Heather Leslie

Welcome to HML Counselling! A quite, welcoming space in central Swindon. 

I work 5 days a week:

Monday 8:30am-7:30pm, Tuesday 9am-6:30pm, Wednesday 9am-6:30pm, Thursday 9-8:30pm, Friday 9-5pm 

Dogs welcome in sessions. I'm also happy to work with a client support person in the room. This is agreed by me and contracted with the client and support person at the time of signing on for sessions.  

I currently have daytime sessions available. Evening sessions are fully booked at the moment.  

I am unavailable for sessions from 22nd December 2023  - 7th January 2024. My first day back from Christmas break will be Monday 08th January 2024.

I am a qualified Creative Therapeutic counsellor - CPCAB Level 4 and a trauma Therapist  - CPCAB Level 6.  My role is to always work with what my clients bring to each session, so my approach is person centred, whilst integrating other recognised therapeutic models, in agreement with my clients. 

Alongside talking therapy, my sessions are often more creative - with a range of sensory objects available for clients to work with. I understand how difficult it can be to talk, so I offer a range of tactile tools to help clients tell their story, if they choose to. Working I have a variety  games, activities, cards and worksheets, mindfulness and relaxation exercises to enhance sessions. Together, the client and I discover ways to acknowledge and express emotions and feelings in a safe and ethical environment. 

My training allows scope for integrating modalities into sessions, not in a haphazard way but with a well-considered and client-focussed approach. 

I started HML Counselling because I longed to create a safe and welcoming space, where clients can rest as well as engage in therapy. My room is warm and spacious. I welcome dogs and if client's need a support person to take the first steps into sessions, I welcome a 3rd person into the room. 

A contract is signed after agreeing to work together. This is usually for a period of 12 weeks. A review and an offer to extented, if necessary is always available. 

Contracted, paid sessions begin after an assessment session. 

An assessment session with me is free and runs for 40 minutes. It is an informal meeting focussed on introductions and expectations. I use this time to meet the client, hear their needs and to speak about my way of working. Client expectation of how therapy sessions work is extremely important to me. 

There is no obligation to begin counselling with me after the assessment session. It is very important for any prospective clients to have the opportunity to build a strong and safe therapeutic relationship. I want to the be right counsellor for you - but I acknowledge that I might not be! Having this all-important assessment session is the first step in finding out if we can work together. 

Sometimes I use recognised assessment forms but not usually in this informal assessment session. It is more common for me to offer a formal assessment, using forms, in session one of paid therapy sessions.  

I will always ask if the client is happy to fill in assessment forms.