- One-to-one in-person
- One-to-one online over Zoom.
Book a Therapist
Find the right therapist for you from our experienced team at Evolve Counselling.
Browse the therapists below to view profiles, check availability and book directly. Prefer the next available session? Use the booking form below to see all available appointments.
How to book
Select a therapist, pick a time and confirm your booking. A 50% deposit is taken at booking, with the remaining balance paid to your therapist at your appointment. Please review our cancellation policy before booking. If you have any questions, call 0113 467 9673.
Counsellors | Adult Counselling
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Frank Brinkley | Adults · Person-centred therapy | From £60
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Dorota Podjaska Psychotherapist & Clinical Hypnotherapist From £100
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Francesca Thirlwell | Adults · Therapy & coaching | From £60
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Heather Pearce : £55 Individuals / £65 Couples
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Will Jones | Adults From £60
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Nicola Heptinstall | Adults, children & supervision | From £60
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Susannah Barnes | Adults · Anxiety, trauma & life changes | From £67
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Ian Swanston | Adults & young people · EMDR | From £55
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Josh Whaley | Adults · Trauma & relationships | From £75
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Aaron Bell | Adults · Counselling | From £50
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Caroline Webb | Adults · Psychotherapy- £70
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Madeleine Hills | Adults & young people | From £50
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Jane Hickson | Adults & couples · Integrative counselling | From £60
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Emma Hetherington | Adults · Counselling | From £60
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Joanne Austin | Adults, children & couples | From £60
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Shez Hashmi | Adults & young people · CBT & attachment | From £65
Frank Brinkley | Adults · Person-centred therapy | From £60
Frank is a BACP accredited counsellor and psychotherapist, working predominantly as a person-centred, humanistic practitioner. That means he offers space and time in a safe, confidential, non-judgemental environment to allow you to discuss problems and difficult feelings or experiences and help you to find a way forwards. Person-centred therapy is non-directive, so you get to choose what to focus on, and the sessions are not time-limited, so you have enough time to work through whatever brings you to therapy.
Frank trained in London before relocating to West Yorkshire to open his private practice in 2022. He works with individuals aged 18 and over, on a wide range of presenting issues, from anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts, to bereavement, relationship issues, stress and low mood. He is LGBTQ+ affirming and interested in the ways in which our environments impact our mental health and wellbeing.
Frank spent over a decade working as a freelance writer and editor. At heart, he’s passionate about what it means to be human, with all the messiness and difficulties that entails, and the ways in which therapy can be a space to tell – and make sense of – your own story, to take the pieces that don’t seem to add up and find a new way to fit them together.
Qualifications: Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
Memberships: MBACP, accredited member.
Frank works with Individuals, aged 18+
Dorota Podjaska Psychotherapist & Clinical Hypnotherapist From £100
Psychotherapist & Clinical Hypnotherapist
Adults · Attachment, relational trauma & hypnotherapy · From £100
From the outside, you appear capable, successful and dependable often the person others rely on. Inside, however, you can feel anxious, emotionally exhausted, disconnected from your needs or caught in patterns you understand but cannot seem to change.
Dorota specialises in supporting high-functioning adults – often professionals, business owners, leaders and carers, who are used to holding everything together for everyone else. She welcomes clients from a wide range of backgrounds.
Approach
Dorota offers a warm, relational and heart-centred approach grounded in psychological theory and trauma-informed practice. Her Embodied Secure Self Method™ brings together:
- Integrative relational psychotherapy
- Attachment-focused therapy
- Hypnotherapy and subconscious work
- Inner-child, reparenting and parts work
- Somatic awareness and nervous-system regulation
Specialisms
Dorota works with clients experiencing:
- Attachment and relationship difficulties
- Relational and complex trauma
- Anxiety, overthinking and emotional overwhelm
- People-pleasing, perfectionism and over-responsibility
- Low self-worth, shame and self-criticism
- Boundaries and difficulty expressing needs
- Suppressed anger, burnout and emotional disconnection
- The exhaustion of always having to be strong
Ways of Working Together
- Weekly therapy: 50- or 75-minute psychotherapy or hypnotherapy sessions. Hypnotherapy can be offered separately or integrated into longer-term psychotherapy.
- Therapeutic Journeys: personalised three- or six-month programmes combining weekly 75-minute sessions, structured voice or text support, at least three points of therapeutic contact each week and personalised recordings and resources.
Work Experience
Dorota brings close to a decade of experience across private practice, community mental health, residential care, crisis support, education and NHS inpatient services. She has supported adults experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, attachment and relationship difficulties, emotional dysregulation, autism, learning disabilities and complex mental health needs.
Her background includes conducting psychological assessments and formulations, delivering psychologically informed interventions and helping clients develop emotional regulation, independence and practical self-management skills. She has also contributed to therapeutic work within the NHS Yorkshire Centre for Eating Disorders, provided person-centred crisis support and designed mental health resources promoting emotional literacy, resilience and self-regulation within primary-school communities.
Qualifications
- Postgraduate Diploma in Integrative Counselling
- Postgraduate Certificate in Psychotherapy and Counselling
- MSc Health Psychology
- BSc (Hons) Psychology
Professional Memberships
- Registered Member of the BACP
- Registered Clinical Hypnotherapist with the General Hypnotherapy Register (GHR)
Appointments and Fees
Dorota offers in-person appointments at Evolve in Leeds on Wednesdays, alongside online appointments.
- £100 – 50-minute session
- £140 – 75-minute extended session
- £500 – six-session psychotherapy package
- Therapeutic Journeys from £3,000
A complimentary 20-minute Clarity Call is available to explore the most appropriate way of working together.
Monday Appointments are for online sessions only.
Francesca Thirlwell | Adults · Therapy & coaching | From £60
Francesca Thirlwell is an experienced, registered BACP psychotherapist, senior EMCC accredited coach, and former HR professional. She works with ambitious and forward-thinking adults who are navigating change, feeling stuck, or facing complex life decisions—supporting them to achieve both personal and professional goals.
With extensive experience in therapeutic and coaching settings, Francesca also brings 15 years of HR expertise across a range of public and private sector organisations. This background provides her with a deep understanding of workplace pressures and the challenges individuals face in professional environments.
Alongside her private practice, Francesca has worked in diverse settings with individuals facing a wide range of issues affecting daily life, including low self-esteem, relationship difficulties, anxiety, stress, career transitions, returning to work after extended leave, childhood trauma, and a lack of confidence or direction.
Clients often report increased confidence, improved relationship dynamics, and a deeper understanding of themselves—enabling them to lead with authenticity and approach challenges with clarity and resilience.
Francesca offers a collaborative and empathetic approach, creating a confidential space where clients can safely explore their thoughts and emotions. Her work is tailored to each individual’s needs, fostering greater self-awareness and insight. Sessions are guided by what each person wishes to explore, at a pace that feels right—whether short-term or ongoing.
