Bristol Counselling and Psychotherapy

23/07/2025

In our latest blog Maria explores ADHD and shame in the hopes that you won't feel so alone or that you can understand what is going on for your loved one with ADHD.

Maria explores the impact of ADHD - self-criticism, masking, and social rejection—we offer supportive guidance, validation, and resources for those struggling.

21/07/2025

In my work with women, I draw on the wisdom of the feminine archetypes — Maiden, Mother, Wild Woman, and Sage — as a soulful framework for healing. These energies aren’t fixed roles, but mirrors of our emotional and spiritual cycles, helping us understand not just what we feel, but why.

Together, we explore how these archetypes show up in your life — as inner protectors, exiled parts, or forgotten truths. I weave Internal Family Systems, Jungian theory, and somatic practices to help you not only understand but embody these energies in empowering ways.

This isn’t about becoming someone else — it’s about remembering who you’ve always been.

Archetypes offer a compassionate lens: our struggles are not personal flaws but part of a collective story. When we connect with these energies, we begin to reclaim lost parts of ourselves, soften self-judgment, and live more fully from intuition, truth, and wholeness.

This work isn’t about fixing — it’s about coming home.

If you would like to work with Lesley, please get in touch. We're here to help.

17/07/2025

📣 We're Hiring!

Are you a fully qualified IFS therapist looking to join a supportive and diverse team? We’re expanding and would love to hear from you.

🌿 Location: Bristol (in-person at our Kingswood or Southville practices)
💻 Some online work available too
🤝 Join a passionate, experienced team focused on meaningful therapeutic work

If this sounds like a good fit, please send your CV to:
📩 hello@bristolcounsellingandpsychotherapy.co.uk

Let’s grow together 💚

16/07/2025

Addiction isn’t just about substances — it’s about disconnection.

When people feel isolated, overwhelmed, or unseen, addiction often fills the void.

But healing doesn’t happen in isolation.
It happens in connection — with others, with ourselves, with purpose.

✨ Talk. Listen. Reach out. Be real.
Because the opposite of addiction… is connection. 💬🤝🧠

08/07/2025

Boarding school can create something few people talk about: the strategic survival personality—a version of yourself built to cope, to adapt, to endure.

“Being taken away from home, siblings, toys, pets—the very things that gave us comfort and identity—forces children to grow up fast. Too fast. You learn how to perform strength, manage emotions alone, and create emotional distance to survive.” 🧳💔

For many ex-boarders, this personality helped us get through, but it often lingers long after the school years end. It can shape how we form relationships, handle vulnerability, or even trust ourselves.

Exploring this survival self isn’t about blame—it’s about reclaiming the parts of us we left behind in that dorm room. The soft parts. The real parts. The parts that didn’t get to grow in safety.

You don’t have to stay in survival mode forever. The journey back to yourself is worth it.

We offer so get in touch if you would like to make sense of your experience of boarding school.

07/07/2025

''Therapy is only for crisis moments...''

Wrong!

We often think of therapy as something we turn to only in crisis. But the truth is, therapy can be a powerful tool for professional growth, not just personal healing.

''The way we interact with colleagues and respond in the workplace is often shaped by the relational patterns we learned in childhood.'' Angelique - Counsellor at Bristol Counselling and Psychotherapy

Here’s how therapy can make a difference in your work life:

✅ Improved communication – Learn to express your needs, handle feedback, and navigate difficult conversations.
✅ Better stress management – Gain tools to cope with pressure, deadlines, and high-stakes decisions without burning out.
✅ Stronger self-awareness – Understand your patterns, triggers, and strengths so you can lead and collaborate more effectively.
✅ Healthier boundaries – Avoid overworking, people-pleasing, or getting stuck in toxic dynamics.
✅ Increased confidence – Address imposter syndrome, perfectionism, or fear of failure that's holding you back.

Therapy isn’t just for when things are falling apart. It’s also for when you want to build a stronger foundation—for your career, your relationships, and your future.

25/06/2025

🧾 WE’RE HIRING!
📍 Remote (with training in Bristol)
🕑 2 days a week – fits around school hours or your other job

Bristol Counselling and Psychotherapy is looking for a part-time Admin Assistant to join our lovely team 💙
This role is work-from-home with in-person training to get you started. Perfect for someone organised, tech-friendly and looking for flexible hours.

Tasks include:
✨ Invoicing (once a month)
✨ Social media posts
✨ Uploading content to our website
✨ Communicating with our team of 32 counsellors
✨ General admin support alongside our practice owner

✅ Full training provided
✅ Friendly, values-driven team
✅ Ideal for anyone interested in the mental health industry, graduates, returners to work or parents

📩 Interested? Send your CV & short cover letter to: hello@bristolcounsellingandpsychotherapy.co.uk
🗓 Apply by: 16 July 2025

NO AGENCIES

Please share or tag someone who might be perfect! 💬

24/06/2025

🌿 In the Lead-Up to National Counsellors’ Day – A Heartfelt Thank You 🌿
Saturday marks National Counsellors’ Day, and we couldn’t be prouder to celebrate our incredible team here at Bristol Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Each day, our counsellors show up with empathy, strength, and deep commitment—offering a safe space for others to explore, heal, and grow. The work they do is often quiet and unseen, but its impact is truly transformative.

To our team:
Thank you for your compassion.
Thank you for holding space for others during their most vulnerable moments.
Thank you for the care, integrity, and professionalism you bring to every session.

This week, we honour you—not just for what you do, but for who you are. 💚

Let’s all take a moment to appreciate the power of listening, the strength in vulnerability, and the courage it takes to support others in their journey.

06/06/2025

27/05/2025

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24/05/2025

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