Lucy Carr

Having trained as an Integrative Counsellor, I am able to draw on my knowledge and experience of various counselling theories in order to find the most appropriate way of working with you.

Having had first hand experience of being the client in a counselling relationship, I am only too aware of how daunting it can feel when looking for the right person to accompany you on your journey. My aim is to try to see and experience the world as it is for you, providing a safe and non-judgemental environment in which you can explore your reasons for coming to counselling.

I have a counselling room in the rural village of Albury, a short drive from Bishops Stortford, Ware, Hertford and Buntingford . There is parking available.

I am able to offer both short and long term work depending on what it is that brings you to counselling. 

I believe that you, the client, are the expert in your own world and that you are capable of discovering, processing and healing yourself in order to find a happier, healthier way of being. Sometimes we can become stuck in life (for a variety of reasons), and it is at this time that it is important to reach out and find the support we need to address this. As your counsellor, I would hope to be this support for you.

I work with clients who present with a wide variety of issues such as: anxiety, depression, family/relationship problems, feelings of sadness, low mood, generalised anxiety, low self esteem, lack of confidence, loss, feelings of panic, stress, social anxiety and trauma.

I have a specialist interest in early attachment experiences, how the relationship we have with our primary care-givers in early childhood can impact our thoughts, beliefs and behaviours towards ourselves and others. Poor early attachment can lead to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, lack of confidence and an inability to cope with challenging situations.

I have knowledge and experience of working with client's who have experienced trauma. I choose to work with the client to help them to establish a feeling of safety within themselves using somatic techniques (exercises which can help bring the body back into a state of regulation) alongside cognitive processing (a chance to explore and process their experiences if they so wish.)

I offer group and Individual therapy to employees of organisations where there has been a sudden loss or trauma which may have impacted members of the team as the ripple effect spreads through the workforce. This can be one off crisis care or longer term work, depending on need.  

Menopause

Boarding School Issues

I charge £60 per session (50 minutes). Payment should be made via bank transfer or cash on the day of our session. 

Cancellation within 24 hours of the session will result in full payment.

I have experience of working with clients presenting with a wide range of issues.  I have a specialist interest in Attachment Theory: working with clients whose early attachment to their parent/carer was disrupted, neglectful or chaotic and for whom the impact of this may well have had a long lasting and devastating affect on their lives; their ability to trust themselves and others and to form healthy relationships. Signs you may be experiencing which could be an indication of poor attachment are listed below. You may be suffering from some or all of the following: Anxiety, Depression, Family/Relationship issues, feeling sad, feeling insecure, low self-confidence, low self-esteem, feelings of panic.

I have and continue to research the effects of trauma on the mind and body and how these are related. PTSD and Complex PTSD are areas of significant interest to me. Understanding the effect that single or multiple traumas can have on our mental and physical health and how in order to heal one, we need to address both. I have knowledge and experience of working with both the physical symptoms and the psychological impact of trauma. Trauma may show itself in many ways, often masking as symptoms which we try to make sense of. The following are common signs that you may have experienced a trauma response to one or multiple events in your life: feeling anxious, feeling depressed, outbursts of anger/rage, fear, low self-esteem, low self-confidence, phobias, controlling behaviours such as OCD and eating disorders.  The body holds it's own physical responses to trauma which can lead to illnesses such as auto-immune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, graves disease and many others. Certain cancers and heart disease may occur as a result of living with suppressed trauma responses. By identifying and working through our trauma reactions both mentally and physically, we can start to let go of the hold they have over us. This does not necessarily involve reliving the trauma itself, it can be about learning to notice how our body reacts to things and learning to acknowledge and take care or these feelings/experiences.

  
I am interested in the impact that Boarding School can have on a persons life. How an institution that was arguably established to make men and latterly women into leaders can in fact have the complete opposite effect. Signs that you may be experiencing symptoms of Boarding School Syndrome (a term coined by  Psychoanalyst Joy Schaverien) might be: difficulty in maintaining relationships, identity struggles, workaholism, self-esteem issues, control issues, inability to relax, addiction, struggles with parenting, isolation, a sense of failure, difficulty parenting, intimacy issues and depression.

My core approach to our work together is grounded in the person centred model. I believe that every person is an expert in their own lives and that given the right support and environment you will be able to identify the cause of your difficulties and discover the changes you need to make and the strength to implement these changes. My aim is to provide a safe and calm environment in which you can explore the area's you wish to address and through time and you will be able to find a more comfortable way of being.