She is qualified in Integrative Psychotherapy, drawing primarily from relational and person-centred approaches. Francesca provides a compassionate, non-judgmental environment where clients can bring their whole selves. Her work is informed by psychodynamic and attachment theories to deepen understanding of past and present experiences, and she integrates cognitive behavioural techniques and coaching methods where appropriate to support practical change and personal growth.
Qualifications:
- PG Diploma (level 7) in Counselling and Psychotherapy (Leeds University)
- PG Certificate in Interpersonal and Counselling Skills (Leeds Beckett University)
- Introduction to Counselling skills certificate (Leeds Becket University)
- PG Diploma (Level 7) in Coaching (EMCC Accredited)
- PG Diploma (Level 7) in Human Resources (Leeds Beckett University)
- Degree in Psychology and Sociology (University of Liverpool
Initial Consultation
Francesca offers a complimentary 15-minute telephone or video consultation for new clients. This session provides an opportunity to ask questions and explore whether working together feels right.
Session Details
Individual sessions are £60 and last 50 minutes. Appointments are available both online and in person.
Heather Pearce : £55 Individuals / £65 Couples
Counselling:
Heather is a qualified and experienced Counsellor, Couples Counsellor and Clinical Supervisor with over 14 years’ experience of supporting children, young people and adults.
Heather offers a friendly, confidential counselling service using a client centred approach. With experience of working with a wide range of issues, she integrates her knowledge and skills to ensure the best results for her clients. Heather offers short, medium, and long-term counselling work, based on individual needs, allowing clients the space to feel heard, and explore issues at their own pace, in a safe, non-judgemental and professional environment.
Heather works in partnership with her clients to help them build trust, self-awareness, understanding and acceptance. As well as working in Private Practice, she has over 13 years of experience of working in both organisational and school settings, with a sound understanding of professional boundaries.
Taking the first step to reach out for help can be daunting. Working with you therapeutically, Heather can help you gain a deeper understanding of your thoughts and feelings and work with you to make positive changes.
Membership:
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Registered member of the BACP
Qualifications:
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Diploma in Counselling Diploma in working with Children and Adolescents
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Diploma in the Practice of Supervision Certificate in Couples Work ASSIST- Applied Suicide Interventions Skills Training UKATA Introductory Transaction Analysis 101
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Diploma in Child Behaviour Diploma in Depression Management Safeguarding Children: Level 1 – Level 4
Work Experience:
In addition to working in Private Practice Heather also works for Escayp (Emotional Support for Children and Young People), as Sessional Counsellor and Service Manager.
Prior to Counselling, Heather’s work experience was in the Retail Sector and Retail Management for over 17 years. Heather has a sound understanding of Corporate settings and the pressures involved in working in these environments.
Rate:
Will Jones | Adults From £60
Will is a BACP registered counsellor and psychotherapist with an integrative approach and a Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling & Psychotherapy. He works with adults with a variety of issues including anxiety, depression, stress, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties, bereavement and childhood trauma.
Will offers a welcoming and safe space where you can explore your thoughts, feelings and difficulties without judgement. He also blends together his knowledge of different types of therapy, training and experience to form a relationship with you that meets your needs. Through counselling with him you can feel supported, develop a greater understanding of your difficulties, gain new perspectives and work out different ways to live a more fulfilling life.
Membership:
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Registered member of the BACP
Qualifications:
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PG Diploma in Counselling & Psychotherapy
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Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies
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Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills
Work Experience:
Will has previously worked as a volunteer counsellor at Bradford Counselling Service. He had a varied career before becoming a counsellor; teaching English as a foreign language, and working in office jobs around the UK. While working as an EFL teacher he realised that his true passion was to be alongside others during their difficulties and support them in discovering their own answers and resources, so he decided to switch careers and become a counsellor. Will has experience of being a client in counselling following difficult life events, so he knows how daunting it can be to take the first step to talk about what has been troubling you, but also how it can help.
Rate:
£60 per session
£330 for 6 sessions
Nicola Heptinstall | Adults, children & supervision | From £60
Nicola will provide you with a safe, accepting, and supportive relationship from which to explore the difficulties you may be experiencing. Her own values of honesty, respect, and optimism lie at the heart of her counselling style. By drawing on a range of approaches she is able to offer you counselling that fits your needs, after all, we are all unique and individual, with our own experiences of life, so why should one approach fit everyone?
Feeling heard, understood, and not judged can help you to explore your feelings more fully and more openly, allowing you the opportunity to look at the various areas of your life, your relationships, and yourself that you may not have been able to consider or face before. It is from here that changes can take place and new choices can be considered. Nicola has worked with many issues including relationship difficulties, anxiety, depression, childhood abuse and trauma, family breakdowns, eating disorders, compulsive behaviour, self-esteem, suicide, self-harm, domestic abuse, and bereavement.
Rate: £60
Membership:
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Accredited member of the BACP
Qualifications:
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PGDip Counselling & Psychotherapy
Work Experience:
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Samaritans Volunteer counsellor in a women’s centre School based counsellor working alongside children aged between 5yrs-17yrs
Prior to becoming a counsellor Nicola worked as a Team Manager in a busy corporate environment. It was having her own counselling following a traumatic life event and finding it invaluable that led Nicola to retrain as a counsellor in 2009.
In addition to her private practice Nicola also works for the following organisations:
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National trainer for Place2Be which is a leading children’s mental health charity
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Voluntary BACP network meeting facilitator
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Co founder and director of Evolve Counselling & Therapy centre
Susannah Barnes | Adults · Anxiety, trauma & life changes | From £67
Susannah can help you take the time you need to reflect on your situation, with a non judgemental and compassionate ear. Susannah can help particularly if you are feeling anxious, depressed, confused or isolated, or if you are going through a difficult life change such as a bereavement, or other loss, or adjusting to a new diagnosis of Long Covid or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
As well as talking it out, Susannah will invite your body to take part in the conversation. Your body often has a lot to say as well, the way you hold yourself, where there is tension or tightness, your aches and pains, repetitive injuries or chronic complaints and how you are breathing – all give clues to what might be impacting you on a deeper level and habits that are keeping you somewhere you don’t want to be. These things can give you new insights and help you to gently re-member your body, put yourself back together in new ways and reconnect with yourself as a whole person.
Membership:
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Registered member of the BACP
Qualifications:
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BSc Psychology with Neuroscience
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Advanced Diploma in Person-Centred Therapeutic Counselling
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Breathwork & Meditation Practitioner & Coach
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Certification of Embodiment Coaching
Work Experience:
When Susannah was newly qualified she worked for the Mosaic II charity in Bradford offering counselling support to survivors of childhood sexual abuse and their families. When the charity closed down, it inspired her to offer more support to survivors of abuse and to specialise in the field of trauma.
Susannah now runs her own holistic counselling agency, that offers trauma therapy, holistic counselling & mental health advice from a wide range of inputs such as psychology, neuroscience, counselling, breathwork, meditation and embodied coaching.
