Counselling and Personal Development in Saffron Walden
“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am... then I can change” — Carl Rogers
Lisa Edmonds Dip. Couns., MBACP Registered
I am a qualified and experienced therapeutic counsellor and a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
My practice is in the heart of the historical medieval market town of Saffron Walden in North West Essex.
I am an integrative counsellor working mainly from a psychodynamic approach but also incorporating the concepts from other approaches such as humanistic person-centred. Being able to blend these approaches allows me to bring different elements to the therapy to suit what you need and works best for you.
I work individually with adults aged eighteen and over.
How I Work
People seek counselling for many different reasons and I understand the decision to come is not always an easy one.
Therefore, I ensure I provide a warm and safe environment for you to openly explore what has brought you to counselling where you will be heard, understood and accepted without the fear of being judged. The counsellor-client relationship is an important part of the therapy and you will be valued, encouraged and supported throughout our sessions together.
To help understand more about yourself part of our work will involve exploring your past which can help us to identify:
- Why you cope with things in a particular way
- Why you feel and react the way you do
- Reasons why you may be experiencing anxiety
- Repeating patterns of unhelpful behaviour
- How this may be impacting your life now
Allowing you to reflect on past experiences will help you to make sense of the present.
“I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become” — Carl Rogers
Some of our work will include looking at your defence mechanisms and coping strategies which are unconsciously put in place at times when we need to protect our own emotional well-being.
Sometimes our way of coping can become outdated leading us to unconsciously repeat patterns of behaviour which no longer work for us and can leave us feeling 'stuck'. By bringing these behaviours into the conscious will enable us to replace them with better ways of coping which are more beneficial to your life now.
We will also look at your attachments with others and how you form relationships. Looking at the different relationships in your life, recognising the part they are playing and your role within them.
Exploring these and making sense of it all will help you to a place of deeper understanding and self-acceptance, allowing you to see other options available, enabling you the freedom to make changes and move forward.
Experience and Training
I have considerable experience of working with anxiety, relationship issues, stress related issues, perfectionism, family issues, trauma, bereavement, lack of confidence, communication issues, life-changing events and low self-esteem.
I was also an accredited bereavement volunteer with the national bereavement charity Cruse for a number of years.
- Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
- Advanced Certificate in Counselling Studies
- Certificate in Counselling Skills
- Awareness in Bereavement Care
- Advanced Certificate in Supervision
- Psychodynamic Theory
- Humanistic Theory
- Introduction to Counselling Skills
- Diploma Jungian Psychology
- Human Toolbox Practitioner
- SandStory Therapy
- Working creatively with dreams
- Working creatively with clients
- Couple/Relationship Training
- OCST Online Training
- Working with difference and resistant clients
- Eating Disorders
- Self-harm and suicide ideation
- A Child's Grief
- Sudden & Traumatic Death
- Bereavement and Trauma
- Bereaved by Suicide
Get in Touch
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how counselling works, or to arrange an initial session. This enables us to discuss the reasons you are thinking of coming to therapy, whether it could be helpful for you and whether I am the right therapist to help.
You can also call me on 01799 794795 if you would prefer to leave a message or speak to me first.
All enquires are usually answered within 24 hours, and all contact is strictly confidential and uses secure phone and email services.