Heather Pashley

Available for face to face appointments (Wednesdays and Fridays). Online appointments also available with flexible hours. 

I have worked as a counsellor and psychotherapist within the NHS and in private practice for over 10 years, helping clients to make sense of their experiences and to challenge negative patterns in their lives. I work with depression and anxiety, loss and grief, relationship problems and life changes of all types.

Having worked as a business consultant and strategist for 15 years before retraining in psychotherapy, I have a particular clinical interest in working with people in professional roles who struggle to maintain their mental wellbeing through stress and burnout. 

No single theory is, in my view, universally applicable and so I integrate a range of methods to offer you a uniquely tailored approach, within  a safe and non-judgmental space where you can explore your thoughts and feelings at your own pace.  

I may use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help you deal with your responses to events in the here and now,  together with Transactional Analysis (TA)  and other psychotherapeutic techniques to help you make sense of past experiences, challenge negative patterns and make sustainable changes. 

My private practice is based at HealthSpace, a multi-disciplinary clinic in Bishops Waltham, Hampshire. There is a bright, staffed reception area and therapy rooms are clean, smart and air conditioned. HealthSpace offers disabled access and has conveniently located ground floor treatment rooms.

Bishops Waltham is a medieval market town on the edge of the South Downs National Park, easily accessible from Winchester, Portsmouth and Southampton. There is public parking close to the clinic.

I also offer therapy sessions on-line if that suits you better. 

If you are a practicing counsellor or psychotherapist looking for clinical supervision please see my separate listing.  

The first session is a full, 50 minute session. You may feel you don't know where to begin, but together we will go through a little of your background and what brings you to therapy. You can tell me as much or as little about your current situation and any history that you feel comfortable with. 

I will tell you about how I work, and how we might work together to address the issues you bring. You will have an opportunity to ask any questions about my way of working.

We will then agree what you want to achieve and how we plan to work towards that - you might decide to commit to a certain number of sessions, or just take them one at a time. As our work continues, we will regularly review how you are feeling and your progress towards your goal.

Our first session is a time to discuss what you want from therapy and how we might work together to achieve this. If at the end of the session you decide that it is not for you, then that is as far as we need to go. I may be able to suggest alternative approaches which might suit you better, and you will have a better understanding of what you need, so it will not be time wasted.

Based on a humanistic model,  I integrate a range of methods including Transactional Analysis (TA) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to improve coping mechanisms in the here and now whist also addressing relevant underlying issues. 

I undertake both short term and longer term work, depending on the client's need and motivation.

I see supervisees as required to fulfil their professional membership/accreditation requirements. 

I work primarily with anxiety and depressive disorders, trauma and relationship issues. 

I have a particular interest in working with high performing individuals suffering with stress/burnout/mental ill health. 

I work with supervisees in training, in private practice and those employed or volunteering who need to provide their own, or supplement their organisational, supervision.  

As well as supporting you in achieving the best outcomes for your clients, my priorities as a supervisor for your wellbeing include helping you to manage your caseload and avoid "therapist burnout", encouraging you in your continuing professional development and helping you to untangle "your stuff" from "their stuff" when appropriate.

In our first supervision session we will discuss your aims for the supervisory relationship and agree how we can best work together to support you and your clients. 

I will enquire about your caseload and invite you to share the clients or issues which are foremost in your mind for supervision. Sometimes I may ask you to do some specific preparation for a session, for example to explore themes or contrasts in your work.