One of her newer projects is a multi-disciplinary team with other body based practitioners in Leeds to offer ongoing support with rest, adjustment and rebuilding for people with Long Covid.
Alongside this work, she also has a lot of experience within University academic culture and the difficulties faced by both students and staff in this unique environment. She holds regular sessions at the University of Bradford.
Ian Swanston | Adults & young people · EMDR | From £55
Ian is a BACP Accredited registered counsellor.
Ian has been a counsellor since 2010 and started his counselling with the Manchester based charity Mothers Against Violence (MAV UK). He is trained as a Parenting Practitioner, Multi-systemic Therapist and in Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR).
Ian works for the NHS as well as for MAV UK. Ian has previously worked in 2 North West HM Prison settings with offenders, providing space for them to address the impact of criminal behaviours on themselves and their communities.
Ian’s work at Evolve Counselling is commissioned by MAV UK a charity established to address issues related to gun and knife crime. All payments for
his services will go to the charity. MAV UK is extending their ACCESS community-based service to Leeds. The service will allow priority therapeutic support to parents and young people.
Membership:
Registered member of the BACP
Qualifications:
BSc (Hons) Professional Counselling
Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
Certificate in EMDR
Certificate in Evidenced Based Parenting Support (Triple P)
Work Experience
NHS Community & Prison Service
Mothers Against Violence Counselling Services
Wigan Council Early Intervention Team & Parenting Support Services.
Ian has a vast amount of experience working with parents, those with past painful memories or trauma. Ian’s EMDR therapy work is embedded in his model of person-centred therapy. Ian is a Manchester based therapist; his face-to-face sessions are at times limited. He currently offers face to face work in Leeds on a Tuesday and Friday, when space is available.
Price per session: £55
Josh Whaley | Adults · Trauma & relationships | From £75
Josh is a BACP Accredited Integrative psychotherapist and counsellor. This means he is not restricted to working in one particular way. He is creative and will adapt the way he works with you to suit your individual needs. He works short and long term in an holistic way, from a humanistic and relational perspective. He offers a safe, confidential, non-judgmental, space for you to pause and reflect on your reasons for choosing to enter therapy, whilst working collaboratively with you towards your hopes for your future self.
Josh believes that no healing can truly begin until you are able to offer and accept compassion to and from yourself. So his work with you will start from a place of kindness, respecting that you are coping in the best way you can under difficult circumstances. He will offer you the time and space you need to sensitively explore your embodied feelings and thoughts about your presenting issues. This collaborative process might help you to gain new skills, perspectives and form fresh insights that facilitate alternative ways of thinking and feeling thus being in the world.
Josh works with a wide range of individuals and their challenges but has a particular interest in: abuse, anxiety, bereavement, bullying, depression, LGBTQIA+ individuals and their issues, life limiting health conditions such as cancer and HIV/AIDS, neurodiversity and trauma.
Membership:
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Accredited member of the BACP
Qualifications:
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MA Psychotherapy & Counselling.
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Counselling Skills & Theory Certificate
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Introduction to Art Therapy Certificate
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BA(hons) Fine Art
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Yoga Teaching Diploma.
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Pranayama (Breathing) Certificate
Work Experience:
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Yorkshire MESMAC (LGBTQIA+)
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Cancer Support Yorkshire
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GASPED (Addiction)
Josh is a trained yoga teacher with over a decade of experience in the discipline. He uses embodied practices; movement, breathing and meditation, to interrupt the psycho-somatic presentations of anxiety, depression ADHD and [C]PTSD/trauma.
Rate:
Sessions: £75
Aaron Bell | Adults · Counselling | From £50
Aaron is a qualified counsellor and the founder of Human Centred Counselling, a practice dedicated to supporting adults through life’s emotional challenges by placing their unique human experience at the heart of the work.
Whether someone is struggling with anxiety, low mood, loss, self-esteem issues, or navigating a period of change or uncertainty, Aaron offers a warm, supportive, and non-judgemental space to talk and be truly heard.
Aaron brings professionalism, care, and integrity to his practice. He works one-to-one with adults, offering both in-person and online sessions, and welcomes clients from all walks of life.
At Human Centred Counselling, the emphasis is on recognising and respecting the full depth of what it means to be human — including the pain, uncertainty, strength, and capacity for growth that each person holds. Aaron works primarily from a person-centred perspective, which means he sees each client as the expert in their own life. His role is not to diagnose or direct, but to walk alongside clients as they explore their thoughts, emotions, and experiences in their own time and way.
Clients often come to Aaron feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure of themselves. Others might not know exactly what’s wrong, only that something doesn’t feel right. Whatever brings someone to therapy, Aaron offers a space where they can explore without pressure or judgement, a space where they can feel accepted, valued, and supported.
In addition to his core person-centred approach, Aaron integrates journaling and mindfulness techniques to help clients manage emotional challenges and develop greater self-awareness. These tools can deepen reflection and support clients in feeling more grounded and connected to themselves.
Aaron has extensive experience supporting both young people and parents in previous roles, particularly within educational settings. While he now works exclusively with adults, this background gives him a broad understanding of emotional development, life transitions, and the complexity of relationships and family dynamics.
Clients describe Aaron as calm, grounded, and easy to talk to. He understands that starting counselling can feel daunting, and he’s committed to making the process feel approachable and safe. His aim is to build a strong therapeutic relationship where clients feel empowered to explore their inner world, build resilience, and make meaningful changes.
At Human Centred Counselling, every individual is met with empathy, respect, and genuine care. Whatever someone is facing, Aaron is here to listen, support, and walk alongside them on their path toward healing and growth.
Qualifications: Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
Memberships: MBACP, registered member.
Aaron works with Individuals, aged 18+
- One-to-one in-person
- One-to-one online over Zoom.
Fee: £50 per session
Caroline Webb | Adults · Psychotherapy- £70
Caroline is a BACP Senior Accredited counsellor/psychotherapist with an MSc in Integrative Psychotherapy. She works with adults of all ages, providing short and longer-term therapy. She currently offers individual sessions in person or by phone/video; she also offers reflective supervision and support to qualified therapists and non-counselling professionals.
As an integrative therapist, Caroline draws on ideas and approaches from different therapeutic traditions, including humanistic, psychodynamic and cognitive behavioural therapies, adapting her approach to the person rather than following a single model.Therapy may involve exploring patterns that have developed over time and considering how past experiences and relationships continue to influence the present. It may also involve finding ways to live with losses, changes or uncertainties that cannot simply be resolved. Many people Caroline works with are managing well on the outside and are used to putting their own feelings to one side or wondering whether they are overreacting. Sometimes this reflects earlier experiences of not feeling fully heard or understood, even within caring relationships. Therapy can offer a different experience: a place where thoughts and feelings can be explored without being dismissed or explained away.
