Anne Lyttle

I am an experienced counsellor and clinical supervisor with over 30 years’ experience supporting adults and young people through a wide range of emotional and life challenges. My practice is compassionate, trauma-informed and person-centred, with particular experience in childhood abuse, domestic abuse, sexual violence, trauma, anxiety, depression, bereavement and complex emotional difficulties.

As a counsellor, I provide a safe, confidential and non-judgemental space where clients can explore their experiences at their own pace. I work collaboratively, helping clients develop greater understanding of themselves, recognise patterns and responses, and build confidence, resilience and choice.

I have specialist experience in trauma therapy and EMDR. Where appropriate, I use EMDR alongside other therapeutic approaches, taking a careful, phased approach that prioritises safety, stabilisation and readiness. I recognise that trauma can affect both mind and body and consider emotional, physical and relational responses within the therapeutic work.

As a clinical supervisor, I provide reflective, supportive and appropriately challenging supervision to counsellors and practitioners. I create a space where supervisees can think deeply about their work, develop clinical confidence and remain focused on safe, ethical and effective practice.

Supervision may explore client needs, formulation, therapeutic relationships, interventions, boundaries, risk and safeguarding, as well as the practitioner’s own responses and use of self. I encourage curiosity, reflection and consideration of transference and countertransference.

My approach to both counselling and supervision is collaborative and compassionate, while maintaining appropriate challenge and accountability. I believe in creating spaces where people feel heard, respected and supported to develop, learn and grow.

My practice is centred on providing a safe, compassionate and confidential space where people can explore what has brought them to therapy and begin to make sense of their experiences. I work collaboratively with clients, recognising that they are the experts in their own lives, and I adapt therapy to their individual needs, circumstances and goals.

I have extensive experience working with people affected by childhood abuse, domestic abuse, sexual violence and complex trauma. My approach is trauma-informed and grounded in understanding how experiences can affect the mind, body, relationships and sense of self.

I work at the client’s pace, placing safety, trust and choice at the heart of the therapeutic relationship. Depending on the individual, this may involve developing emotional regulation and grounding strategies, understanding trauma responses, exploring relationships and patterns, building self-worth and addressing feelings such as shame, guilt, fear and anger.

I use EMDR alongside other trauma-focused therapeutic approaches when this is appropriate. I take a careful and phased approach, ensuring that clients feel sufficiently safe and resourced before beginning trauma processing. I recognise that trauma is not simply something that happened in the past; its effects can continue to be experienced in the present through thoughts, emotions, memories and bodily responses.

My role is not to tell clients what they should do, but to provide a supportive space in which they can understand themselves, make sense of their experiences and develop greater choice in how they respond to life.

Ultimately, I aim to help clients move towards greater self-understanding, confidence, connection and a stronger sense of peace of mind and body.

My First Session

The first session is an opportunity for us to meet, get to know each other and begin to understand what has brought you to therapy. I provide a warm, confidential and non-judgemental space where you can talk about what you are experiencing and what you would like support with.

I will listen carefully to your story, while also exploring how things are affecting you now, including your thoughts, emotions, relationships and physical responses. We will consider what you would like to achieve through therapy and what might help you feel safer, more settled and more in control.

I will explain how I work and, where relevant, talk with you about trauma therapy and EMDR, including what EMDR involves and whether it may be appropriate for you. We will not begin processing traumatic memories simply because it is the first session. I believe it is important to establish safety, trust and stability first.

There is no expectation that you have to tell me everything straight away. You remain in control of what you share, and we can work at a pace that feels manageable for you.

The first session is also a chance for you to decide whether you feel comfortable working with me. Building a trusting therapeutic relationship is an important part of the work, and we can agree together what feels like the right way forward.