About me
I'm Vanessa, a former Royal Military Police Officer, a qualified psychotherapist, and a registered member of the BACP. My professional background and specialist therapeutic training have shaped my understanding of how difficult experiences can affect our emotional wellbeing.
At Look Within Therapy, I offer specialist trauma-focused therapy, with a particular focus on Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR). An evidence-based treatment recommended for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, OCD, phobias and much more.
I provide a compassionate, confidential, and non-judgemental space to explore your experiences, understand what may be keeping you stuck, and identify an approach suited to your needs.
Alongside EMDR, I offer Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Person-Centred Therapy (PCT), Hypnotherapy and Rewind Trauma Therapy.
You don't need to know which therapy is right for you before getting in touch. We can explore that together.
Book your free initial telephone consultation.
You are enough. You just might not know that yet!
Training, qualifications & experience
Experienced EMDR & Trauma Therapist
I am a qualified and experienced counsellor and trauma therapist with many years of clinical experience supporting adults, young people and children through some of life's most difficult and overwhelming experiences.
As the founder of Look Within Therapy, I provide a compassionate, confidential and non-judgemental space where you can feel heard, understood and supported as we work together towards meaningful and lasting change.
I specialise in Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), an evidence-based therapy that can help individuals process distressing and traumatic experiences, reduce their emotional impact and move forward without feeling continually held back by the past.
My therapeutic approach is integrative, drawing upon a range of established psychological approaches, including:
EMDR – Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing
CBT – Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
CISM – Critical Incident Stress Management
Person-Centred Counselling
Trauma-Focused Therapy for adults, young people and children
Hypnotherapy
Integrative Counselling
This combination of approaches enables me to tailor therapy to your individual experiences, circumstances and therapeutic goals, recognising that no two people experience trauma or emotional distress in exactly the same way.
Specialist Experience in Trauma and Sexual Violence
Alongside my private practice, I work as an Assessment Officer and Counsellor at RASA, supporting adults, young people and children who have experienced sexual violence, abuse and psychological trauma.
I have extensive experience working with survivors of both recent and historical trauma, including childhood abuse, sexual violence, complex trauma and post-traumatic stress.
My clinical background also includes working within prison settings, supporting individuals experiencing complex psychological and emotional difficulties, including PTSD, addiction, bereavement, dissociation, childhood trauma, relational difficulties and longstanding mental health challenges.
These experiences have strengthened my understanding of how trauma can affect emotional wellbeing, relationships, self-worth and everyday functioning.
Supporting Emergency Services, Veterans and Professionals
I have considerable experience providing psychological support to military veterans, emergency service personnel, civil servants and their families.
I understand the unique pressures, responsibilities and experiences associated with these professions, including exposure to distressing incidents, occupational stress, cumulative trauma and the challenges of balancing professional responsibilities with personal wellbeing.
This understanding allows me to offer a supportive and informed therapeutic relationship, where clients can feel comfortable discussing experiences that may otherwise be difficult to explain.
Working with Complex Trauma and Emotional Difficulties
My experience extends to supporting individuals experiencing:
PTSD and complex trauma
Anxiety, stress and emotional overwhelm
Childhood trauma and adverse experiences
Sexual violence and abuse
Relationship difficulties and unhealthy relational patterns
Bereavement, loss and significant life changes
Neurodiversity-related challenges and emotional wellbeing
Dissociation and difficulties with emotional regulation
Low self-esteem, negative beliefs and feeling stuck
Distressing memories and experiences that continue to affect everyday life
I recognise that seeking therapy can feel daunting, particularly when previous experiences have made it difficult to trust, feel safe or speak openly.
My approach is compassionate, collaborative and guided by your individual needs. We work at a pace that feels manageable, helping you develop greater understanding, emotional stability and confidence.
Moving Forward Together
You do not have to continue carrying the emotional weight of your past alone.
Whether you are seeking support following a traumatic experience, struggling with anxiety or PTSD, or simply feeling that something is preventing you from moving forward, therapy can offer an opportunity to understand, process and begin to make meaningful changes.
At Look Within Therapy, my aim is to help you feel supported, empowered and better equipped to move forward with greater emotional freedom and confidence.
When you feel ready, I welcome you to get in touch to explore how we can work together.
Safeguarding & Additional Training: -
- Safeguarding Level 3 & 4 November 22nd 2023
- Liverpool Safeguarding Children Partnership (LSCP) - 2022
- RASA - Safeguarding Adult & Children
- Child & Adult Trauma - Attachment, Trauma and Abuse
- RASA - Child Sexual Exploitation
- RASA - Rape and Sexual Violence
Full DBS - Update service active
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
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£58.00 - £128.00
Additional information
Pricing for Therapy Sessions
Initial assessment £58 (£68 after 5 pm)
EMDR assessment / Therapy: - £88 - weekend session £128.00)
Couples Therapy, Co-Parenting, or Relational Therapy: - £88 (£98 after 5 pm - £128 weekends)
Person-Centred Therapy (PCT): - £58 (£68 after 5 pm)
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): - £58 (£68 after 5 pm)
Integrative Therapy (Combination of PCT and CBT): - £58 ( £68 after 5 pm)
Hypnotherapy: - £88
Weekend & Premium Rates
CBT and PCT Appointments: - £88 per session
EMDR Appointments: - £128.00
Urgent/One-Off Session: - £128 per session - Weekend £144.40
When I work
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Further information
Your life experiences, cultural background and upbringing are some of the reasons that make you unique! Therefore anything you wish to work through in therapy will be tailored specifically to your individual needs. There is a vast range of issues which clients may bring to therapy - anxiety, depression, PTSD, emotional, physical or sexual abuse and OCD to name but a few. Maybe you are currently feeling stuck, unable to share things that have happened, with people close to you.
Perhaps you are very self critical, lack confidence or have low self-esteem affecting your happiness and relationships. You may be struggling to move on with your life following the loss of a loved one, pet, job, a relationship breakdown or lonely and just want someone to talk to.
No matter what the problem is, counselling can help you to explore and understand events and relationships, past and present. It will help you to process anything which is preventing you from being happy, enabling you to come to terms with, accept or move forward with your life.
During the first session I will carry out an assessment. This will identify problems that are causing you pain and unhappiness, areas which I can support you through. We will then discuss the options of therapy such as; talking, directive or integrative. If you need guidance choosing which type of therapy is for you I can guide your decision.