Caroline can support with a wide range of issues including: low mood, anxiety, bereavement and loss, and periods of significant change or transition. She has a particular interest and experience in working with loss and change in all its forms. This includes supporting people after sudden and traumatic loss or other significant life events, and also exploring the questions that can arise when circumstances change and people begin to see themselves, their relationships and their past experiences differently. She also supports people experiencing work-related pressures, including compassion fatigue and burnout, as well as difficulties relating to professional boundaries and organisational change.
Work experience
Caroline has worked as a therapist within the NHS and in higher education wellbeing services, including managing a university counselling service. She has also provided supervision and support to hospice and primary care staff, giving her experience of working alongside people facing complex personal and professional challenges. Before retraining as a therapist, Caroline worked in communications roles across the private and public sectors. Having spent many years working within large and often complex organisations, she understands some of the pressures and expectations that can come with professional life. She has also volunteered with organisations including Age UK, Alzheimer’s Society, Cruse Bereavement Support and Samaritans.
Qualifications
MSc Integrative Psychotherapy
Person-Centred Experiential Counselling for Depression
Certificate in Supervision
Postgraduate Diploma in Psychotherapy
Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
Memberships
Senior Accredited member of the BACP, register number 26814
Bupa-recognised therapist, provider number 30049017
Price per session:
£70 (50 minutes)
Madeleine Hills | Adults & young people | From £50
Madeleine is a BACP registered counsellor and psychotherapist practicing integrative, person-centred therapy for adults. She is passionate that a person’s emotional health deserves to be a priority.
She aims to provide a safe, non-judgmental, confidential space. She is not here to tell you what to do, but rather to help you find your own answers, develop your awareness & understanding, and grow your own internal resources. Madeleine also works in the third sector with Barnardo’s, providing one-to-one therapy and group work.
She is experienced working with a wide range of clients and issues including stress, anxiety, depression, gender, sexuality, trauma, intrusive thoughts, self-esteem, self-harm, bullying, and relationships. She adapts her work to you as an individual, calling upon different techniques to provide support for any issues or difficulties you wish to bring.
Membership:
- Registered member of the BACP
Qualifications:
- Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling & Psychotherapy BA (Hons)
- Degree in Healthcare in Contemporary Society with Guidance and Counselling
Work Experience:
Madeleine previously worked in the third sector as both a Counsellor and Counselling Co-ordinator at The Market Place Leeds, providing person-centred, trauma informed support to ages 11-25.
She has also worked at Leeds Well-Bean Crisis Café providing one to one and social support to ages 16+ in times of crisis.
She also worked as a project coordinator, helping to develop and implement the new SafeZone Crisis Support project for ages 11-17 in Leeds
Rate:
£50 per session
Jane Hickson | Adults & couples · Integrative counselling | From £60
Jane believes the foundation of successful therapy is to build a supportive, compassionate and collaborative working relationship with clients and works in an integrative way to respond to and hopefully meet their different needs. She aims to do this by getting to know her clients and trying to understand what brings them to therapy, helping them to find their own answers and the best ways forward.
Her first career in tv documentary making taught her the importance of truly listening to personal stories and to appreciate the responsibility of how best to reflect people’s experiences. She believes there are useful parallels in the therapeutic relationship that she now develops with her clients – helping them to appreciate that simply talking things through can help to clarify, begin to heal hurt and raise feelings of self-worth.
Membership:
Registered member of the BACP
Qualifications:
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PG Dip Counselling and Psychotherapy
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PG Cert Interpersonal and Counselling Skills
Work Experience:
Jane has experience of working with a wide range of client issues including anxiety, depression, trauma, bereavement, loss and relationship difficulties. Alongside Jane’s private practice she also works for SRASAC (Sheffield Rape And Sexual Abuse Centre) and has worked as a Helpline Volunteer at SARSVL (Support After Rape And Sexual Violence Leeds). She has previously volunteered at BBS (Bradford Bereavement Support) and at Frontline 19 (a free and confidential service for NHS & frontline staff started during Covid 19).
Rate:
Individual: £60.00.
Couple: £70.00.
Concessionary student rate available.
Free initial telephone conversation offered.
Emma Hetherington | Adults · Counselling | From £60
Emma is a fully qualified and registered psychotherapist, and her practice encompasses a relationally integrative approach. Emma understands that coming to therapy isn’t always an easy step, it can often feel daunting opening up to someone you don’t know. One of her main aims in therapy is to build up a trusting, supportive, and compassionate therapeutic relationship with you. Emma finds it important to spend a bit of time getting to know each other at the beginning to help support you in feeling comfortable in the space before getting started.
Emma works in a collaborative and integrative way – which means she can incorporate aspects from different theoretical approaches into the work, to help figure out what works best for you depending on your preferences, your needs, and her training experience. Emma’s practice is built from a person-centred theoretical foundation – which means that your individuality is at the heart of the work together.
Fundamentally, Emma believes that you are the expert in your own life. She will always encourage you to voice your own perspective on your experiences, get to know how you really feel about a situation, empowering you to develop the skills that contribute towards growth, healing and change, and to support you in finding your way through to becoming more content with the relationship you have with yourself and others. Always going at a pace that is comfortable for you.
Experience
Emma has experience working in a variety of different settings, working with people experiencing an array of issues including anxiety, depression, low mood, low self-esteem, stress, anger management issues, relationship issues, and bereavement. Alongside working in private practice, EAP, and low-cost community services, Emma has had experience working as a helpline volunteer and counsellor at Cruse Bereavement Care and Bradford Bereavement Support, as well as volunteering at a busy homeless shelter in her local area.
Memberships
BACP Registered member
Qualifications
BSc (Hons) Psychology with Forensic Psychology
PG Cert Interpersonal and Counselling Skills
PG Dip Counselling and Psychotherapy
Therapy offered
Individual
In person
Online
Rate
£60 per session
Joanne Austin | Adults, children & couples | From £60
Jo is a BACP registered and accredited counsellor and psychotherapist. She works with Adults, Families, Children and Couples over a number of years and has a wide range of experience. She also specialises in working with people living with Dementia and their Carers.
Jo has been a therapeutic counsellor for a number of years, counselling people from all walks of life. She initially started out at a charity in the centre of Leeds that was set up to help people suffering from drug and alcohol abuse.
Jo enabled the service to grow which lead to other vulnerable groups obtaining counselling. Seeing the service continuing to grow Jo decided to look at where issues generally start… in our childhood. This led her to complete a Diploma in Counselling Children and Adolescents. To further her experience of working with young people she works for 2 children’s charities based in West Yorkshire and Kirklees.
Jo’s experience and training has equipped her to work with individuals, children, adolescents, couples and families; to help them to overcome a range of psychological and emotional issues which may be at the root of their distress.
Jo is able to support you to address difficult feelings and behaviours; working closely alongside you, enabling you to understand your inner conflicts and improve ways in which you relate to others. She can help you to identify new strategies to address your difficulties. You will be treated with respect and given the freedom to fully explore and express your feelings without the fear of being judged.
