Lisa Hayes

Contact me for available appointments:

IN ROOM:

Tuesdays: 9am-4pm  Aspire Therapies, Cheltenham Road, Bristol

Wednesdays: 9am-1pm- Home office, Hutton, Weston-super-Mare

Thursdays 9am-4pm- The Therapy Rooms, Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol

ONLINE:

Monday-Thursdays  Daytime and evening sessions

Are you feeling lost, anxious or sad, depressed, or have a sense that something isn't right and you aren't sure why? Talking about it with me may help.

Are you feeling misunderstood or worn down from trying to fit in, feeling too much or not enough and maybe struggling in your personal or working relationships?

Or are you experiencing disappointment and loss or bereavement, which leaves you feeling numb, angry, guilty or exhausted?

Whatever has happened or is happening, I will listen to you so you can explore your feelings and, alongside you, to better understand yourself and remove obstacles getting in your way.

I am a relational and integrative psychotherapeutic counsellor. 

Relational means I focus on our relationship as it evolves and how that reflects in relationships outside of sessions. 

Integrative means that I will work with you to integrate into each session a range of counselling approaches and creative tools.

Psychotherapeutic reflects my psychotherapy training and deeper approach, inviting exploration of patterns, emotions and experiences that may be affecting your wellbeing. 

I often work with individuals who are curious, identify as or are diagnosed with Autism, ADHD or both. I was diagnosed with ADHD myself in 2023 and identify as AuDHD. 

I also often work with parents or carers of those with neurodivergent children or disabilities, and am a parent to two neurodivergent children.

My lived experience means I strive for the best neuro-affirming and anti-oppressive practice. 

Whatever motivates you to seek a counsellor to support you right now, our process is collaborative, and I welcome regular feedback on how you are experiencing counselling so I can create the best experience for you.

My training and background

I hold a Masters Degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy (Level 7 training)

Before training as a counsellor, I volunteered for Mind-line as a call handler and trained with Cruse to offer bereavement support.

I am a qualified and experienced teacher, specialising in SEND and have also been a Foster Carer, so I have an understanding of the education and care systems.

I have a special interest in Body-focused repetitive behaviours, which include chronic skin picking/biting, hair pulling or nail biting behaviours (BFRBs), which I will be presenting my research on at the next UK BFRB conference. BFRBs often overlap with Autism and ADHD. My approach towards BFRBs is compassionate, curious and client-led.

Sessions

Sessions are 50 minutes, usually weekly and cost £60 or £70 if fortnightly works better for you. Fees are payable in advance.

I keep two slots reserved at any given time for concessionary rates of £50. There may be a waiting list for these.

I have a cancellation policy where fees are reimbursed if you cancel your session within 48 hours, and on the hopefully rare occasion I need to cancel a session, I will give as much notice as possible and reimburse any fees paid.

Disabled access:

My Practice room at the Arches is on the ground floor and is wheelchair accessible. There is off-street parking available nearby.

My therapy room in Hutton is also on the ground floor and is wheelchair accessible. It has toilet facilities within the room, which are also wheelchair accessible.

My home office is in a beautiful rural area and is air-conditioned. It is positioned on the side of the house, and entry is via a side door directly into the room, not through the main house entry, respecting your privacy.

There will always be a parking space available on our front driveway. 

I offer walk-and-talk therapy for individual sessions in the surrounding area, if you choose.

Because it is normal for beginning therapy to often feel daunting, you might have questions which you would like to discuss before deciding on a first session.

To help with this I offer an initial phone call of 20-30 minutes (at no financial cost) to listen to why you are seeking therapy at this time at what some of your hopes and fears are for the counselling process. I will also seek to answer any questions you have and will be as honest as open as I can.

There is no need to make a decision at the end of the call, as to if you would like to attend a first session with me. I would hope that this discussion would help you understand more about what you are looking for in your therapist.

If you decide to work with me I will then email you a copy of our working contract and ask for some basic information relating to safeguarding, all of which is securely stored, following data protection laws, as outlined by ICO, who I am registered with.