Lesley Twitchen

I currently offer sessions on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. My working hours vary slightly across the week, and I aim to offer some flexibility where possible. Please feel free to get in touch to enquire about current availability or to discuss whether my way of working might be a good fit for you.

If I am unable to offer you a space at the time of your enquiry, I will let you know as soon as possible and, where appropriate, may be able to suggest alternative options.

At times I may take short periods of leave. If I am away, this will be reflected in my availability and I will respond to enquiries as soon as I am able on my return.

LESLEY TWITCHEN Dip MÂ鶹ԭ´´ Integr. Counsellor, Somatic Trauma Therapist Adv.Dip

Overwhelmed, anxious, or running on empty? I offer trauma-informed, somatic and polyvagal therapy in Woburn Sands, supporting individuals and couples with anxiety, ADHD, emotional overwhelm to feel safer, less alone, and more like themselves again.

You don’t have to do this alone.

If you’re living with anxiety, emotional overwhelm, ADHD traits, or the lasting effects of trauma, you may feel exhausted from holding everything together. You might find yourself overthinking, people-pleasing, or feeling disconnected from who you really are. Perhaps you feel lonely even when you’re not alone, or unsure how to make sense of what you’re feeling inside.

Whatever has brought you here, you don’t have to face it by yourself.

I offer a calm, compassionate, and supportive space where you can slow down, feel safe, and begin to reconnect with yourself. My work is grounded in an understanding of how trauma and stress live in the body, and how healing happens when we feel genuinely seen, heard, and supported.

Who I Work With

I support adults who are experiencing:

• Anxiety, panic, and chronic stress

• ADHD and neurodivergent traits

• Trauma, including childhood abuse, neglect, or sexual violence

• Emotional overwhelm and burnout

• Low self-esteem and people-pleasing patterns

• Relationship and attachment difficulties

• Grief, loss, and major life transitions

Many of the people I work with have spent years coping alone. Therapy can become a place to rest, make sense of your experiences, and begin to heal.

I offer therapy from a private, welcoming studio on Woburn Sands High Street, as well as online sessions.

Whether you’re seeking short-term support or deeper therapeutic work, we will move at a pace that feels right for you.

I’m Lesley Twitchen, a fully qualified somatic-informed psychotherapist, counsellor and hypnotherapy practitioner with over 30 years’ experience working in healthcare. My background includes extensive work within the NHS, including trauma and neuroscience settings at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, The Royal London and The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery. This breadth of experience has deeply shaped my understanding of how trauma, stress and emotional pain affect both mind and body.

I hold an Advanced Level 5 qualification in Somatic-Informed Trauma and a Diploma in Integrative Counselling, alongside specialist training in the Safe and Sound Protocol (Dr Stephen Porges), Compassion Focused Therapy and hypnotherapy. I am also a qualified yoga teacher, which informs my body-based and experiential way of working. Together, these approaches allow me to work with both psychological and physiological aspects of trauma in a gentle, attuned and effective way.

How I Work

My approach is relational, trauma-informed, and body-based. I work at your pace, listening not only to your words but also to what your nervous system is communicating beneath the surface.

I integrate a range of therapeutic approaches, including:

• Somatic therapy to support nervous system regulation

• Trauma-informed psychotherapy to explore how past experiences shape present patterns

• Guided relaxation and focused attention techniques, inspired by hypnotherapy, to support deeper emotional awareness and calm

• Person-centred therapy to offer warmth, safety, and acceptance

• Creative and body-based approaches when words are difficult to find

• Safe and Sound Protocol and Flow Neuroscience to support emotional regulation

This work is gentle, collaborative, and always led by what feels safe for you.

Take the First Step

You don’t need to have everything figured out.

If something here resonates, you’re very welcome to get in touch 

My first session

Your first session lasts 50 minutes and offers a calm, supportive space to begin exploring what has brought you to therapy. Many people find this session deeply helpful, as it allows time to slow down, feel heard and begin to make sense of what they are carrying.

During this session, we will talk about what has led you to seek support, what you are hoping for, and how therapy might help. I will explain how I work and answer any questions you may have, so you can decide whether this feels like the right fit for you. There is no pressure to share more than you feel ready to, and we move at a pace that feels safe and manageable.

People often find the first session helpful because it offers space to be listened to without judgement, to begin understanding patterns that may be affecting them, and to experience what it feels like to be met with care and attunement. For many, it can bring a sense of relief, clarity or grounding, even at this early stage.

By the end of the session, you should have a clearer sense of how we might work together and whether continuing feels right for you.

Why Work With Me.

I’m Lesley Twitchen, a fully qualified somatic informed psychotherapist, counsellor, and hypnotherapist with over seven years of experience. 

I blend traditional talking therapies and body-based somatic trauma informed approaches to create a tailored, poly-vagal sensitive path to self-discovery and transformation.

Therapy with me is human to human. working with adults and adolescents,  going to the heart and roots, accessing the unconscious experiences that run our life. providing real understanding, and real change. Whether you're looking for support with everyday struggles or deep trauma healing, we work at your pace accessing the body and mind in a way that feels right for you.

Somatic Therapy – Understanding trauma’s impact on both mind and body, learning how to regulate and feel safe again

Psychodynamic Therapy – Helping you understand how past experiences shape your present so you can break free from old patterns

Person-Centred Therapy – A compassionate, non-judgmental space where you can feel safe to be fully yourself

Hypnotherapy – Guiding you to access deeper layers of transformation and healing

Creative Therapy – For those who struggle to express emotions with words, using art, movement, or other creative outlets

Safe and Sound Protocol – A neuroscience-backed therapy designed to help the nervous system regulate and heal

Flow Neuroscience – A non-invasive brain stimulation treatment for drug-resistant depression

Who I Help

As a somatic trauma-informed psychotherapist and hypnotherapist, I specialise in working with individuals who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected from their true selves. My practice is rooted in modern neuroscience, somatic bodywork, and a deep understanding of trauma’s lasting impact. I bring years of experience supporting those carrying hidden wounds, whether from childhood, relationships, or the weight of life’s demands.

I work with adults and teens facing:

Trauma and PTSD, including sexual violence, childhood abuse, and neglect

Stress, anxiety, and overwhelm that feel hard to shake

Low self-esteem and confidence struggles, often shaped by past experiences

Burnout and emotional exhaustion, where you're running on empty

Depression and low mood, leaving you feeling heavy or numb

Attachment wounds and relationship difficulties, repeating painful patterns

Grief and bereavement, when loss feels too much to bear

Anger, frustration, or emotional regulation challenges

Life transitions, identity shifts, or feeling lost without direction

If you’re here, maybe you know this feeling.

 You keep people-pleasing, afraid to say no, exhausted from keeping everyone happy but yourself

You feel stuck in your job, relationships, or within your own mind

You overthink everything, replaying conversations and doubting yourself constantly

You struggle to set boundaries, and it’s draining your energy and confidence

You crave something more. A sense of peace, self-acceptance, and the freedom to just be you

Your First Session

Finding the right counsellor is an important step, so I offer a free 20-minute consultation to give you the opportunity to see if working together feels like the right fit for you. Please feel free to contact me to arrange this.

Our first full session will be an assessment session. This is a space where we can gently explore what has brought you to counselling, what you hope to gain from the process, and how we might begin to approach this together. It’s an opportunity to start shaping the therapeutic journey in a way that feels safe, supportive, and tailored to your needs.