Fran Christian

Outdoor therapy available on Mondays

Online therapy available on Wednesdays

Face to face in-person in Bristol City Centre on Thursdays

I am a Registered Member of the BACP and hold a Masters (Level 7) in Counselling and Psychotherapy. I am also an experienced trainer and reflective practice facilitator for staff in organisations.

My background includes supporting people with a range of experiences and needs, with a particular focus on working with people who have experienced trauma and those that services typically find hard to reach.

I am committed to fostering growth and have a deeply held belief that we all have the capacity to navigate the challenges and difficulties that hold us back and cause us pain and suffering.

I believe that whilst our connections with others can be the source of our greatest difficulties I know from personal experience, and from witnessing it in others, that they can also offer transformative potential for healing. My work is grounded in the idea that our connections are vital for our growth and wellbeing and this is supported by both evolutionary theory and neurobiological evidence.

In addition to working both online and from my clinic room in central Bristol I offer outdoor therapy on the Mendip Hills.

Outdoor therapy offers a different kind of therapeutic space. Instead of meeting inside, we meet outdoors and spend time together in the natural landscape. There is the opportunity to move and walk together, or to find a place to sit, pause, or simply be still.

As well as talking and exploring your experiences and difficulties, as we might if we were sitting together in a therapy room, working outside provides a space to cultivate a deeper sense of connection with the natural world and the multitude of living beings within it. This connection reminds us that we are all part of a greater whole — the interconnected web of life. For many people, this awareness can have a profoundly positive impact on wellbeing.

The changing landscape, the weather, the rhythm of movement, the seasons, and the rich sensory qualities of the natural environment all become part of the therapeutic experience. They help shape and support the work we are doing together.

Working outdoors can also support a more embodied way of engaging in therapy. Paying attention to the sensory landscape can help us slow down, ‘tune in’ and listen more closely to the wisdom of your inner experience. This can bring new understanding and sometimes a tangible sense of easing or movement.

The grounding qualities of the natural world can support emotional regulation. The metaphors that often emerge when working outdoors can deepen reflection, meaning-making and understanding, helping experiences to settle in a more integrated way.

Working collaboratively I aim to work with you to develop a therapeutic relationship between both of us and the living environment that can support your exploration and enable you to achieve a greater sense of connection, ease and wellbeing.

Many of the practicalities of working outside are similar to those that apply when meeting in a therapy room.

I offer a free initial online appointment which offers us an opportunity to meet and gives you a chance to ask any questions you might have about the process of therapy and any specific queries you may have about working outside.

Once we have agreed to start working together, I will offer you a consistent time slot each week and each session will be 60 minutes long.

We will meet outdoors all year round, whatever the weather (unless there is a weather warning in place)! In the event of a weather warning I will offer you an online session instead.

The location of the work is in a wild landscape and suitable clothing and footwear is needed, including clothes suitable for wet and cold weather – we can discuss this.

Outdoor therapy available on Mondays

Online therapy available on Wednesdays

Face to face in-person in Bristol City Centre on Thursdays

I am a Registered Member of the BACP and hold a Masters (Level 7) in Counselling and Psychotherapy. I am also an experienced trainer and reflective practice facilitator for staff in organisations.

My background includes supporting people with a range of experiences and needs, with a particular focus on working with people who have experienced trauma and those that services typically find hard to reach.

I am committed to fostering growth and have a deeply held belief that we all have the capacity to navigate the challenges and difficulties that hold us back and cause us pain and suffering.

I believe that whilst our connections with others can be the source of our greatest difficulties I know from personal experience, and from witnessing it in others, that they can also offer transformative potential for healing. My work is grounded in the idea that our connections are vital for our growth and wellbeing and this is supported by both evolutionary theory and neurobiological evidence.

I offer counselling and psychotherapy to adults online and in person and am dedicated to creating a space where you feel welcome and your experiences are seen and valued.

I bring a compassionate approach to my practice and draw on a range of models and theories according to your unique needs.

Underpinning my work is a belief that when we feel a sense of safety and trust in our connections with others, it allows us to find a greater sense of trust, ease and wellbeing within ourselves. This potential, and our capacity to explore and grow is open to us wherever we are in our life’s journey.

You may feel clear about what you would like to work on or have a sense that you need someone to listen and be alongside you as you explore your experiences and difficulties. Exploration and reflection in the presence of someone who is attuned to our needs can support us to make sense of our experiences and free us to try out new ways of being, with ourselves and with others, that may have previously felt unimaginable.

My practice is ‘trauma informed’. I am committed to recognising and responding to signs of trauma, working sensitively to provide a space that prioritises your safety and wellbeing while avoiding re-traumatization. Where our experiences are viewed through a lens that recognises the effects of trauma and adverse experiences many of the difficulties we experience in our day to day life and in our relationships can begin to make sense. Gaining an understanding of this can lead to a greater sense of acceptance which can enhance your sense of wellbeing.

I aim to support you to build on your strengths and resilience, to build your personal resources for wellbeing and develop a greater sense of control and agency. I recognise this can take time and aim to work at a pace that feels right for each client. 

I encourage you to get in touch to book a free initial appointment to provide us with an opportunity to meet, for you to ask any questions you have and for me to tell you a bit about my approach and what is involved in the process.

I hope to make this appointment as comfortable as possible for you and know it can feel really daunting to take this first step.

If we decide to proceed after this initial appointment our first session will give you the chance to talk about your difficulties, what led you to seek support and any hopes you might have for the work.

