Counselling in Bristol

Hi, I’m Laura and I’m a Cognitive Behavioural (CBT) Therapist and mental health nurse with around 15 years' experience in mental healthcare, CBT and counselling. I have worked within the NHS (including significant child & adolescent mental health (CAMHS) experience), university voluntary and private sectors. I support adults and children who may be struggling with: anxiety (including generalised anxiety disorder, health anxiety, social anxiety), depression and low mood, OCD, phobias, low self-esteem, perfectionism, body image difficulties and body dysmorphia, stress, panic disorder and panic attacks, trauma and sleep difficulties.

I am a qualified counsellor and teacher, I have studied Counselling and Substance Misuse at FdSc level and have a Diploma in Social Work, as well as having a wide range of work and life experience. My down to earth nature empowers me to be accessible, approachable and non-judgmental which is an essential part of a successful working therapeutic relationship. Aiding people to work through their own life challenges is my absolute passion and driving force behind Brighter Pathways Counselling.

If you have experienced trauma as a result of your past and you find that is affecting you and your relationships in the present, I can help you gently explore these difficulties and support you to make the changes you need to make. Through childhood experiences and life events we try to fit into the world we live in. From very early on we tend to adapt ourselves to meet the needs of others, to be loved, liked and accepted. We twist and manage ourselves into expected ways of being and mask what is really going on for us. In doing this we lose the sense of who we are before we ever know.

Are you looking for change? Do you want to move beyond the pain of your current situation or past traumas? Are you experiencing relationship difficulties and don't know how to go beyond the current situation? Whatever the issues you are facing, I will work with you to help you move towards the place you (both) want to be. I have extensive knowledge of working with clients with a range of mental health difficulties, including people in emotional crisis. I believe that every person has the potential for recovery and growth, with as an individual or within relationship with another person. Transformation is always possible.

What is art therapy? Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses art media as its primary mode of expression and communication. Within this context, art is not used as diagnostic tool but as a medium to address emotional issues which may be confusing and distressing. Art therapists work with children, young people, adults and the elderly. Clients may have a wide range of difficulties, disabilities or diagnoses. These include emotional, behavioural or mental health problems, learning or physical disabilities, life-limiting conditions, neurological conditions and physical illnesses. Art therapy is provided in groups or individual

I am a BACP registered Psychotherapist and have been working with clients since 2013. I offer an integrative approach, working with each person as an individual and using different theory’s to support the client in the best way. I offer an open minded and non judgemental space for clients to explore what’s troubling them. I work with all client issues. My specialist areas of work include offering support to clients with OCD using a range of CBT tools, working with victims of rape, sexual abuse and domestic violence, and working with complex mental health issues. I have completed specialised training for providing psychotherapy.

I work in collaboration with my clients, using a solution focussed approach. The aim is to identify the problem along with causal factors and to develop a unique, person centred treatment plan. I have many years experience and very good outcome rates - many of my clients come from personal recommendation. I have worked in both the NHS and private settings since 2000 and am also a registered mental health nurse. I have worked with people from all backgrounds. My approach is open, non-judgemental and and down-to-earth.

I'm Rhian, a BABCP accredited CBT Therapist working with children, young people and adults experiencing a range of mental health difficulties. My training and experience within education, outpatient and specialist mental health services means that delivering therapy can be done simply and effectively. I adapt our work to your personal needs whilst keeping your goals at the heart of what we do. By working together, we can create lasting change not only by resolving your current issues, but by building life-long resilience through skills and understanding of what maintains our problems. I offer Sunday and weekday appointments.