Counselling can be a unique experience, allowing you to feel truly listened to and understood, and also allowing you to get to know the “real you”. This can provide you with a chance to try out a new way of being; safe in the knowledge that you will receive the empathy and support you may require to help you through a difficult period in life.
Membership:
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Accredited member of the BACP
Qualifications:
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Diploma in Counselling & Psychotherapy Diploma in working with Children and Adolescents.
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Certificate in working with Couples.
Work Experience:
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Set up and ran the Counselling Service known as “The Living Project” working with people living with Dementia and their carers. This project was supported and evaluated by Leeds Becketts University and the findings published in “The Cambridge University Press” and ” Ageing & Society”magazines.
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Cruse Bereavement Care Volunteer
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Escayp Childrens Charity Counsellor
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Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Counsellor
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Counsellor and Supervisor network for Leeds Becketts University
Rate:
£60 – Individuals
£75 – Couples
£75 – Families
Shez Hashmi | Adults & young people · CBT & attachment | From £65
Shez is a BACP registered, Integrative Counsellor and Psychotherapist. She is trained to work with adults and young people. Her approach to counselling is ‘integrative’. This means that she uses and combines cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), attachment theory and person-centred theory in counselling sessions.
Shez has worked with clients presenting with the following difficulties:
- Low self-esteem, self-worth and self-confidence
- Attachment difficulties (stemming from childhood)
- Attachment style and the impact of this on relationships, family and friendships
- Family or romantic relationship difficulties
- Anxiety
- Low mood, depression, low motivation and drive
- Self-harm
- Grief and bereavement
- Culture-specific issues
- Identifying traits of Autism and ADHD
- Guidance around neurodiversity and how to refer for assessment
- With South Asian clients who experience difficulties with identity, religion, family and culture (e.g., exploring how these issues impact mental health, lifestyle and choices).
Work Experience:
- Local counselling services
- On a counselling helpline
- Women’s well-being centre
- Primary schools, high schools, sixth form and college as a school therapist
- Face-to-face with clients in private practice
- Online with clients in private practice
Membership:
Registered Member of British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
Qualifications:
-
MSc Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy
-
PG Diploma Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy
-
PG Certificate Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy
- BSc Psychology
Rate:
£65 – first appointment/assessment session, in-person at Evolve Therapy Centre.
Further in-person sessions are booked in blocks:
4 sessions: £240 (£60 per counselling session)
4 sessions for students: £200 (£50 per counselling session)
Counsellors | Couples Counselling
-
Jane Hickson | Adults & couples · Integrative counselling | From £60
-
Heather Pearce : £55 Individuals / £65 Couples
-
Joanne Austin | Adults, children & couples | From £60
Jane Hickson | Adults & couples · Integrative counselling | From £60
Counsellor and Psychotherapist
Jane believes the foundation of successful therapy is to build a supportive, compassionate and collaborative working relationship with clients and works in an integrative way to respond to and hopefully meet their different needs. She aims to do this by getting to know her clients and trying to understand what brings them to therapy, helping them to find their own answers and the best ways forward.
Her first career in tv documentary making taught her the importance of truly listening to personal stories and to appreciate the responsibility of how best to reflect people’s experiences. She believes there are useful parallels in the therapeutic relationship that she now develops with her clients – helping them to appreciate that simply talking things through can help to clarify, begin to heal hurt and raise feelings of self-worth.
Membership:
Registered member of the BACP
Qualifications:
-
PG Dip Counselling and Psychotherapy
-
PG Cert Interpersonal and Counselling Skills
Work Experience:
Jane has experience of working with a wide range of client issues including anxiety, depression, trauma, bereavement, loss and relationship difficulties. Alongside Jane’s private practice she also works for SRASAC (Sheffield Rape And Sexual Abuse Centre) and has worked as a Helpline Volunteer at SARSVL (Support After Rape And Sexual Violence Leeds). She has previously volunteered at BBS (Bradford Bereavement Support) and at Frontline 19 (a free and confidential service for NHS & frontline staff started during Covid 19).
Rate:
Individual: £60.00.
Couple: £70.00.
Concessionary student rate available.
Free initial telephone conversation offered.
Heather Pearce : £55 Individuals / £65 Couples
Counsellor & Supervisor
Counselling:
Heather is a qualified and experienced Counsellor, Couples Counsellor and Clinical Supervisor with over 14 years’ experience of supporting children, young people and adults.
Heather offers a friendly, confidential counselling service using a client centred approach. With experience of working with a wide range of issues, she integrates her knowledge and skills to ensure the best results for her clients. Heather offers short, medium, and long-term counselling work, based on individual needs, allowing clients the space to feel heard, and explore issues at their own pace, in a safe, non-judgemental and professional environment.
Heather works in partnership with her clients to help them build trust, self-awareness, understanding and acceptance. As well as working in Private Practice, she has over 13 years of experience of working in both organisational and school settings, with a sound understanding of professional boundaries.
Taking the first step to reach out for help can be daunting. Working with you therapeutically, Heather can help you gain a deeper understanding of your thoughts and feelings and work with you to make positive changes.
Membership:
-
Registered member of the BACP
Qualifications:
-
Diploma in Counselling Diploma in working with Children and Adolescents
-
Diploma in the Practice of Supervision Certificate in Couples Work ASSIST- Applied Suicide Interventions Skills Training UKATA Introductory Transaction Analysis 101
-
Diploma in Child Behaviour Diploma in Depression Management Safeguarding Children: Level 1 – Level 4
Work Experience:
In addition to working in Private Practice Heather also works for Escayp (Emotional Support for Children and Young People), as Sessional Counsellor and Service Manager.
Prior to Counselling, Heather’s work experience was in the Retail Sector and Retail Management for over 17 years. Heather has a sound understanding of Corporate settings and the pressures involved in working in these environments.
Rate:
Joanne Austin | Adults, children & couples | From £60
Psychotherapist & Accredited Counsellor
Jo is a BACP registered and accredited counsellor and psychotherapist. She works with Adults, Families, Children and Couples over a number of years and has a wide range of experience. She also specialises in working with people living with Dementia and their Carers.
Jo has been a therapeutic counsellor for a number of years, counselling people from all walks of life. She initially started out at a charity in the centre of Leeds that was set up to help people suffering from drug and alcohol abuse.
Jo enabled the service to grow which lead to other vulnerable groups obtaining counselling. Seeing the service continuing to grow Jo decided to look at where issues generally start… in our childhood. This led her to complete a Diploma in Counselling Children and Adolescents. To further her experience of working with young people she works for 2 children’s charities based in West Yorkshire and Kirklees.
Jo’s experience and training has equipped her to work with individuals, children, adolescents, couples and families; to help them to overcome a range of psychological and emotional issues which may be at the root of their distress.
Jo is able to support you to address difficult feelings and behaviours; working closely alongside you, enabling you to understand your inner conflicts and improve ways in which you relate to others. She can help you to identify new strategies to address your difficulties. You will be treated with respect and given the freedom to fully explore and express your feelings without the fear of being judged.
