Get your sparkle back!
I find it rewarding to share useful skills with people, support them in their life journey, and help them thrive. It’s a privilege to assist people go beyond “coping”, and, even in very difficult life circumstances, find renewed energy, equilibrium and perspective. I enjoy helping my clients get the most out of sessions, and develop tools to keep moving forwards long after our teamwork has finished.
My aim is for you to leave sessions feeling supported and inspired to go and do what matters to you, even when it’s tough.
Working together in a genuine and connecting way
Bringing wholehearted warmth, empathy, authenticity and respect is core to the way I work. You’ll find me to be truly attentive your preferences. We'll work with a process that’s clearly defined by your priorities from start to finish. I trust you'll find it a connecting and uplifting experience along the way.
Exploring our vulnerabilities is tough and brave. No issue is "too big, too small, too complex, too messy, too overwhelming" from my perspective.
I know from the inside out what it’s like to have been through trauma, existential and identity despair - with the knock on effects of depression, anxiety, self esteem, addiction (the full package!) - and through a deep commitment to healing and self help, to have reached a place of authentic success, strength and daily joy in my life. I have faith I can help you do the same. (Not all in one session tho!!!)
Does this mean that life on planet earth stops being complex for me?! Nope of course not! But these days I can relate to complexity with openness and courage, rather than overwhelm or despair. I can support you in turning towards - rather than denying or avoiding - your needs and your vision for a better future in relation to your various contexts - from the very personal to the hugely political.
My own journey means you'll have my heartfelt empathy, validation and cheerleading as we travel together to help you go from struggle to strength. You'll have my full commitment to help you develop a much more rooted sense of your own presence, identity and gifts, and move towards greater freedom and success as YOU define it.
I'm LGBTQIAPK celebratory!
I can help you cultivate a deeper respect and appreciation towards the creativity of being and expressing yourself.
I find it comes naturally to me to flow between the qualities of gentleness and understanding, challenge and pragmatism as well as playfulness and humour, whichever helps your mind get unknotted and feel more open to experiment with change.
Therapy and coaching combined: get the best of both
Over the past 24 years, I’ve discovered that a combination of “therapy” and “coaching” is very effective. By drawing on both, I can match a broader scope of strategies to different areas of your life. It’s important that teamwork has the scope for you to truly get unstuck from whatever’s been holding you back – whether that’s your personal history, external circumstances (personal or societal), less helpful beliefs, habits and coping styles. You’ll find me to be very practical–I believe in doing what actually works in real life! I will be integrating whatever therapy or coaching models are most likely to help you where you want to go.
Many of my clients seek to be more effective at work and in their relationships, and a combination of therapy and coaching is very effective in developing skill in the following areas:
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strength of presence
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tricky decision making
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boundary setting and assertiveness
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win-win negotiation
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thriving on uncertainty
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adaptation to change
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confidence in public speaking
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taking an empowered lead
I will always help you apply strategies and tools in a way that's realistic about the demands you face, and is properly tuned in to the different contexts of your life. I like making this learning as motivating and enjoyable as possible.
At each step of the way, I'll be sure to teach you how to be an effective coach towards yourself, to make swifter, more lasting progress in any area of your life, long after our teamwork has finished.
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performance under pressure
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public speaking and presentation
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focus and strength of presence
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tricky decision making
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win-win negotiation
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thriving on uncertainty
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adaptation to change
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transformational leadership
Eleanor's teamwork style is so uplifting and her awareness is spot on! She's taught me how to be much more creative in my approach to living and working and I now have deeper fulfilment.”
My commitment is to genuinely "practice what I teach" alongside you, and to be transparent in the way I share strategies and insights, so you know why and how positive change is happening.
You can then use the tools and techniques yourself more easily - and even share them with others!
Take advantage of a free telephone consultation
You’re welcome to an initial 30-minute telephone consultation to explore your options, ask questions, and find out what it’s like talking with me – without any pressure to commit.
Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren't always comfortable but they're never weakness. Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, empathy and creativity. It is the source of hope, accountability, compassion and authenticity. Courage starts by showing up and letting ourselves be seen."
- Brene Brown
I’d love to just keep on coming to see you, Eleanor, because sessions have been so fantastic and engaging. Thanks to you, I now feel really stable and much more secure, as I now have the tools to be my own therapist, coach, and “best mate”.
My training and Qualifications
My qualifications and accreditations include:
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BSc (hons) in Occupational Therapy (1998) - special interest areas: trauma; skills coaching, pain management; counselling & CBT; an integrative approach to physical & mental health
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Advanced certificate in CBT (2002)
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Post Graduate Diploma (MA level) in CBT (2005)
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Accreditation with the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, (2005 - ongoing)
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Diploma in Belief Therapy for Addictions (2007)
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Post Graduate Diploma in Teaching Adults in the Life Long Learning Sector (2009)
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Post Graduate Core Training in EMDR for trauma, PTSD, panic and phobias (2017-18)
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Accreditation with EMDR Association UK (2019)
A holistic "bio-psycho-social" anchoring
I have been registered with the Health & Care Professions Council as a practicing Occupational Therapist for 22 years, with clinical experience in NHS mental health since 1996.
