Fiona Stinson

I currently have some Monday daytime slots available for both walk and talk and online sessions.

Hello, my name is Fiona,

I understand that entering into counselling may feel like a big step, and understandably, you may be concerned about what the process involves. Simply put, counselling allows you to explore your thoughts and feelings in a safe, non-judgemental space, giving you the opportunity to see the issues that are bothering you more clearly and find ways to make the intolerable tolerable.

For me nature has always provided me a sense of space, time and calm away from the everyday demands of life. With this in mind I have incorporated walk and talk therapy into my practice, as I hope I can show others the therapeutic benefits that walking through a beautiful garden, a woodland maze or by flowing water can offer.  

For some it feels easier and more natural to discuss problems in a more relaxed way whilst walking. Being outside can help people to feel more grounded by being able to observe the world around us. We can breathe in fresh air, feel the warmth of the sun or the fresh wind on our face, we feel energised, and our mood is often boosted by these experiences.

My role, whether we are out in nature or working together online, is to facilitate your counselling journey. I do this by giving you my full attention and professional experience. I always aim to work alongside you and at a pace that suits you. I want you to come away from our sessions feeling as if you've been truly heard and understood. I do this by providing a welcoming, relaxed and non-judgemental space for you to explore your experiences. Through our session we will work together to reframe unhelpful thoughts and for you to gain greater empowerment in your own wellbeing. 

I welcome feedback from my clients and like to check in with how they feel sessions are going. Whether you have short or long-term therapy, we are always working towards the time when you can feel confident to continue your journey without me. Though the door is always open if you feel that there’s more work to be done together.

My Philosophy and Theoretical Stance:

My practice philosophy sits within a pluralistic philosophy framework. Pluralistic theory asserts that every client is different and needs different things from therapy at different times. I am drawn to pluralism as I feel it is a commitment to respecting, valuing and empowering clients by working in explicit collaboration with them.

In addition I believe that the quality of the relationship between therapist and client is key to effective therapy. When a client feels that a counsellor really, truly sees and understands them, without judgement, the potential for healing to take place is created.

Research suggests that there is no one model of therapeutic practice that is more effective than another. To this extent I have integrated elements of different modalities into my practice which enables me to tailor the counselling and therapy I provide to your specific needs.

Being an integrative practitioner means I draw from different theoretical modalities such as person centred theory to build a strong therapeutic relationship with clients through the use of the following core conditions; unconditional positive regard, empathy and congruence. I use psychodynamic theory to guide my thinking on relational patterns. I use existential theory to support clients understanding of the meaning of their own lives. I also use some psycho-social intervention, such as Cognitive Behavioural techniques to aim to reduce symptoms of various mental health conditions including depression and anxiety disorders.

I offer individuals, over 18 years of age, long or short-term counselling working either face to face through ‘walk and talk’ sessions out in nature or online through zoom or by telephone.

I offer a free initial consultation. This is an informal phone call of around 20 minutes to give us the opportunity to talk a little about your needs, the way I work and to check that our schedules fit.

Following our initial conversation, I provide 50-minute counselling sessions (either walk and talk or online/ telephone) at a rate of £50 per hour.

Walk and Talk Therapy:

Walk and Talk therapy is when, instead of sitting in front of a therapist in a traditional therapy room setting, the session takes place outdoors walking side by side in nature.

I hold my walk and talk sessions in North Leeds in a location accessible by both car and bus. I work in an environment that has accessible paths for wheelchair users. There are opportunities to hire mobility scooters if required and accessible facilities are available. Please feel free to discuss any access needs you may have in our initial consultation.

Online Therapy:

An increasingly popular option for those who are unable to make face-to-face counselling sessions for various reasons such as being a new parent, illness/injury, housebound, work commitments etc is video conference/chat counselling. It allows you to attend a session from the comfort of your own home which some people may find less daunting or more practical.

Even though we’re not in the same room, I can still help you to explore how you’re feeling, understand what you are going through and support you to make changes in your life if you need to. 

If you’re interested in counselling with me, please get in touch and we can arrange a free initial consultation.

I want you to feel confident in your choice to start sessions with me, so there's no obligation to book a follow-on session if it doesn't feel right for you.