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, better understand yourself and remove obstacles that are getting in your way.

I am a psychotherapeutic counsellor who has walked through the triumphs and heartaches of life, which has sparked my motivation to accompany others.  My journey includes being a full-time mum and carer, often within a hospital setting. I was diagnosed with ADHD later in life, and I parent two children, both of whom are neurodivergent. I have been a teacher, foster carer, and, for the past 4 years, a counsellor. 

All of the above means I am passionate about striving for neurodivergent-affirming, anti-ableist and anti-oppressive practice.

Whatever motivates you to seek a counsellor right now, I will meet you with compassion and non-judgement. There is no right or wrong way to show up in therapy. I will go at your pace and direction, integrating a range of counselling, based on what I believe will be best for you, involving you in this process as we go along.

My training and background

I hold a Master's Degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy and a Level 3 Counselling Diploma.

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

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

I have an in-depth understanding and lived experience of Body-focused repetitive behaviours (BFRBs), which include chronic nail biting, skin picking or hair-pulling, which have overlaps with ADHD and Autism. 

Sessions

Sessions are 50 minutes, usually weekly and cost £60 or £75 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: fees are reimbursed if you cancel your session within 48 hours. 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 Therapy Rooms, Cheltenham Road, 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 with toilet facilities, both of which are wheelchair accessible. It is an air-conditioned room. 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. 

Because beginning therapy can often feel daunting, you might have questions you would like to discuss before deciding on a first session.

To help with this, you can contact me via email or text message, or we can agree on a day and time for a phone call of 20-30 minutes (at no financial cost) to listen to why you are seeking therapy and 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 and open as I can.

There is no need to make a decision at the end of the call as to whether you would like to attend a first session with me. I hope this discussion helps you better understand what you are looking for in your therapist.

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