Vanessa Hartshorn

I offer daytime, and a few evening appointments

Asking for support is the first step forward when life can seem overwhelming; low mood, anxiety, confusion, irritability, and isolation are some of the feelings we can experience when life is challenging. My work ethos is about encouraging support through increased self-awareness and a greater understanding and knowledge of mental health.

I am interested in what I can offer you to increase your understanding of where you are now and identify specific tools to enable you to move forward. Working together towards reinstating a greater sense of balance, and control.

I have gained a range of experience based in my private practice as well as being a senior counsellor and Clinical Lead at Clarity which is a mental health charity based in Barnstaple. My experience is working with adult clients, aged 18+ in groups and 1-2-1 sessions covering a wide range of mental health issues. I offer both short and longer-term therapy to suit your needs.

Finding the right therapist is important for the therapeutic work to be successful, it is vital that you feel comfortable with your therapist. For this reason, I offer a free initial telephone assessment, without any obligation.

I am a registered member of the BACP which is the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists. As a Member of the BACP, I work within their ethical framework and am fully committed to my continual professional development by regularly undertaking additional training courses to enhance my therapeutic work.

I am a qualified Counsellor working in Bideford and Barnstaple. I like to provide a friendly, professional supportive space to explore your concerns. I am an Integrative practitioner, which means that I use my knowledge of several different psychological models, I work from a pluralistic standpoint which emphasises personalising our work to suit you and your individual needs.

My additional training is in working creatively, online and telephone therapy and Clinical Supervision.

I utilise Transactional Analysis, Gestalt and CBT knowledge and tools in our sessions as well as some creative methods and mindfulness to address the more subconscious aspects of the work.

My practice and experience allow me to tailor the sessions to meet your needs.

I offer daytime, evening and a few weekend appointments

Level 6 - Qualified Clinical Supervisor. Alongside my counselling experience I have been managing, mentoring and supporting experienced and trainee counsellors. My supervision work echos this experience, I follow the Seven-Eyed Model of Supervision and have additional training in online counselling. As counsellors it can be an isolating profession I believe that supervision offers the time to ethically reflect on client work, explore new tools and check in with where you are personally. Therefore safeguarding and supporting you and your clients.

Our therapeutic relationship with clients is at the cornerstone of the success of counselling. This is also true in Supervision, and I hold this at the core of my work therefore, I aim to support my supervisee’s in their client work; their well-being, theoretical knowledge and growth. I have experience in private therapy and within a busy mental health charity where I have been mentoring, supporting, and supervising counsellors (qualified and trainees). I am trained Integratively with a Person-centred foundation; I utilise my professional experience and specific training in Hawkins & Shohet's seven-eyed model for supervision and offer both face-to-face and online sessions.

If you are interested in the collaborative work I offer then please contact me for a free initial conversation. 

For supervision to be beneficial it is vital that you feel comfortable in our work together, I, therefore, offer a free 20-minute initial telephone call or Zoom session without any obligation.