Dr Leah Batty-Hibbs

Please contact me for my current availability.

I provide in person sessions in Darlington and remote sessions via Write Upp. 

As a British-American PhD-level Counsellor Educator, Supervisor, and Psychotherapist, my practice integrates clinical expertise, educational leadership, and lived understanding of navigating systems across the U.S. and U.K. I bring over 15 years of international experience training, mentoring, and supporting counsellors. I specialise in trauma-informed therapy, neurodivergence advocacy, and supporting individuals and professionals facing burnout, identity shifts, or systemic barriers. My work is grounded in trauma-informed practice, neurodivergence advocacy, and multicultural approaches to counselling and supervision.

I draw from integrative approaches, attachment theory, creative arts therapy, mindfulness, and evidence-based interventions, while always centring compassion, cultural humility, and collaboration. I work with high-performing and neurodivergent adults, clinicians, and leaders who want to heal from trauma, reclaim their sense of self, and move toward meaningful change.

Clients can expect a balance of warmth, creativity, and direct guidance. Sessions are tailored to your goals and may involve reflective dialogue, somatic awareness, creative expression, or skills-building strategies. My work extends beyond the therapy room through consulting, teaching, and podcasting, always with a focus on equity, inclusion, and reimagining mental health care.

The use of the title Dr in this directory listing relates to the member’s doctorate qualification. However, this does not imply a general medical qualification.

Alongside psychotherapy and coaching services, I provide individual and group supervision. I also provide consultancy, training, and curriculum development for counselling programmes and organisations seeking to embed trauma-informed and inclusive practices. Whether I am supporting a trainee in their first placement, guiding an experienced practitioner through complex casework, or advising an organisation on systemic change, my focus is always on collaboration, integrity, and professional growth.

The first session is an opportunity for us to get to know each other and establish a foundation of trust. We will explore your story, current challenges, and goals, while also identifying your strengths and resources. I use this time to collaboratively create a plan that feels manageable, culturally responsive, and aligned with your needs.

Before the session, you may be invited to complete a brief intake questionnaire to help guide our work together. This allows us to make the most of our time and begin with clarity and focus. The initial session may also include psychoeducation about trauma-informed practice, neurodivergence, or stress responses, empowering you with knowledge from the start.

You will leave the first session with a sense of direction, next steps, and an understanding of what working together will look like. Whether you’re seeking long-term therapeutic support, short-term coaching, or professional consultation, the first session sets the stage for a collaborative and empowering process.

Please contact me for my current availability.

I provide in person sessions in Darlington and remote sessions via Google Meet.

As a British-American PhD-level Counsellor Educator, Supervisor, and Psychotherapist, I bring over 15 years of international experience training, mentoring, and supporting counsellors across the U.S. and U.K. My work is grounded in trauma-informed practice, neurodivergence advocacy, and multicultural approaches to counselling and supervision.

I specialise in developing ethical, reflective practitioners who can work confidently with complex presentations while staying aligned with their own values and wellbeing. My approach integrates evidence-based methods with creative and relational practices, encouraging supervisees to find their own professional voice while navigating the challenges of practice, placement, and professional identity. As supervisee's progress through their learning, they are expected to take increasing responsibility for their own personal and professional development, moving toward greater autonomy, reflexivity, and leadership in their personal practice.

My supervision style draws on Kolb’s Experiential Learning Cycle, which aligns well with the phenomenological foundations of integrative therapeutic practice. Supervisee's are invited to engage in experiential activities, reflect on those experiences, explore relevant theory, and adapt or develop their supervisory practice accordingly.

In addition, my strategy is influenced by Donald Schön’s (1991) model of the Reflective Practitioner, which recognises that deep professional learning often occurs through reflection-in-action and reflection-on-action. This supports learners in cultivating supervisory wisdom that cannot be transmitted through didactic teaching alone but must emerge from embodied, relational experience and insight.

With more than 15 years of experience, I draw from integrative approaches, attachment theory, creative arts therapy, mindfulness, and evidence-based interventions, while always centring compassion, cultural humility, and collaboration. I work with high-performing and neurodivergent adults, clinicians, and leaders who want to heal from trauma, reclaim their sense of self, and move toward meaningful change.

Clients can expect a balance of warmth, creativity, and direct guidance. Sessions are tailored to your goals and may involve reflective dialogue, somatic awareness, creative expression, or skills-building strategies. 

My work extends beyond the therapy room through consulting, teaching, and podcasting, always with a focus on equity, inclusion, and reimagining mental health care. 

Alongside individual supervision, I also provide consultancy, training, and curriculum development for counselling programmes and organisations seeking to embed trauma-informed and inclusive practices. Whether I am supporting a trainee in their first placement, guiding an experienced practitioner through complex casework, or advising an organisation on systemic change, my focus is always on collaboration, integrity, and professional growth.

In our first supervision session, we will spend time getting to know each other and clarifying your needs, stage of development, and professional goals. I view supervision as a collaborative and supportive relationship, where you can bring both successes and challenges into a safe, non-judgemental space.

I will invite you to share information about your current practice setting, client work, and areas where you would like more support, guidance, or challenge. 

Together we will agree on expectations, boundaries, and preferred ways of working so the supervision feels tailored to you. Depending on your training or organisational requirements, we may also review competencies, ethical frameworks, or assessment criteria to ensure your supervision is fully aligned with professional standards.

By the end of the first session, you will have a clear sense of how I work as a supervisor, what you can expect from our time together, and an initial plan to support your development as a reflective and ethical practitioner.

The use of the title Dr in this directory listing relates to the member’s doctorate qualification. However, this does not imply a general medical qualification.