Lesley Kennedy

I am a BACP Registered therapist with a BSc (Hons) in Counselling and Psychotherapy from Sherwood Psychotherapy Training Institute. I work as a Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapist, drawing on different therapeutic approaches and adapting our work to you as an individual, rather than following one fixed model.

I believe that having a space where you feel heard, understood and accepted can make a real difference. The relationship we build together is central to my work, offering an opportunity to explore your experiences, make sense of what may be troubling you and develop a greater understanding of yourself.

My aim is for you to feel comfortable enough to be yourself, including sharing parts of your experience that may be difficult to talk about elsewhere.

Before retraining as a psychotherapist, I spent many years working within the NHS and later in a family business, where I was a company director. These experiences gave me an understanding of the pressures of work, the responsibilities we carry and the challenge of balancing competing demands.

My own life experiences have also shaped my understanding of how easily we can become accustomed to putting others' needs before our own, sometimes leaving little space to consider how these responsibilities affect us.

I offer a warm, calm and supportive approach to therapy. Having experienced therapy myself, I understand how significant it can be to feel comfortable with and able to trust your therapist.

I won't tell you what you should do or expect you to have all the answers. Instead, I'll work alongside you with curiosity, compassion and respect, helping you explore your experiences at a pace that feels right for you. Where it feels helpful, I may gently challenge you or offer a different perspective, supporting you to reflect on your experiences in a new way.

Starting therapy can feel like a significant step, particularly if you haven't spoken to a therapist before or aren't quite sure what to expect.

Our first session is an opportunity for us to get to know one another and begin to explore what has brought you to therapy and what you hope to gain from our sessions. I'll explain what you can expect from me, answer any questions you may have and talk with you about how we might work together.

You don't need to have everything worked out beforehand, and there is no expectation to tell me everything in our first meeting.

As our work develops, your needs and priorities may change, and we can adapt our sessions accordingly.

Above all, the first session is an opportunity for you to ask questions, get a sense of what working together might be like and decide whether it feels right for you.