Heather Ashford

I offer in-person therapy sessions on Tuesday evenings and Wednesday evenings at the Clifton Down Therapy Rooms. This is a welcoming, calm and confidential space.

I also offer remote therapy sessions throughout the week.

If you are interested in counselling but not available at these times, do get in touch as I do try to be flexible with my availability if I can.

Welcome – I’m Heather, a fully qualified therapeutic counsellor.

I can support you by providing a safe and calming environment where you can explore your thoughts and feelings without fear of judgement or rejection.

Through empathising and hearing your experiences with curiosity and compassion, I aim to help you develop a deeper understanding of yourself allowing you to make changes and move forwards. I create and hold space for you to explore whatever you need to bring.

“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.” - Carl Rogers

​I empower clients to find their inner strength and make positive changes in their life, drawing on existing resources and strengths, whilst working together to explore new ways of thinking and behaving.

I am an integrative relational counsellor.

​Relational means I work at developing a safe, trusting and genuine therapeutic relationship between myself and my clients. Essentially, I will facilitate a relationship which enables you to feel safe enough to grow and change.

​Therapy provides clients the opportunity to explore their relational attachments and experiences through their relationship with their therapist, so creating a strong relationship is so important to our work.

Integrative means I blend together a range of different therapeutic approaches, based on what works best for you. I mainly use person-centred and psychodynamic approaches. This means I work with you to help you make sense of things that are happening in your life currently, and also work with you on a deeper level, exploring your past experiences and how that may be unconsciously influencing you now.

I provide both short-term counselling and long-term psychotherapy, depending on what you would prefer and what feels right for you.

​It is normal to feel nervous about having a first session, and I will do my best at creating an environment where you feel safe, welcomed and heard. I will ask you some initial questions to help me to understand your needs and how best I can support you - there are no right or wrong answers. I will provide you with a space for you to tell your story at a pace that is comfortable for you.

I will work hard to understand your needs from therapy and together we will agree on goals and how we will work together. This will be regularly reviewed with you over time.