Both the initial appointment and our first session will help us consider if I’m the right person to support you. If I feel that another therapist or organisation might be better suited to your needs, I will discuss that with you.

Outdoor therapy available on Mondays on the Mendip Hills

Online therapy available on Wednesdays

In-Person therapy at my Central Bristol therapy room on Thursdays

I am a Registered Member of the BACP and hold a Masters (Level 7) in Counselling and Psychotherapy.  I am also an experienced trainer and reflective practice facilitator for staff in organisations.

My background includes supporting people with a range of experiences and needs, with a particular focus on working with people who have experienced trauma and those that services typically find hard to reach.

I am committed to fostering growth and have a deeply held belief that we all have the capacity to navigate the challenges and difficulties that hold us back and cause us pain and suffering.

I believe that whilst our connections with others can be the source of our greatest difficulties I know from personal experience, and from witnessing it in others, that they can also offer transformative potential for healing. My work is grounded in the idea that our connections are vital for our growth and wellbeing and this is supported by both evolutionary theory and neurobiological evidence.

I offer counselling and psychotherapy to adults online and in person and am dedicated to creating a space where you feel welcome and your experiences are seen and valued.

I bring a compassionate approach to my practice and draw on a range of models and theories according to your unique needs. 

Underpinning my work is a belief that when we feel a sense of safety and trust in our connections with others, it allows us to find a greater sense of trust, ease and wellbeing within ourselves. This potential, and our capacity to explore and grow is open to us wherever we are in our life’s journey.

You may feel clear about what you would like to work on or have a sense that you need someone to listen and be alongside you as you explore your experiences and difficulties. Exploration and reflection in the presence of someone who is attuned to our needs can support us to make sense of our experiences and free us to try out new ways of being, with ourselves and with others, that may have previously felt unimaginable.

My practice is ‘trauma informed’. I am committed to recognising and responding to signs of trauma, working sensitively to provide a space that prioritises your safety and wellbeing while avoiding re-traumatization. Where our experiences are viewed through a lens that recognises the effects of trauma and adverse experiences many of the difficulties we experience in our day to day life and in our relationships can begin to make sense. Gaining an understanding of this can lead to a greater sense of acceptance which can enhance your sense of wellbeing.

I aim to support you to build on your strengths and resilience, to build your personal resources for wellbeing and develop a greater sense of control and agency. I recognise this can take time and aim to work at a pace that feels right for each client. 

I encourage you to get in touch to book a free initial appointment to provide us with an opportunity to meet, for you to ask any questions you have and for me to tell you a bit about my approach and what is involved in the process.

I hope to make this appointment as comfortable as possible for you and know it can feel really daunting to take this first step.

If we decide to proceed after this initial appointment our first session will give you the chance to talk about your difficulties, what led you to seek support and any hopes you might have for the work.

Both the initial appointment and our first session will help us consider if I’m the right person to support you. If I feel that another therapist or organisation might be better suited to your needs, I will discuss that with you.

I offer online appointments Monday to Friday and I work variable hours.

I am a Registered Member of the BACP and hold a Masters (Level 7) in Counselling and Psychotherapy. I am also an experienced trainer and reflective practice facilitator for staff in organisations.

My background includes supporting people with a range of experiences and needs, with a particular focus on working with people who have experienced trauma and those that services typically find hard to reach.

I am committed to fostering growth and have a deeply held belief that we all have the capacity to navigate the challenges and difficulties that hold us back and cause us pain and suffering.

I believe that whilst our connections with others can be the source of our greatest difficulties I know from personal experience, and from witnessing it in others, that they can also offer transformative potential for healing. My work is grounded in the idea that our connections are vital for our growth and wellbeing and this is supported by both evolutionary theory and neurobiological evidence.

I offer counselling and psychotherapy to adults online and in person and am dedicated to creating a space where you feel welcome and your experiences are seen and valued.

I bring a compassionate approach to my practice and draw on a range of models and theories according to your unique needs.

Underpinning my work is a belief that when we feel a sense of safety and trust in our connections with others, it allows us to find a greater sense of trust, ease and wellbeing within ourselves. This potential, and our capacity to explore and grow is open to us wherever we are in our life’s journey.

You may feel clear about what you would like to work on or have a sense that you need someone to listen and be alongside you as you explore your experiences and difficulties. Exploration and reflection in the presence of someone who is attuned to our needs can support us to make sense of our experiences and free us to try out new ways of being, with ourselves and with others, that may have previously felt unimaginable.

My practice is ‘trauma informed’. I am committed to recognising and responding to signs of trauma, working sensitively to provide a space that prioritises your safety and wellbeing while avoiding re-traumatization. Where our experiences are viewed through a lens that recognises the effects of trauma and adverse experiences many of the difficulties we experience in our day to day life and in our relationships can begin to make sense. Gaining an understanding of this can lead to a greater sense of acceptance which can enhance your sense of wellbeing.

I aim to support you to build on your strengths and resilience, to build your personal resources for wellbeing and develop a greater sense of control and agency. I recognise this can take time and aim to work at a pace that feels right for each client. 

Please get in touch to book a free initial appointment so we can meet, you can ask any questions you have and I can tell you a bit about my approach and what is involved in the process.

I hope to make this appointment as comfortable as possible for you and know it can feel really daunting to take this first step.

If we decide to proceed after this initial appointment our first session will give you the chance to talk about your difficulties, what led you to seek support and any hopes you might have for the work.

If after this appointment I feel that another therapist or organisation might be better suited to your needs, I will discuss that with you.