Lindsay Canham

Please note I am offering clients face to face sessions as well as via phone and online video sessions.  I currently have limited spaces for new referrals and can discuss availability during the initial referral contact.  

My practice: 

I have over 21 years of experience as a psychotherapist, clinical supervisor and trainer, working with individuals and couples providing both time limited and open-ended counselling, in addition to providing group therapies. As well as my private practice, I have worked within various organisations, specialising in supporting people dealing with trauma, childhood sexual abuse, sexuality, addictions, shame/guilt, and bereavement. As a qualified clinical supervisor I also provide support to many private practitioners and counsellors in training across local agencies.

At the forefront of my practice, is the knowledge that as humans, it is a given that we are all vulnerable to feeling painful emotions. However, for many, the thought of engaging in counselling and sharing your problems, fears and difficulties can be intimidating. We may prefer to not burden loved ones, avoid/supress or artificially escape our pain and often traumatic experiences in the hope we can find temporary relief. This strategy can leave people feeling isolated, confused and overwhelmed.

My approach:

I work from an integrative and relational perspective, meaning I draw from many theories to help shed light on a client’s unique needs, with a focus on valuing respect and diversity at the heart of my work.

I believe unresolved emotional pain, whether it stems from long standing issues born from our past, current life difficulties, or a blend of the two, can manifest itself in many detrimental health issues, including stress, anxiety and depression.

Once a foundation of trust is established I aim to help clients gain insights and increased understanding into patterns of relating to self and others, explore inner resources for personal development, identify/remove obstacles to growth and explore holistic methods to assist healing/wellbeing.

I have immensely enjoyed 6 years of private practice from my home office in Hampton, following 12 fruitful years of working in the community, across different organisations and sectors. I have a purpose built garden office which enables me to balance professional and personal needs. Working from home means I can offer flexible hours, including evening appointments. 

My range of work experiences, alongside my integrative relational approach, has enabled me to offer a wide scope of psychological and emotional wellbeing services. I can tailor my approach to goal orientated short-term counselling work, helping clients address specific needs. Equally, I find my longer-term and open ended therapeutic work with clients often brings numerous benefits, enabling a deeper level of trust and connection within the therapeutic relationship, ultimately creating the space for deeper rooted and longer standing issues to be addressed.  

Ultimately, I see my practice as a safe-haven for clients to explore unmet needs and to help provide some direction and purpose. Regardless of presenting issues, the cornerstone of my practice is to help clients, within a non-judgmental environment to feel empowered to share openly and experience an authentic therapeutic connection.   

My first session focuses on demystifying the therapy process, induction and information gathering. It provides me with an opportunity to enquire about a client's overall needs, goals and presenting issues, to help guide our work together. Equally, it provides the client with an opportunity to learn first-hand about how I work and whether my approach will benefit their unique individual circumstances. My aim in the first session is to ensure there is clarity in expectations and that the client feels safe and knowledgeable about how the counselling process works in general and specifically how I can help.  

I am offering a full blended service, providing in person sessions as well as online and/or phone supervision.  

I am a qualified integrative relational supervisor from the Metanoia Institute.

Since 2015 I have enjoyed providing both group and individual supervision for the counsellors at the Kingston Women's Centre and Kingston Bereavement Service.

For over 12 years I provided clinical supervision to counsellors specialising in addictions and domestic violence at both the Women's and Girls Network and EACH Counselling & Support services.

Alongside my agency work, I also provide private individual and group supervision to trainee's and qualified professionals. 

I use the ‘Seven-eyed Model’ of supervision, which takes a personal and social systems perspective and provides me with a valuable framework for examining the process of supervision. This approach is useful in providing a map that explores many dynamics from the range of finer/precise details to the impact of the wider context on our work. Meaning, whichever ‘eye’ we look through we will see a different facet of the whole.

In summary, my philosophy of supervision is a collaborative process of trust, open communication, playfulness (giving volume to our hunches and creativity), where professionals can create enhanced meaning and understanding to the clients world.

I always find it extremely important to utilise the first session as a means of gauging how well we can work together. My philosophy of supervision is a collaborative process, one where a safe environment can allow for a deeper level of learning and reflective practice. Identifying learning goals and a mutual understanding of a healthy supervisory relationship helps set a foundation of trust and openness. Following this initial session we can then make an informed decision about whether this dynamic would be conducive to your unique developmental needs.