Rebecca Leakey

I am an approachable and professional psychotherapist with a proven and broad range of experience working with client’s in a variety of settings. I have experience working with groups, families and couples in private practice, in the community and the charity sector, higher education and both private inpatient and outpatient psychological treatment settings.  

I have extensive experience working with with a wide range of emotional and psychological difficulties including : depression, low mood, anxiety, panic disorder, self harm, relationship issues, bereavement, work related stress, shame and low self worth, dual diagnosis and all aspects of addictive behaviour including; gambling, sex and love addiction, codependency, alcohol, drugs and other process addictions. 

I have experience and expertise in working with all aspects and symptoms of trauma (acute, chronic and complex), diagnosis of PTSD, CPTSD, DID, BPD, dissociative disorders, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) developmental trauma, disorganised and anxious attachment styles, intergenerational trauma, relational trauma, narcissistic/emotional/physical/sexual abuse. I have a particular interest in working with narcissistic and emotional abuse.

As well as working with specific issues and symptoms, psychotherapy can also offer you the space to discuss and explore more general feelings and concerns. Perhaps you are feeling lost or confused? Feel trapped in a vicious and/or destructive cycle? I endeavour to  provide a non judgemental, compassionate and safe space for you to explore your thoughts feelings and emotions.  To allow you to arrive at more clarity, sense of direction and sense of empowerment to challenge and break free from inhibiting patterns. 

I work integratively, drawing on a range of therapeutic approaches, (inc. SE, IFS, DBT, ACT, the psychodynamic approach ) and my own experience to ensure I can meet the unique and individual needs of each client. I have a particular interest in using somatic experiencing and internal family systems therapy in my work.  Somatic experiencing, created by Peter Levine, works on the principle that trauma and stress gets trapped in the body and leads to the symptoms we might often associate with trauma and stress. 

Somatic experiencing (SE) helps individuals to develop an increased sense of awareness of their internal experience (interoceptive, proprioceptive, and kinesthetic sensations). Somatic experiencing is a "bottom up" approach to therapy and aims to support individuals to incorporate their body in to the processing of their stress and trauma. 

Internal family systems therapy (IFS).  IFS identifies and addresses multiple sub-personalities or parts within each person’s mental system. These  parts  are often wounded and carry painful emotions.  Protective patterns then develop in response to the trauma and pain. These patterns may appear as debilitating and harmful. In IFS we approach these patterns with an attitude of compassion and curiosity. We understand that these patterns, however destructive or harmful they may appear, have developed in an attempt to protect the individual. It is through this compassionate curiosity that we can begin to free the parts from their extreme roles, heal the wounded parts and restore trust in the "Self". 

The core values of the person centered approach underpin all my work. I am creative, empathetic and non-judgmental, dedicated to ensuring ethical and reflective practice. I believe, whole heartedly that when provided with a safe and facilitative environment individuals are able to gain clarity, courage, self awareness and trust in themselves.

I have a limited number of concession spaces. This is a £10 reduction on my fee. Concession rates are offered on a case by case basis. Please contact me if you would like to discuss your eligibility. Currently I do not have any concession spaces available 

Payment is by bank transfer prior to the session. Cancellations are sometimes unavoidable however clients are requested to give a minimum of 48 hours notice to avoid the fees for the session being chargeable.

The links below provide some further information about the approaches I draw on in my work:

Somatic experiencing : https://sosinternationale.org/about-se

Internal Family Systems : https://ifs-institute.com

Sensorimotor Psychotherapy : https://sensorimotorpsychotherapy.org