Vanessa Bear

I currently have a full caseload in Lancaster but may have availability online or near Kendal. 

I am an integrative psychotherapeutic counsellor supporting people to make meaningful change to improve their quality of life. I draw on a diverse range of theory and practical approaches to offer an individualised and flexible approach to best suit those I am working alongside.

I am additionally trained in Somatic Trauma Therapy, Sensorimotor Guided Drawing, Yoga Therapy, Yogic Mindfulness, Movement for Trauma, Nature-based work and other body/somatic therapeutic approaches (for more information see the About page on my website).

I integrate transactional analysis, neuroscience, attachment, and somatic trauma therapy with movement & gesture, creativity (including clay, paint, sandtray, drawing, sculpture), image-work, nature-connection, yoga, and mindfulness.

This matrix of complementary theories and approaches gives me a toolbox with which to offer an individualised approach that is most appropriate in that moment with that client.

I offer embodied, nature-connected, creative, trauma-informed psychotherapeutic counselling for children, adolescents and adults indoors and outdoors in Staveley, Kendal and Lancaster.

I draw on a diverse range of theory and practical approaches to offer an individualised and flexible approach to best suit those I am working alongside. These include Psychotherapeutic Counselling; Somatic Trauma Therapy; Wellbeing Life Coaching; Yoga Therapy; Yogic Mindfulness; Movement for Trauma Coaching; Nature Connection; Creativity & Art; Dance & Movement; Forest School; Yoga & Mindfulness; Traditional Craft and Mountain Walking.

I have experience of working with people who are experiencing PTSD, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, selective mutism, separation anxiety, developmental trauma and ADHD. I have worked with people who want to feel more in control of overwhelming emotions, more able to make decisions and hold boundaries, to feel more grounded and centred, to feel stable and safe, to feel certain about being valuable, capable, lovable, powerful, and equal.

As an eco-psychotherapist, I combine psychotherapeutic counselling with nature connection, offering sessions outdoors in woodlands and in the wider Lake District National Park. I offer a range ways to integrate nature to our sessions including online and indoors using metaphor and natural objects; outdoors walking and talking, activities to deepen nature-connection; and therapy outdoors. We would discuss options in the initial meeting. Research has shown that connecting with nature offers vast benefits including a reduction in anxiety, depression, and inflammation. It can offer feelings of belonging and cultivate curiosity and motivation. This can also be useful in working with climate-anxiety.

Initial sessions are 50 minutes. 

This is not a therapy session, more of a chat about what your hopes are, as well as any worries, about therapy. A chance for you to ask questions and to see if we are a good fit, and a chance for me to find out more about your family and your history. 

Initial sessions that take place online are £25; In-person initial sessions are £60

Subsequent sessions are £60 per 50-minute session.

My waitlist is currently closed until after the festive period.

If you are interested in therapy, please email after January 5th, 2024.

At the moment my usual practice hours and locations are as follows. This may be important when considering me as your therapist:

Mondays 3pm-7pm: Kendal indoors

Tuesdays 9.30 am - 6.30 pm: Stavelely indoors and outdoors, and online.

Thursdays 9.30 am -1 pm Staveley indoors, outdoors and online.

I offer embodied, nature-connected, creative, trauma-informed psychotherapeutic counselling for children, adolescents and adults indoors and outdoors in Staveley, Kendal and online.

I am trained, qualified and experienced in supporting people to make meaningful changes to improve their quality of life. 

I am co-author, with Babette Rothschild, of the 8 Keys to Safe Trauma Recovery Workbook. I also have the Wild and Wellbeing Card Deck about to be released; both published by WW Norton.

I am a member of the Climate Psychology Alliance, “exploring psychological responses to the climate crisis to strengthen relationships and resilience for a just future”.

I integrate a range of theories and techniques, including Transactional Analysis, Gestalt, somatic and body psychotherapy, Somatic Trauma Therapy, eco-psychotherapy, sand tray, play, and creativity. I'm also a qualified yoga teacher, mountain leader and forest school leader.

I've completed a variety of training courses in order to offer diverse interventions for the diverse parts of you, including somatic trauma therapy, mindfulness, sensorimotor art therapy for trauma, movement for trauma coaching, EMDR, eco-psychotherapy, image-work, and a variety of nature-based and nature connection trainings. 

I tend to interweave these kinds of creative, embodied, nature-connected, and mindful practices throughout my psychotherapeutic offering depending on each individual’s needs and preferences.eriencing PTSD, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, selective mutism, separation anxiety, developmental trauma and ADHD. 

I have worked with people who want to feel more in control of overwhelming emotions, more able to make decisions and hold boundaries, to feel more grounded and centred, to feel stable and safe, to feel certain about being valuable, capable, lovable, powerful, and equal.

Initial sessions are approximately 50 minutes. 

This is not a therapy session, more of a chat about what your hopes are, as well as any worries, about therapy. A chance for you to ask questions and to see if we are a good fit, and a chance for me to find out more about you.

Initial sessions that take place online are £30

In-person initial sessions are £60

Subsequent sessions are £60 per 50-minute session.

My waitlist is currently closed until after the festive period.

If you are interested in therapy, please email after January 5th, 2024.

At the moment my usual practice hours and locations are as follows. This may be important when considering me as your therapist:

Mondays 3pm-7pm: Kendal indoors

Tuesdays 9.30 am - 6.30 pm: Stavelely indoors and outdoors, and online.

Thursdays 9.30 am -1 pm Staveley indoors, outdoors and online.

I offer embodied, nature-connected, creative, trauma-informed psychotherapeutic counselling for children, adolescents and adults indoors and outdoors in Staveley, Kendal and online.

I am trained, qualified and experienced in supporting people to make meaningful changes to improve their quality of life.

I am co-author, with Babette Rothschild, of the 8 Keys to Safe Trauma Recovery Workbook. I also have the Wild and Wellbeing Card Deck about to be released; both published by WW Norton.

I am a member of the Climate Psychology Alliance, “exploring psychological responses to the climate crisis to strengthen relationships and resilience for a just future”.

I integrate a range of theories and techniques, including Transactional Analysis, Gestalt, somatic and body psychotherapy, Somatic Trauma Therapy, eco-psychotherapy, sand tray, play, and creativity. I'm also a qualified yoga teacher, mountain leader and forest school leader.

I've completed a variety of training courses in order to offer diverse interventions for the diverse parts of you, including somatic trauma therapy, mindfulness, sensorimotor art therapy for trauma, movement for trauma coaching, EMDR, eco-psychotherapy, image-work, and a variety of nature-based and nature connection trainings.

I tend to interweave these kinds of creative, embodied, nature-connected, and mindful practices throughout my psychotherapeutic offering depending on each individual’s needs and preferences.eriencing PTSD, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, selective mutism, separation anxiety, developmental trauma and ADHD.

I have worked with people who want to feel more in control of overwhelming emotions, more able to make decisions and hold boundaries, to feel more grounded and centred, to feel stable and safe, to feel certain about being valuable, capable, lovable, powerful, and equal.

All initial sessions are online. Further sessions can be online or in-person. Initial online sessions are usually around 50 minutes but are charged at £30.