Lynne Harmon

I qualified in 2002 at Birmingham University. I am a Psychodynamically trained Counsellor / psychotherapist who works in an integrative way to ensure the client receives therapy that suits their needs and is creative and flexible enough to bring changes they are working towards. My conviction is, that if human beings make a good attachment, then they can manage life's challenges with greater confidence. Integrative therapy is just this, a combined approach to counselling and psychotherapy that brings together different therapeutic styles within the framework of a positive, healthy therapeutic relationship. Integrative therapists take the view that there is no single approach that can treat each client in all situations. The most common type of integration is where the therapist has a solid grounding in one theoretical approach that is accompanied by a willingness to carefully incorporate techniques from other therapeutic approaches.

I believe that our inner conflicts are the result of early childhood experiences that have developed unconscious ways of living and behaving that can cause us to make choices that may not always be in our best interests. The more self aware we become, the greater power we have to make informed and positive choices for our lives. My work is based on the idea that we are strongly motivated, as human beings, to live purposefully and meaningfully and that exploring the existential issues of life can lead us to that purpose and fulfilment.

The different stages and seasons of our lives can all have meaning and challenges, distress can paradoxically become a positive part of who we are and who we become. I believe that when we find meaning in our lives we are motivated to live well and manage our lives positively. We need freedom to find meaning in what we do and therapy provides a place for freedom to explore that meaning.

As well as exploration, sometimes solution focused work and Life coaching are something that I believe clients need. What do I need to do to change? How can I change that pattern? These are frequent questions that clients ask and this is when my diverse way of working can assist clients to explore their best route to change. If trauma is revealed and PTSD, then I am a trained EMDR therapist too and can provide a seamless service.

Together with life events and relationship issues come feelings that we might not know how to manage, anger, guilt, shame, blame. I give clients the non - judgmental space to discuss and think about these feelings so they can gain a new perspective in order to manage their threat to living well.

My style incorporates a dynamic, analytical approach and is used to help the person discover ‘clues’ to their unease and distress and to then consider alternative ways of viewing and overcoming their current struggles to bring change. The therapy involves working creatively with all aspects of human experience – whatever the therapeutic needs or problem(s) being faced by the person, regardless of their age or stage of life.

I have worked with young people 5 - 16  using Play Therapy and in University with 18 -25 year olds as well as adults in the NHS.

Personally, valuing and respecting client's ability to find a new way of being by attentive, non assumptive listening in an attempt to understand them, affirm their strengths and facilitate fresh thinking and perceiving are of paramount importance to may work.

This means some benefit from single session work, brief work or prefer and need long term work. Offering what is appropriate for a person is the primary focus in assessments. Why not try 1 session to experience the therapeutic approach?

I charge £50 per 60 minute session for one-on-one sessions. You can negotiate with me if you have circumstances that challenge your ability to pay the full amount, initially or during the therapy episode. 

Due to the Coronavirus I am focusing on phone and Skype or Whats app video connection however I have begun face to face work too. 

During difficult times it is often the case that people cannot access counselling at a price they can afford.

I want to encourage access and therefore negotiate prices when adversity is part of the challenge for the client.