Lisa Waterhouse

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Hello and welcome.

You might be here because you are hoping for some kind of change in your life. Perhaps you are feeling depressed, lost, anxious or stuck, and find yourself needing help to understand and work through your difficulties. You might be struggling to cope with experiences of trauma or symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress/PTSD. You may be curious to find out more about yourself and discover what holds you back from living your life more fully.  Life can be full of challenges and at times, we can all struggle to cope with whatever that brings. Everyone comes to counselling for his or her own reasons: we all have our own story and our own unique life experiences.  Whatever brings you here, my hope is that by working together we can bring clarity and insight to the things in your life that you would like to change and help you to find a pathway forward that brings meaning and purpose in life.

I bring warmth, sensitivity and compassion to my work and I aim to help you feel at ease so you can talk freely about your concerns, what matters to you, and where you can feel truly heard. I offer a confidential and judgement free place to support you when life is at its most difficult and to help you achieve lasting, positive change in your life. Counselling can help you understand your emotions, relationships, patterns of thinking or behaving and the barriers in your life - those you are conscious of and those you are not. This awareness can help you find and address the root causes of your issues, heal from the past and learn effective coping strategies in order to develop a more enriching and fulfilling life. 

As an integrative counsellor I draw on theories and concepts from the three main schools of psychological thought: Psychodynamic, Humanistic and Cognitive Behavioural (CBT). My approach is primarily psychodynamic and humanistic, and influenced by attachment theory, and current neuroscience. My work also recognises the crucial connection of body and mind and I have a particular interest in Mindfulness approaches and Somatic therapies. This approach allows me to adapt to each of your needs and help support you to find your way from the place you are in, to a place more authentic with who you are and where you want to be in your life.

I am a trauma informed therapist, with a commitment to ongoing professional development in this field. I work closely with emergency services, charities and war veterans to help you find ways to cope with anxiety and distress, heal from early dysfunctional family dynamics or trauma, become mindful of destructive patterns, and to find meaning and purpose in life. I am also passionate about working with clients who are feeling lost or uncertain, suffering from a personal struggle within or have lost the joy and pleasure in life. It may feel as if life is spiralling out of control and these difficult times can cause a range of emotions such as loneliness, sadness, grief, anxiety, depression or not enjoying life as you once did.

Choosing a therapist can be an overwhelming task and primarily, effective counselling is based on the quality of relationship between client and counsellor. With this in mind, it’s really important for you to find the right therapist for you to work with, who you feel comfortable with and can help you to achieve the changes you hope for. ​ I came to being a therapist through my own life experiences and I have a deeply felt respect for your journey. I aim to offer a space for you to explore, express and discover who you are and where you want to go. We all have within us, the capacity to create long-lasting change, to live bravely in our own skin and live the lives we want. In my personal experience, change really is possible.