Heather Coombe

INDIVIDUAL AND COUPLES COUNSELLING 

I have always liked the adage “if you change nothing, nothing changes”  but it can be hard to know where to begin. I believe it starts with you being heard and valued. Having your story and your feelings witnessed and validated is extraordinarily powerful and provides the catalyst for change. Talking to me will feel different from talking to a friend or family member. I will offer you insights and reflections, not opinions or solutions. I am interested in you and your experiences and they matter to me but, as I'm not involved, I remain open-minded.

Whether you come to counselling as an individual or as a couple, we will look at what is bringing you to therapy and explore a new way forward. Our work will offer you a clarity, giving you a better understanding of why you may find yourself repeating negative patterns in life. As an integrative counsellor, I will use different skills to facilitate this shift, tailored to your personal needs.

I have experience in most areas of counselling as well as specialist training in:

• Couples Counselling - Further information below
• Eating Disorders - Further information below
• Bereavement - I have worked as a bereavement counsellor for my local hospice for 5 years Couples Counselling

Very few relationships exist conflict free. When we choose a partner we have no idea of how we are going to cope with the challenges that life throws at us. I will support you as you explore why things have gone wrong and look at how you address your difficulties. Each of you may have very different approaches and we will look at these in more detail.

Communication is one of the most important aspects of a satisfying partnership. However, I find that when a couple are going through a rough patch, it is communication that often fails first. Using practical exercises, I will help you to reestablish better communication with each other so that you feel heard and understood. You may also find that the safety of the counselling room allows you to talk about issues which have been difficult to address at home. If you don’t know how to ask for what you need, you are less likely to have your needs met.

Together, we will see how past relationships affect how you act and react to each other in your current relationship. My approach is to work with you to highlight what is helpful in your relationship and what is not. As your understanding of yourselves and each other deepens, you will be able to decide what you would like the future to hold for both of you.

Eating disorders

I believe that eating disorders can take control of your life, making you feel as though you've lost your identity. There may be feelings of worthlessness, shame, and perhaps self-loathing. It can cast a dark shadow over your life.

We’ll work together collaboratively to change the way you feel about yourself. It's hard to recover until you believe that you're worth it, and therein lies the heart of the therapy. Building self-esteem and confidence is key.

My aim is to help you to reestablish a healthy relationship with food and to have the freedom to find and maintain a healthy weight without disordered eating or dieting.

My work is two fold; practical interventions, including nutritional guidance, combined with core counselling in which we'll explore your feelings and beliefs around food and your body.

I can help with following eating disorders:-

• Anorexia
• Bulimia
• Binge/Compulsive/Emotional Eating
• Obesity
• Sugar/Bread addiction

Working Practice

It is entirely up to you how long you come for counselling. For some people just a few sessions can help, others choose to stay longer depending on their individual needs. At an initial session we can discuss what feels right for you.

I work from a counselling studio which is in a peaceful setting, with beautiful views over the local valley

Training & Qualifications

I am an Accredited Member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP)and am bound by their Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy. I am committed to my own ongoing learning and have undergone the following training post qualifying.

• Learning to work with Couples - 2018
• Accredited member of BACP
• Working with the Shadow - 2017 
• Sand tray Therapy - 2017 
• Transactional Analysis Certificate - 2016
• Master Practitioner of Eating Disorders and Obesity - 2015
• Excellence in Practitioner Skills for Eating Disorders - 2015
• Essential Obesity - Psychological Approaches - 2015
• Diploma in Humanistic and Integrative Counselling, Bath Centre for Psychotherapy and Counselling (BCPC), 2012 - 2014 
• Nutritional Interventions for eating disorders - 2014
• Certificate in Bereavement - 2014
• Foundation Certificate in Psychotherapy and Counselling - UKCP and BACP accredited course.  2011 - 2012 (BCPC)
• BA (Hons) in Sociology - 1985

Individual: £50.00 for a 50 minute session £40+

Couple: £60.00 for a 60 minute session £40+