Counselling can be a unique experience, allowing you to feel truly listened to and understood, and also allowing you to get to know the “real you”. This can provide you with a chance to try out a new way of being; safe in the knowledge that you will receive the empathy and support you may require to help you through a difficult period in life.
Membership:
-
Accredited member of the BACP
Qualifications:
-
Diploma in Counselling & Psychotherapy Diploma in working with Children and Adolescents.
-
Certificate in working with Couples.
Work Experience:
-
Set up and ran the Counselling Service known as “The Living Project” working with people living with Dementia and their carers. This project was supported and evaluated by Leeds Becketts University and the findings published in “The Cambridge University Press” and ” Ageing & Society”magazines.
-
Cruse Bereavement Care Volunteer
-
Escayp Childrens Charity Counsellor
-
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Counsellor
-
Counsellor and Supervisor network for Leeds Becketts University
Rate:
£60 – Individuals
£75 – Couples
£75 – Families
Counsellors | Young People Counselling
-
Joanne Austin | Adults, children & couples | From £60
-
Shez Hashmi | Adults & young people · CBT & attachment | From £65
-
Ian Swanston | Adults & young people · EMDR | From £55
-
Nicola Heptinstall | Adults, children & supervision | From £60
-
Heather Pearce : £55 Individuals / £65 Couples
Joanne Austin | Adults, children & couples | From £60
Psychotherapist & Accredited Counsellor
Jo is a BACP registered and accredited counsellor and psychotherapist. She works with Adults, Families, Children and Couples over a number of years and has a wide range of experience. She also specialises in working with people living with Dementia and their Carers.
Jo has been a therapeutic counsellor for a number of years, counselling people from all walks of life. She initially started out at a charity in the centre of Leeds that was set up to help people suffering from drug and alcohol abuse.
Jo enabled the service to grow which lead to other vulnerable groups obtaining counselling. Seeing the service continuing to grow Jo decided to look at where issues generally start… in our childhood. This led her to complete a Diploma in Counselling Children and Adolescents. To further her experience of working with young people she works for 2 children’s charities based in West Yorkshire and Kirklees.
Jo’s experience and training has equipped her to work with individuals, children, adolescents, couples and families; to help them to overcome a range of psychological and emotional issues which may be at the root of their distress.
Jo is able to support you to address difficult feelings and behaviours; working closely alongside you, enabling you to understand your inner conflicts and improve ways in which you relate to others. She can help you to identify new strategies to address your difficulties. You will be treated with respect and given the freedom to fully explore and express your feelings without the fear of being judged.
Counselling can be a unique experience, allowing you to feel truly listened to and understood, and also allowing you to get to know the “real you”. This can provide you with a chance to try out a new way of being; safe in the knowledge that you will receive the empathy and support you may require to help you through a difficult period in life.
Membership:
-
Accredited member of the BACP
Qualifications:
-
Diploma in Counselling & Psychotherapy Diploma in working with Children and Adolescents.
-
Certificate in working with Couples.
Work Experience:
-
Set up and ran the Counselling Service known as “The Living Project” working with people living with Dementia and their carers. This project was supported and evaluated by Leeds Becketts University and the findings published in “The Cambridge University Press” and ” Ageing & Society”magazines.
-
Cruse Bereavement Care Volunteer
-
Escayp Childrens Charity Counsellor
-
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Counsellor
-
Counsellor and Supervisor network for Leeds Becketts University
Rate:
£60 – Individuals
£75 – Couples
£75 – Families
Shez Hashmi | Adults & young people · CBT & attachment | From £65
Counsellor & Psychotherapist
Shez is a BACP registered, Integrative Counsellor and Psychotherapist. She is trained to work with adults and young people. Her approach to counselling is ‘integrative’. This means that she uses and combines cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), attachment theory and person-centred theory in counselling sessions.
Shez has worked with clients presenting with the following difficulties:
- Low self-esteem, self-worth and self-confidence
- Attachment difficulties (stemming from childhood)
- Attachment style and the impact of this on relationships, family and friendships
- Family or romantic relationship difficulties
- Anxiety
- Low mood, depression, low motivation and drive
- Self-harm
- Grief and bereavement
- Culture-specific issues
- Identifying traits of Autism and ADHD
- Guidance around neurodiversity and how to refer for assessment
- With South Asian clients who experience difficulties with identity, religion, family and culture (e.g., exploring how these issues impact mental health, lifestyle and choices).
Work Experience:
- Local counselling services
- On a counselling helpline
- Women’s well-being centre
- Primary schools, high schools, sixth form and college as a school therapist
- Face-to-face with clients in private practice
- Online with clients in private practice
Membership:
Registered Member of British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
Qualifications:
-
MSc Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy
-
PG Diploma Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy
-
PG Certificate Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy
- BSc Psychology
Rate:
£65 – first appointment/assessment session, in-person at Evolve Therapy Centre.
Further in-person sessions are booked in blocks:
4 sessions: £240 (£60 per counselling session)
4 sessions for students: £200 (£50 per counselling session)
Ian Swanston | Adults & young people · EMDR | From £55
Ian is a BACP Accredited registered counsellor.
Ian has been a counsellor since 2010 and started his counselling with the Manchester based charity Mothers Against Violence (MAV UK). He is trained as a Parenting Practitioner, Multi-systemic Therapist and in Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR).
Ian works for the NHS as well as for MAV UK. Ian has previously worked in 2 North West HM Prison settings with offenders, providing space for them to address the impact of criminal behaviours on themselves and their communities.
Ian’s work at Evolve Counselling is commissioned by MAV UK a charity established to address issues related to gun and knife crime. All payments for
his services will go to the charity. MAV UK is extending their ACCESS community-based service to Leeds. The service will allow priority therapeutic support to parents and young people.
Membership:
Registered member of the BACP
Qualifications:
BSc (Hons) Professional Counselling
Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
Certificate in EMDR
Certificate in Evidenced Based Parenting Support (Triple P)
Work Experience
NHS Community & Prison Service
Mothers Against Violence Counselling Services
Wigan Council Early Intervention Team & Parenting Support Services.
Ian has a vast amount of experience working with parents, those with past painful memories or trauma. Ian’s EMDR therapy work is embedded in his model of person-centred therapy. Ian is a Manchester based therapist; his face-to-face sessions are at times limited. He currently offers face to face work in Leeds on a Tuesday and Friday, when space is available.
Price per session: £55
Nicola Heptinstall | Adults, children & supervision | From £60
Psychotherapist & Counsellor
Nicola will provide you with a safe, accepting, and supportive relationship from which to explore the difficulties you may be experiencing. Her own values of honesty, respect, and optimism lie at the heart of her counselling style. By drawing on a range of approaches she is able to offer you counselling that fits your needs, after all, we are all unique and individual, with our own experiences of life, so why should one approach fit everyone?
