About Nes

Hello, I’m Vanessa, most people call me Nes. My pronouns are she/they.

After a tricky start to life, I spent much of my twenties recovering from cptsd and anxiety. I explored a broad variety of therapies and approaches, some were incredibly effective, others not at all, for me. This is why I often say that everything is probably good for someone, nothing is good for everyone, the key is to experiment to find out what’s right for you, right now. I’ve had first-hand experience of the benefits of an individualised and varied approach.

This lived experience was the drive to train in psychotherapy and pass forward what had helped and supported my recovery and finding my own sense of calm, strength, belonging, self-compassion and joy for life.

More-than-human relationships, moving my body and mindful awareness have been key resources throughout my life. I love walking in the mountains, swimming in seas, lakes, and rivers, dancing, weaving baskets, cycling up hills, hugs with dogs and horses, climbing, laughing with my friends and family, and lounging in a hammock in the woods.

I have had a variety of jobs and enjoyed what is called a ‘portfolio career’, but they have all involved my love for working with people and working towards community, social justice, deep reciprocal relationship with more-than-human, and advocacy for the wellbeing of all.

In my twenties, I worked as a youth worker in North Manchester, set up a community social centre, as well as founding an award-winning community bike project, where I shared bicycle mechanic skills with people from all walks of life and age groups. In my thirties I worked as a primary school teacher, SEND teacher, forest school leader, and mountain leader.

Noticing the common thread in all of this work was being with and supporting people who were having a tricky time, it felt like a natural step for me to train to be a psychotherapist.

Approach

I am a UKCP registered psychotherapist for children and young people and a UKCP registered Psychotherapeutic Counsellor for adults. I have a private practice in Staveley, near Kendal, in the beautiful South Lakes, in Lancaster at the Tara Centre, and I work online.

I have a strong commitment to therapy being an individualised journey with a focus on improving the quality of life of my clients. Safety is a priority for me, and I am guided by the most up-to-date approaches that show that for therapy to be successful the relationship and being in a calm and present state are essential.

My ethics are grounded in social justice and work from an intersectional perspective.

I integrate a range of theories and techniques, including Transactional Analysis, Gestalt, body psychotherapy, sand tray, play, and creativity. I am a certified Somatic Trauma Therapist, and also a qualified yoga teacher, mountain leader and forest school leader.

I've completed a variety of training courses in order to offer diverse interventions for the diverse parts of you, including somatic trauma therapy, mindfulness, sensorimotor art therapy for trauma, movement for trauma coaching, EMDR, eco-psychotherapy, image-work, and a variety of nature-based and nature connection trainings. Many of these are listed below.

I tend to interweave these kinds of creative, embodied, nature-connected, and mindful practices throughout my psychotherapeutic offering depending on each individual’s needs and preferences, as described in my principles section.

Sessions can take place indoors or outdoors, or a mixture of both. Sometimes outdoor sessions are slow or static, sometimes moving, sometimes in woodlands and sometimes in the fells depending on individual preference and availability.

Experience

I have experience of working in schools, CAMHS, GP practices, sexual and domestic abuse charities and private practice. I have experience of working with people of all ages who have experienced relational trauma, including physical, emotional and sexual abuse; PTSD; experiencing overwhelming emotions, such as panic or mood-swings; anxiety; low-mood; depression; grief; eco-anxiety and those wishing to explore their feelings and experience following a diagnosis such as ADD or ADHD.

I am a member of the Climate Psychology Alliance, “exploring psychological responses to the climate crisis to strengthen relationships and resilience for a just future”. With lived experience of activism, I offer a compassionate and understanding approach to working with activists.

I co-authored the 8 Keys to Safe Trauma Recovery Workbook with international trauma specialist, Babette Rothschild, who I also assist with her trainings.

I also offer workshops and trainings for other helping professionals, including counsellors and psychotherapists on self-care and trauma-informed practice.

I am a qualified and experienced mountain leader (member of the Mountain Training Association), and forest school leader, these skills can be useful for outdoor and walk-and-talk sessions, particularly for those people who find it more calming and therapeutic to be in a more-than-human setting.

I am also a qualified yoga teacher, trained in yoga therapy and yogic mindfulness.

I have a current DBS, Indemnity Insurance, ICO Data Control registration, trained in GDPR, and have a current outdoor and paediatric first aid certificate.