Lucy Thompson

I work with couples online and in person from my practice in Harrogate.

I offer daytime and evening appointments.

Relationships are at the heart of my work with couples and I offer a neutral space for each of you free from judgement to explore and understand what may be happening. I recognise that this may feel hard to do especially if communication is strained between you but I am there to support each of you to hear one another and to begin to recognise the cycle you get caught in and how to change this.

I am an experienced couples counsellor trained to use Emotionally Focused Therapy to make sense of the difficulties and conflicts you are experiencing. The couples I help often leave counselling with a better understanding of themselves and each other and feel more confident and secure to manage any challenges together.

Emotionally Focused Therapy uses Attachment Theory to understand the emotional bonds and connections that couples have. It is a humanistic evidence based approach to psychotherapy.

Whilst our sessions will be joint sessions together early on in our work I will see each of you separately for an individual session. This session helps me understand your own attachment history and important life events and relationships so that when I am working with you both I can also be aware of what might be happening for each of you individually too.

The first session is an opportunity to see how we work together and for me to understand more about what is happening for you both and what you hope for from coming to counselling.

I offer face to face sessions from my home in Harrogate as well as  working online and by telephone. 

My working days are Monday to Friday.

Relationships are at the heart of my work.  I specialise in supporting individuals who are struggling with family and parenting issues. I particularly work with parents of children and young people who have additional needs .

I am trained to support couples with their relationship and I use my training in Emotionally Focused Therapy and Attachment Theory to help look at the negative cycles they are getting caught in and how to stop them. This can create closeness and connection and a healthier relationship for couples with new insight and understanding about what is happening when they row or are feeling disconnected in the silence.

I have supported couples with infertility, pregnancy, affairs, disconnection and at times of stress such as illness, life stages. 

I offer a welcoming space for clients that puts them at the centre. My focus is is in providing a unique place away from the bustle of life where you can feel deeply heard in whatever is troubling you. This way of listening that values you and endeavours to understand your experience provides an opportunity to hear yourself in a new way that creates new insight and change.

I offer a 30 min free introductory session so we can find out more about each other.

Our first session together will be a conversation  to find out more about what brings you to counselling and  for you to see how I work. We can then decide if and how we might work together.

Adoption Support Counselling 

I offer adoption support counselling sessions in person and online  for anyone over 18 years. 

I have a Certificate in Adoption Support Counselling a specialist post qualifying training provided by The Albany Centre in partnership with Barnardos.

This means that I am able to offer understanding and support to adults in the complexities and feelings that may arise from being an adopter, adoptee or birth parent/family member.

This also includes those in the role of special guardianship and kinship.

Adopter/Kinship/Special Guardianship: Whether as a single adopter or a couple/family their may well be challenges along the journey where a space to reflect, talk and feel supported in may be hugely valuable.  Managing 'big feelings' in your child and how they may create 'big feelings' in you can be difficult to navigate. I have an understanding of developmental trauma, Therapeutic Parenting and Life Story Work.

Adoptee:  Whatever your experience of being adopted there may be times in your life where a space to talk about your feelings, process and work through loss, make sense of relationships or develop your own story and identity may be helpful.

Birth Parent/Family:  Whatever your story whether past or present I offer a space to talk about your experiences and feelings .