Empowering You in your Therapy Goals

Hello, I'm Lisa Saunders.  

My counselling and research interests have centred around self-identity exploration and difficulties navigating life adjustments.  My doctoral research is on post-traumatic growth following psychosis-like experiences (some call this 'spiritual emergency' or 'spiritual crisis').

My experience with developmental and  life adjustment difficulties include:

• mid-life 'crisis'
• self-development and existential exploration
• parenthood adjustments (including fertility difficulties, motherhood adjustment, 'empty nest' etc.)
• workplace transitions (redundancy, transitioning from student into 'career')
• bereavement
• transitioning out of military service into civilian life

I also have years of clinical experience treating stress / anxiety, including:

• general anxiety /. worry
• social anxiety
• stress
• burnout

One of the things I love about being a counsellor is being able to learn and apply new and different therapy approaches. As everyone is different, it is helpful to learn different therapy approaches as some approaches are better suited to specific difficulties.  

My training has covered Person-centred, Psychodynamic, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Systemic approaches.  To ensure I can work as a therapist in an integrated way, I trained in Cognitive-Behavioural Hypnotherapy, which appeared the most psychologically-based hypnotherapy training available.  

A great deal of therapy focuses on the client-therapist relationship.  My style is better suited to working with individuals at a deeper, analytical level.  

As I made a career transition into psychology studies in 2010, counselling training and gaining qualifications, I also worked with people experiencing mental health difficulties, autism and/or life-altering brain injuries (stroke, trauma etc.) as a social prescriber or personal support worker.  

I have worked within various NHS Trust settings across London in counselling positions in primary and secondary care.   I have hundreds of hours of experience working with:

• anxiety (stress, generalised anxiety, social anxiety, panic, performance anxiety etc.)
• depression 
• bereavement
• life adjustment issues (infertility, physical changes, cancer diagnosis and coping )
• relationship difficulties (problems with parents, spouse, partner, children etc.)
• psychosis experiences and recovery

(A link to my LinkedIn profile and full work experience is below, under "Stay Connected")

Having attended autism awareness training and worked with autistic individuals in healthcare support roles, this has provided great insight into adapting counselling for clients on the autistic spectrum,  

I also find myself with a larger number of friends and colleagues diagnosed with ADHD so I'm gaining good insight into adapting and tailoring therapy to accommodate some of these unique needs. 

• British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP Registered Member) 
• British Psychological Society (BPS Graduate Member)

• Counselling and Counselling Skills (Distinction)  from Birkbeck University
• Masters in Psychology (Distinction)  from Birkbeck University
• Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy -  UK College of Hypnosis & Hypnotherapy 
• Trainee Counselling Psychologist - I am just finishing my final research project at City, University of London. Upon graduation (2026), I'll be Dr. Lisa Saunders