Heidi Shepherd Therapy
A confidential space to talk about and explore how you are, and who you are.
About me
Hello, I’m Heidi, a fully qualified and accredited therapist. I'm approachable and down-to-earth, aiming to offer you a confidential, calm, compassionate, open-minded and non-judgmental space for you to express and explore any current difficulties, hurt or worries in your life. I am a trauma informed therapist and my counselling approach is integrative, mainly drawing on person-centred, psychodynamic concepts and attachment theory, though I also work creatively and intuitively within the moment.
I have trained as an EMDR therapist (Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing). EMDR is not a traditional talk therapy, it is an 8 phase structured therapeutic technique used to help process specific memories and difficulties associated with adverse lived-experiences.
My therapeutic approach utilises trauma-informed theories e.g. Polyvagal theory, Somatic theory. It takes into account the complex relationship between mind and body, and how traumatic and negative experiences are stored in both our brain and body.
I have been working as a counselling therapist since March 2017, and have a varied client base, providing therapeutic counselling to people identifying within the generation X, Millennial and Gen Z communities. I greatly value difference and am LGBTQ+ affirming.
I understand that life is complex and sometimes you might need some extra support, especially if you're feeling sad, fearful or overwhelmed just trying to get through another day. Perhaps you've been through a painful experience, or lost a sense of who you are, where you belong, or what you want in life.
My background in the creative industries, touring and live events has meant I’ve been fortunate to meet and work with people from a variety of cultural, religious and social backgrounds. This has given me understanding and sensitivity to people’s diverse life experiences and how these may impact upon their lives.
We will take a therapeutic journey that is unique to you. We’ll start from your ‘here and now’ feelings, experiences and relationships, and if it feels right for you, we can work together to explore connections to your past and to consider how those experiences might be impacting your present life. I am committed to supporting and encouraging you to gain new insight and understanding of your self, with the intention of helping you recover from your adverse experiences, feel more empowered, make lasting changes and move forward more positively in your life.
WHAT IS THERAPY?
Therapy is a confidential place for you to talk about whatever is most important to you, where you can be properly heard and seen without being judged, or told what to do.
How can therapy help?
Counselling can help with many different issues, concerns and difficult experiences you’re trying to deal with that may be negatively affecting the quality of your life such as: stress and anxiety problems, depression, bereavement and loss, relationship difficulties, healing from trauma, questions about belonging, low self worth, self-confidence issues.
EMDR can be used for single event trauma e.g. road traffic accident, house fire or assault, or for more complex trauma such as childhood abuse, repeated violence and trauma associated with the armed forces and first responders. EMDR is quite flexible and can be applied to other issues including depression, phobias and anxiety.
Whether you decide to have counselling or EMDR, I offer you the opportunity to work on, and recover from distressing and adverse life experiences/events. We will work collaboratively to identify your aims and expectations, build resources and develop stabilising/grounding tools.
My qualifications & professional membership
Foundation Degree in Counselling (Open University)
Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
Certificate of Proficiency BACP
EMDR Standard Accredited Training (EMDR Masterclass)
Registered and accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
(BACP) (Membership no: 377024)
Member of the EMDR Association UK
Member of the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM)
As a qualified therapist and accredited member of the BACP, I fully subscribe and adhere to their Ethical Framework providing a high standard of professional care.
How much does therapy cost and how do I pay?
The cost for each 50 minute online or phone counselling session is £55.
The cost per remote EMDR therapy session is £60 (1hr)
The cost per Face-to-Face EMDR therapy session is £80 (limited availability in Manchester Wednesday mornings)
Payments can be made by bank transfer or Paypal. Complete payment details will be provided at the time of booking your initial free phone or online 20 min consultation.
How do sessions work?
I offer an initial free 20-minute consultation/assessment session either over the phone or online, where we can discuss and explore some of your reasons for seeking therapy, what counselling involves and how it may help. This session is also an opportunity for us learn a little bit about each other before you decide whether you feel comfortable to work with me.
Similarly to a regular counselling session, this first consultation session is an empathic and non-judgemental environment where everything said will be kept confidential.
PHONE SESSIONS:
Your phone counselling sessions will be held weekly, by appointment. If we have our sessions on the phone please ring me on the arranged date at the appointment time on 07432 253025.
ONLINE SESSIONS:
Your online counselling sessions will be held weekly, by appointment. Once a session has been booked, I will email you a Zoom link.
If you wish to access therapy via the internet, you should be familiar with Zoom technology.
YOUR PRIVACY:
For successful phone or online counselling, you will need a private, quiet room in which to talk with me.
I will conduct your phone or online appointments in a private, secure room maintaining the same standards of privacy and confidentiality as I would in personal face-to-face therapy.
