Lee Payton Counselling and Psychotherapy
About Me
Hello, I'm Lee Payton and thank you for visiting my website. I work with a range of different clients from those aged 18 to older-age adult in Berkhamsted and online. I have a special interest in anxiety and related issues, such as panic attacks and stress, but work with numerous issues including depression/low mood, bereavement, low self-confidence/self-esteem, personal relationship issues, anger, difficulty coping with change (job/relationship/relocation), self-harm and trauma, to name only a few.
All of my training in therapeutic counselling is aimed to help you understand what is taking place when experiencing strong feelings and emotions. We then work together by talking, to look at the future you would like, without fear or sadness, anxiety or stress.
I am an Accredited Member of The British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP), a Graduate Member of The British Psychological Society (BPS), A member of The Complex Trauma Institute (CTI) and (as a Mindfulness Meditation teacher), a member of The World Association for Mindfulness-Based Approaches (WAMBA).
I hold a First-Class Honours Degree (with distinction) in Psychology with Counselling, qualifications in Person-Centred Therapeutic Counselling and Psychodynamic Counselling, plus diplomas in various useful areas including Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), traditional and Cognitive Hypnotherapy, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). As well as being a qualified Counsellor, I was also a Counselling Psychologist in PhD training. I began my career in the creative world after gaining a postgraduate advanced diploma from The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, working in writing, theatre, film, television and radio.
In addition to carrying out assessments at a local hospice, I was a member of the Hospice Counselling Team. I have worked with children and young people at a Hertfordshire school counselling service, many of who were awaiting appointments for Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). I have worked for charities in mental health capacities, have been NHS affiliated, and also worked in a prison counselling service.
Counselling Services
Anxiety & stress
Counselling for anxiety can be beneficial in:
- Helping you think less stressfully, more clearly, and make better decisions.
- Letting you understand the messages the brain sends during anxiety, and learn the tools needed to counter them.
- Assisting you in tackling day to day challenges, such as worrying unnecessarily.
- Empowering you to regain wellbeing and balance in your life, without stress and anxiety.
- Developing a greater connection to yourself and others.
- Inviting you to develop tools and mechanisms to prevent further anxiety, such as boundaries, meditation, interventions and goals.
Depression & Low Mood
Counselling for depression and low mood can be great for:
- Helping you develop a different perspective on problems and issues.
- Supporting you in tackling day to day problems, and help to stop procrastination.
- Inviting you to regain wellbeing and balance in your life.
- Developing a greater connection to yourself and others.
- Empowering you to figure out what’s important for you, your wellness, your future and goals.
- Developing your thinking more clearly, thereby making better decisions.
- Establishing boundaries for better communication.
Young Adults
Counselling for young adults can be crucial in:
- Helping you become more motivated, confident and assertive.
- Empowering you in understanding the mechanisms of anxiety, thereby managing anxiety more effectively.
- Supporting you in realising that being individual and unique is a key to authenticity.
- Developing stronger communication skills, and boundaries, leading to greater understanding, empathy, and direction in life.
- Challenging (respectfully!) previously held limiting beliefs
- Inviting a state of balance and congruence, without upset, outbursts, anger or anxiety.
Identity Issues
Counselling for identity issues can importantly help in:
- Supporting you in regaining wellbeing and balance in your life.
- Helping you to think more clearly, and to make better life decisions.
- Assisting you in understanding your own thoughts, feelings and responses better.
- Empowering you in releasing your true potential.
- Encouraging you in increasing intimacy with loved ones, and friends.
My Approach
Life brings many challenges, and it is understandable that at times we might look for support in facing them. As a counsellor, my role is to provide space and guidance to help you on your journey of self-discovery; to enable you to examine your life and make new, meaningful choices within it.
I offer a chance to reflect on the difficulties or problems you are experiencing in a safe and confidential environment, as someone from outside your day-to-day life. Together we can explore your situation in a way that leads to fresh perspectives- and perhaps a new understanding of yourself. Counselling isn't about giving you solutions or advice, but empowering you to make your own changes. That being said- some tools can be helpful, for example with anxiety, to help the sense of threat dissipate.
I am a person-centred therapist, which means my job is to accompany you on your journey- as a fellow traveller and sometimes guide- towards what the founder of person-centred counselling, Carl Rogers, called 'self-actualisation'. Person-centred work is focussed on empathy, a non-judgemental approach and providing emotional support; everyone has a built-in motivation to reach for their full potential, but sometimes need a bit of support to get there!
I also have training in other therapies mentioned above, so aim to work 'pluralistically' with you- that is, to understand your goals, aims and outcomes and how my training across differing areas can align with them as we set out together on our therapeutic journey.
Clinical Supervision
As a Counselling Supervisor, I am as passionate about supporting you (qualified counsellors and trainees) in your clinical counselling work, continued professional development and future career. My wealth of experience working alongside the NHS, Third Sector, Education and Private Practice aims to support you in being the professional, authentic and original counsellor you aim to be, placing safety and ethics at the heart of your practice. Contact me for a conversation and to discuss fees.
FAQs
Psychotherapy is a wide term which describes talking therapies, including counselling. Counselling often refers to a brief therapy which looks at behaviour patterns. Psychotherapy can often be longer-term, exploring experience, emotional difficulties and problems. I work in each way, so will ensure you receive the most suitable support with whatever your issue.
Talking with someone confidentially, other than a family member or friend, can bring new insights and reflections of your issues. Counselling and psychotherapy offer a regular time for you to explore problems or feelings you are experiencing. A free, no obligation Zoom or phone chat, without any pressure from me, may help you decide.
It depends on each client, and issue. Some clients come longer term, deciding as they go along. Some clients need only a few sessions and arrange a number before starting. I can work long or short-term. Either way, you are the decision-maker, and are not obliged, or are expected to stay. We plan what your expectations and goals might be, in our first session together.
I have worked with many clients, from varying backgrounds and groups. But each is uniquely individual. The best way to answer this is to arrange a free consultation, to chat about what brings you here, and how I can help. You can then be in no doubt.
Many different types of people! As a generalisation, I work with young adults aged 18-years plus, through adulthood to older-age adults and patient/clients at end-of-life, whether from the worlds of sport, art, commerce, music, film, television, finance, education or healthcare- or anywhere else.
Sessions cost £80 per 60-minute session, the usual session rate. Sometimes requests are made for longer sessions, and these are costed pro rata. All sessions and costs are agreed before the first session. I provide invoices and/or receipts on request. I do offer concessions, but currently have no availability. Do, feel free to enquire, I will be happy to talk.
Bank transfer is becoming most common as it’s secure, but I accept cheques and cash, if working face-to-face in my leafy Berkhamsted therapy room.
Clients usually choose to come once a week. Depending on your individual needs, this can be negotiable.
I can be flexible to suit you, availability depending. Call me and we can find something to work around your available weekday hours. I also offer Saturday morning sessions until lunchtime.
My primary aim is to build an environment where you feel safe to discuss whatever you choose, without judgement or pressure. I work face-to-face in my comfortable Berkhamsted therapy room, via the conferencing platform Zoom, or by telephone. I also offer ‘walk and talk’ sessions outdoors, if clients prefer not to work online, or via telephone, although daylight hours are better for this way of working.
I ask for 24-hours-notice if you need to cancel. Otherwise you may be liable for the full session fee. Usually we can try to rearrange at a more suitable time.
Your confidentiality is crucial to me. My privacy policy can be found on this website, which details confidentiality and any limits, including General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) information. Similarly, my terms and conditions are available on this website and/or by request.
