sweeton
- Shinrin Yoku (Forest Bathing) Diploma Training
Qualifications
- Interpersonal Neurobiology - Daniel Seigel
- One Year of Ployvagal Theory - Deb Dana
- Shinrin Yoku (Forest Bathing) Basic Practitioner Training Course
- Advanced Diploma in Humanistic counselling - Level 5
- Ten Directions Eco-therapy training, Certificate in other centered environmentally based therapies
- The Heart of Trauma - Bonnie Badenoch
- One year Nature Immersion and Bush Craft training Trackways - Thomas Schorr-Kon
- Working with Shame - Carolyn Spring
- Working with Trauma - Carolyn Spring
- The Rewind Technique - Human Givens
- Evolutionary Relationships - Terry Real &Thomas Hubl
- Mystical principles of Healing - Thomas Hubl
- Transparent communication - Thomas Hubl
- Mystical principle of relationship - Thomas Hubl
- Transpersonal meditation, mindfulness and deep exploration of Self- 12 years study and practice - Adyashanti
- One year Core Shamanism - The Sacred Trust - Simon Buxton
- Certificate In Counselling
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
- Developmental Trauma
- Climate and Ecological Anxiety
- Spirituality
- Mindfulness
- Healing with nature in mind.
Therapies offered
Fees
£45.00 - £50.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
My fees are:
£50 - 1 hour in person appointments.
£45 - 1 hour zoom- online or phone appointments.
When I work
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Further information
I offer in person counselling based in Findhorn, Scotland which can be both indoors or outdoors through walk and talk Therapy. If your not local to this area, we can meet online instead, via Zoom.
I also offer outdoor therapeutic nature connection sessions. Where you'll be offered various nature connection practices to try out in nature, specific to your needs.
Nature connection sessions could be for you;
- If you'd like a counselling process which integrates healing with nature.
- You'd like to deepen your relationship with the natural world
- If you'd like to develop a spiritual connection with the world.
For more details visit my website. www.befriendinglife.org