Feeling heard, understood, and not judged can help you to explore your feelings more fully and more openly, allowing you the opportunity to look at the various areas of your life, your relationships, and yourself that you may not have been able to consider or face before. It is from here that changes can take place and new choices can be considered. Nicola has worked with many issues including relationship difficulties, anxiety, depression, childhood abuse and trauma, family breakdowns, eating disorders, compulsive behaviour, self-esteem, suicide, self-harm, domestic abuse, and bereavement.
Rate: £60
Membership:
-
Accredited member of the BACP
Qualifications:
-
PGDip Counselling & Psychotherapy
Work Experience:
-
Samaritans Volunteer counsellor in a women’s centre School based counsellor working alongside children aged between 5yrs-17yrs
Prior to becoming a counsellor Nicola worked as a Team Manager in a busy corporate environment. It was having her own counselling following a traumatic life event and finding it invaluable that led Nicola to retrain as a counsellor in 2009.
In addition to her private practice Nicola also works for the following organisations:
-
National trainer for Place2Be which is a leading children’s mental health charity
-
Voluntary BACP network meeting facilitator
-
Co founder and director of Evolve Counselling & Therapy centre
Heather Pearce : £55 Individuals / £65 Couples
Counsellor & Supervisor
Counselling:
Heather is a qualified and experienced Counsellor, Couples Counsellor and Clinical Supervisor with over 14 years’ experience of supporting children, young people and adults.
Heather offers a friendly, confidential counselling service using a client centred approach. With experience of working with a wide range of issues, she integrates her knowledge and skills to ensure the best results for her clients. Heather offers short, medium, and long-term counselling work, based on individual needs, allowing clients the space to feel heard, and explore issues at their own pace, in a safe, non-judgemental and professional environment.
Heather works in partnership with her clients to help them build trust, self-awareness, understanding and acceptance. As well as working in Private Practice, she has over 13 years of experience of working in both organisational and school settings, with a sound understanding of professional boundaries.
Taking the first step to reach out for help can be daunting. Working with you therapeutically, Heather can help you gain a deeper understanding of your thoughts and feelings and work with you to make positive changes.
Membership:
-
Registered member of the BACP
Qualifications:
-
Diploma in Counselling Diploma in working with Children and Adolescents
-
Diploma in the Practice of Supervision Certificate in Couples Work ASSIST- Applied Suicide Interventions Skills Training UKATA Introductory Transaction Analysis 101
-
Diploma in Child Behaviour Diploma in Depression Management Safeguarding Children: Level 1 – Level 4
Work Experience:
In addition to working in Private Practice Heather also works for Escayp (Emotional Support for Children and Young People), as Sessional Counsellor and Service Manager.
Prior to Counselling, Heather’s work experience was in the Retail Sector and Retail Management for over 17 years. Heather has a sound understanding of Corporate settings and the pressures involved in working in these environments.
Rate:
Counsellors | Children's Counselling
-
Nicola Heptinstall | Adults, children & supervision | From £60
-
Joanne Austin | Adults, children & couples | From £60
-
Heather Pearce : £55 Individuals / £65 Couples
Nicola Heptinstall | Adults, children & supervision | From £60
Psychotherapist & Counsellor
Nicola will provide you with a safe, accepting, and supportive relationship from which to explore the difficulties you may be experiencing. Her own values of honesty, respect, and optimism lie at the heart of her counselling style. By drawing on a range of approaches she is able to offer you counselling that fits your needs, after all, we are all unique and individual, with our own experiences of life, so why should one approach fit everyone?
Feeling heard, understood, and not judged can help you to explore your feelings more fully and more openly, allowing you the opportunity to look at the various areas of your life, your relationships, and yourself that you may not have been able to consider or face before. It is from here that changes can take place and new choices can be considered. Nicola has worked with many issues including relationship difficulties, anxiety, depression, childhood abuse and trauma, family breakdowns, eating disorders, compulsive behaviour, self-esteem, suicide, self-harm, domestic abuse, and bereavement.
Rate: £60
Membership:
-
Accredited member of the BACP
Qualifications:
-
PGDip Counselling & Psychotherapy
Work Experience:
-
Samaritans Volunteer counsellor in a women’s centre School based counsellor working alongside children aged between 5yrs-17yrs
Prior to becoming a counsellor Nicola worked as a Team Manager in a busy corporate environment. It was having her own counselling following a traumatic life event and finding it invaluable that led Nicola to retrain as a counsellor in 2009.
In addition to her private practice Nicola also works for the following organisations:
-
National trainer for Place2Be which is a leading children’s mental health charity
-
Voluntary BACP network meeting facilitator
-
Co founder and director of Evolve Counselling & Therapy centre
Joanne Austin | Adults, children & couples | From £60
Psychotherapist & Accredited Counsellor
Jo is a BACP registered and accredited counsellor and psychotherapist. She works with Adults, Families, Children and Couples over a number of years and has a wide range of experience. She also specialises in working with people living with Dementia and their Carers.
Jo has been a therapeutic counsellor for a number of years, counselling people from all walks of life. She initially started out at a charity in the centre of Leeds that was set up to help people suffering from drug and alcohol abuse.
Jo enabled the service to grow which lead to other vulnerable groups obtaining counselling. Seeing the service continuing to grow Jo decided to look at where issues generally start… in our childhood. This led her to complete a Diploma in Counselling Children and Adolescents. To further her experience of working with young people she works for 2 children’s charities based in West Yorkshire and Kirklees.
Jo’s experience and training has equipped her to work with individuals, children, adolescents, couples and families; to help them to overcome a range of psychological and emotional issues which may be at the root of their distress.
Jo is able to support you to address difficult feelings and behaviours; working closely alongside you, enabling you to understand your inner conflicts and improve ways in which you relate to others. She can help you to identify new strategies to address your difficulties. You will be treated with respect and given the freedom to fully explore and express your feelings without the fear of being judged.
Counselling can be a unique experience, allowing you to feel truly listened to and understood, and also allowing you to get to know the “real you”. This can provide you with a chance to try out a new way of being; safe in the knowledge that you will receive the empathy and support you may require to help you through a difficult period in life.
Membership:
-
Accredited member of the BACP
Qualifications:
-
Diploma in Counselling & Psychotherapy Diploma in working with Children and Adolescents.
-
Certificate in working with Couples.
Work Experience:
-
Set up and ran the Counselling Service known as “The Living Project” working with people living with Dementia and their carers. This project was supported and evaluated by Leeds Becketts University and the findings published in “The Cambridge University Press” and ” Ageing & Society”magazines.
-
Cruse Bereavement Care Volunteer
-
Escayp Childrens Charity Counsellor
-
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Counsellor
-
Counsellor and Supervisor network for Leeds Becketts University
Rate:
£60 – Individuals
£75 – Couples
£75 – Families
Heather Pearce : £55 Individuals / £65 Couples
Counsellor & Supervisor
Counselling:
Heather is a qualified and experienced Counsellor, Couples Counsellor and Clinical Supervisor with over 14 years’ experience of supporting children, young people and adults.
