Rate Lisa Howarth

Your struggles with mental health may be due to recent experiences, historic traumas or a life time of difficulties. Alternatively, you may not know why, or how, these feeling have arisen and you need help to figure it out. Whatever your reasons for seeking out therapy now, I can offer you a warm, supportive environment.

We can explore your thoughts and feelings, and make sense of your experiences. I am sensitive and approachable, allowing you to feel accepted and understood, without fear of judgement. My hope is to empower you to find healthy coping strategies, to move from coping to thriving and to find compassionate acceptance of yourself.

As a person-centred counsellor, my approach is collaborative. I believe people have the ability to work through, and find solutions to, their own issues when they are truly listened to, without judgment. I do not offer advice or set homework Instead I provide a safe space for us to explore your thoughts and emotions. I'm not an expert on you. Our sessions are driven by you and whatever you wish to talk about.

Two main themes have emerged in my work as a therapist - loss, and relationships; Loss might include that of a loved one, children moving away, job, stage of life (menopause!), a house move, relationship or pet.

Relationships include the relationships we have with other people, but also the relationship we have with the parts of ourselves that support us, help us thrive and rise to challenges, or keep us sad, stuck or frustrated in negative cycles.

The work we do together will help you explore these parts and feelings; build your own self compassion and self-respect; uncover and challenge negative self-beliefs and patterns of behaviour; increase your ability to self-soothe; overcome barriers – all at a pace that suits you.

I have professional and lived experience of autism and ADHD, and, while I am not qualified to diagnose, can support you areas such as rejection sensitivity with a greater degree of sensitivity, understanding and acceptance of your unique strengths and challenges.

My work is 'trauma informed', in that I understand the effect past experiences can continue to have on the mind and body, and can offer strategies to alleviate distress and physical symptoms.

I have had the privilege of sitting alongside people in many areas - in classrooms, counselling rooms, hostels and prisons, including my current role as a counsellor and counselling service co-ordinator in an NHS organisation, with Lifeline (drug users) and NACRO (criminal justice), supporting children in schools as a pastoral manager, and children with Special Educational Needs.

The difficulties we have worked with include marriage and friendships, anxiety, procrastination, menopause, difficult births, attachment, bereavement, and health problems.

I am actively increasing my knowledge around sexuality, and difficulties around intimacy, desire and arousal, whilst training as a psychosexual and relational psychotherapist and am happy to explore these areas with you in therapy.