This anchors me in:
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a practical, solution-focussed approach to problem solving
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helping people address their identity and roles in life and positively contribute to their wider sphere - their families, friendships, teams, community and environment
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a truly holistic "bio-psycho-social' understanding of wellbeing
My training in core principles of physiology and neurobiology means I can help you get more informed and motivated to make key changes to support your body-mind-brain holistically to reduce unnecessary suffering and assist your physiological stabilisation/healing alongside psychological healing. This is particularly relevant if you're struggling with trauma, anxiety, mood swings, IBS, PMS, weight issues, insomnia, depression, ADD, ADHD, pain, or auto-immune conditions.
Training is my hobby!
Continuous professional and personal development is both a hobby and passion for me! I'm very (very!) enthusiastic about learning helpful things and passing on as much as possible to benefit others.
Evidence Based Talk Therapies
I have trained in a wide variety of evidence-based approaches:
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15 years of Mindfulness training and practice
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13 years of training, coaching and supervision in the model of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
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10 years of training, study and supervision in Compassion Focussed Therapy
My clients find that combining these above approaches is especially helpful in getting unstuck and moving forward.
Training in relational models
I have over 12 years’ training and supervision in methods that specifically foster deeper, more authentic and insightful ways of relating to people, and developing a friendly relationship to the different parts of ourselves too. Frameworks include:
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NVC / Compassionate Communication
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Voice Dialogue / Internal Family Systems work
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Functional Analytic Psychotherapy's "Awareness Courage Love" model
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The "Relational Life" approach for enhancing intimate relationships
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Jan Day's "Living Tantra" training
Training in healing modalities
For the last seven years, I've been very focussed on intensive, specialist EMDR and somatic trauma training, to help people address complex traumatising relational issues such as systemic oppression and prejudice, boundary violation, betrayal, controlling relationships, shocking death, as well as more insidious kinds of relational pain coming from experiences such as ongoing invalidation, invisibility and isolation.
I regularly update my training with the latest research in healing modalities, such as Internal Family Systems, AEDP, attachment-focused EMDR and "EMDR 2.0" (a model that includes some very creative strategies).
Deepening consciousness
If, as part of our work, you'd like to heal or find more freedom and joy in your relationship with your sensuality, sexuality, spirituality, cultural roots, the wonder of nature and the bigger “web of life”, I can draw on two years of training in Conscious Sexuality and Tantra, an active ongoing interest in celebrating gender and sexual plurality, over four years’ training in Ecotherapy and Shamanic Healing, and a life long thirst for studying cultural wisdom and spiritual beliefs from all over the world. I positively welcome people of all cultural, gender, sexual and consensual relationship diversities.
Helping people learn creatively
In 2009 I gained a Post Graduate Diploma in Teaching Adults in Lifelong Learning trainer, so I can truly help you learn new skills. I have trained students and therapists in Occupational Therapy and contemporary approaches to CBT at Advanced Diploma level.
I have training in creative approaches that can be a good complement to talking therapy, making sessions more engaging and memorable. These include Art, Drama and Movement therapy and Voice Dialogue.
Currently, I'm working towards becoming a "Certified ADD and ADHD Professional", enabling me to help all my clients achieve better focus and motivation.
I draw on the following evidence based CBT models to specifically match different needs:
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Strengths based CBT for resilience
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
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Interpersonal CBT
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Compassion Focused Therapy
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Mindfulness Based CBT
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Trauma-Focussed CBT
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Behavioural Activation
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Schema Therapy
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Problem specific CBT models
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A Transdiagnostic approach to CBT
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Functional Analytic Psychotherapy
Success is no accident. It is hard work, learning, studying, perseverance, and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do"
— Pelé
To me, it's exciting to learn new things about being healthy and living life well! I dedicate time for training and research every week, to expand my awareness of what I can offer my clients.
Being able to feel safe with other people is probably the single most important aspect of mental health; safe connections are fundamental to meaningful and satisfying lives"
— Bessel van der Kolk
I will always do my utmost to help you feel safe and genuinely connected with me - authentically, courageously human to human. Research shows that this is every bit as important as good, sound qualifications. Of course.
Our teamwork has been unexpectedly heartful, playful and often hilarious! That in itself has been an enormous help in learning to enjoy life so much more as I now know I can allow myself to ease up on being so serious and preoccupied!! I also feel much more able to be genuine with others - Eleanor embodies a genuine and courageous humanity that's been great role model to me”