Heather offers a friendly, confidential counselling service using a client centred approach. With experience of working with a wide range of issues, she integrates her knowledge and skills to ensure the best results for her clients. Heather offers short, medium, and long-term counselling work, based on individual needs, allowing clients the space to feel heard, and explore issues at their own pace, in a safe, non-judgemental and professional environment.
Heather works in partnership with her clients to help them build trust, self-awareness, understanding and acceptance. As well as working in Private Practice, she has over 13 years of experience of working in both organisational and school settings, with a sound understanding of professional boundaries.
Taking the first step to reach out for help can be daunting. Working with you therapeutically, Heather can help you gain a deeper understanding of your thoughts and feelings and work with you to make positive changes.
Membership:
-
Registered member of the BACP
Qualifications:
-
Diploma in Counselling Diploma in working with Children and Adolescents
-
Diploma in the Practice of Supervision Certificate in Couples Work ASSIST- Applied Suicide Interventions Skills Training UKATA Introductory Transaction Analysis 101
-
Diploma in Child Behaviour Diploma in Depression Management Safeguarding Children: Level 1 – Level 4
Work Experience:
In addition to working in Private Practice Heather also works for Escayp (Emotional Support for Children and Young People), as Sessional Counsellor and Service Manager.
Prior to Counselling, Heather’s work experience was in the Retail Sector and Retail Management for over 17 years. Heather has a sound understanding of Corporate settings and the pressures involved in working in these environments.
Rate:
Coaches | Therapeutic Coaching
-
Francesca Thirlwell | Adults · Therapy & coaching | From £60
Francesca Thirlwell | Adults · Therapy & coaching | From £60
Francesca Thirlwell is an experienced, registered BACP psychotherapist, senior EMCC accredited coach, and former HR professional. She works with ambitious and forward-thinking adults who are navigating change, feeling stuck, or facing complex life decisions—supporting them to achieve both personal and professional goals.
With extensive experience in therapeutic and coaching settings, Francesca also brings 15 years of HR expertise across a range of public and private sector organisations. This background provides her with a deep understanding of workplace pressures and the challenges individuals face in professional environments.
Alongside her private practice, Francesca has worked in diverse settings with individuals facing a wide range of issues affecting daily life, including low self-esteem, relationship difficulties, anxiety, stress, career transitions, returning to work after extended leave, childhood trauma, and a lack of confidence or direction.
Clients often report increased confidence, improved relationship dynamics, and a deeper understanding of themselves—enabling them to lead with authenticity and approach challenges with clarity and resilience.
Francesca offers a collaborative and empathetic approach, creating a confidential space where clients can safely explore their thoughts and emotions. Her work is tailored to each individual’s needs, fostering greater self-awareness and insight. Sessions are guided by what each person wishes to explore, at a pace that feels right—whether short-term or ongoing.
She is qualified in Integrative Psychotherapy, drawing primarily from relational and person-centred approaches. Francesca provides a compassionate, non-judgmental environment where clients can bring their whole selves. Her work is informed by psychodynamic and attachment theories to deepen understanding of past and present experiences, and she integrates cognitive behavioural techniques and coaching methods where appropriate to support practical change and personal growth.
Qualifications:
- PG Diploma (level 7) in Counselling and Psychotherapy (Leeds University)
- PG Certificate in Interpersonal and Counselling Skills (Leeds Beckett University)
- Introduction to Counselling skills certificate (Leeds Becket University)
- PG Diploma (Level 7) in Coaching (EMCC Accredited)
- PG Diploma (Level 7) in Human Resources (Leeds Beckett University)
- Degree in Psychology and Sociology (University of Liverpool
Initial Consultation
Francesca offers a complimentary 15-minute telephone or video consultation for new clients. This session provides an opportunity to ask questions and explore whether working together feels right.
Session Details
Individual sessions are £60 and last 50 minutes. Appointments are available both online and in person.
Hypnotherapy
-
Dorota Podjaska | Clinical Hypnotherapist | From £100
Dorota Podjaska | Clinical Hypnotherapist | From £100
Adults · Deep change, difficult memories & identity · From £100
You may understand where a pattern comes from and still feel unable to change it. Hypnotherapy works beyond insight alone, with the emotional responses, beliefs and inner experiences that continue to shape how you feel and behave.
Dorota offers clinical hypnotherapy for both deeper therapeutic work and focused concerns, including specific fears, jaw clenching and unwanted habits.
Approach
Dorota’s warm, collaborative and trauma-informed approach brings together:
- Clinical hypnotherapy and subconscious work
- Therapeutic visualisation and imagery rescripting
- Inner-child, reparenting and parts work
- Somatic awareness and nervous-system regulation
- Integrative psychotherapy where appropriate
You remain aware and in control throughout. When working with memories, the aim is not to alter what happened, but to reduce its emotional intensity and develop greater safety in the present.
Specialisms
Dorota works with:
- Difficult or emotionally charged memories
- Childhood experiences and inner-child wounds
- Anxiety, overthinking and emotional overwhelm
- Confidence, self-worth and identity shifts
- Specific fears and phobias
- Jaw clenching and stress-related tension
- Unwanted habits and repetitive patterns
- Feeling stuck or disconnected from yourself
Ways of Working Together
- Focused hypnotherapy: 50- or 75-minute sessions addressing a particular issue or pattern.
- Integrated therapy: hypnotherapy can be incorporated into longer-term psychotherapy and personalised Therapeutic Journeys.
Clients do not need to decide in advance which approach they require. This can be explored during the complimentary Clarity Call.
Work Experience
Dorota brings close to a decade of experience across private practice, community mental health, crisis support, education, residential care and NHS inpatient services. She has supported adults experiencing anxiety, trauma, emotional dysregulation, relationship difficulties and complex mental health needs.
Qualifications
- Diploma in Clinical Hypnotherapy
- Postgraduate Diploma in Integrative Counselling
- Postgraduate Certificate in Psychotherapy and Counselling
- MSc Health Psychology
- BSc (Hons) Psychology
Professional Memberships
– Registered Member of the BACP
– Registered Clinical Hypnotherapist with the General Hypnotherapy Register (GHR)
Appointments and Fees
Dorota offers in-person appointments at Evolve in Leeds on Wednesdays and online appointments on Mondays.
- £100 – 50-minute session
- £140 – 75-minute extended session
- £500 – six 50-minute sessions
- Therapeutic Journeys from £3,000
A complimentary 20-minute Clarity Call is available to explore the most appropriate way of working together.
Monday Appointments are for online sessions only.
Book an Appointment
Get in touch!
You can send us a message using the form below or call us on 0113 467 9673
Therapist Booking Form
Please call us on 0113 467 9673 to make a therapy enquiry or fill out the Therapist booking form below.
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