ABOUT
ME
About Me
My name is Lisa Finch and I am a BACP Accredited Counsellor and Psychotherapist. I am also a Level 6 qualified Supervisor. My approach is Integrative Humanistic. This means I work with mind, body, heart and soul - The whole person.
I draw on many theoretical backgrounds to underpin my work in both short-term and long-term therapy. These include Person-Centred, Transactional Analysis, Psychodynamic, Systemic Family Therapy and Gestalt approaches, which I closely link with Attachment Theory and neurobiological trauma responses. I am also informed by Internal Family Systems (IFS) and neurodiversity perspectives.
I use CBT: (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), Motivational Interviewing, NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) to address pattern behaviours.
I draw on Poly-Vagal Theory, IFS and AIT (Advanced Integrative Therapy- which works on the whole body's energetic field.) to treat and heal trauma, relieving traumatic symptoms and associations, both conscious, unconscious or dissociated.
I also integrate other schools such as mindfulness, meditation, Reiki, as well as work with your belief system, whether spiritual or otherwise.
I believe that we all we can find ways to make life better, even if our circumstances are very difficult.
In a nutshell, each person is unique and the counselling relationship is organic, so I work with adaptability, utilising the different approaches that best suit your personality, with compassionate, down to earth understanding of human nature. I aim to create a comfortable, private, safe space for you, so that you can offload, process unresolved issues, come to accept the things you can not change and find new energy and a freshfocus to change the things you can, and to feel good about it.
​Call today on 07760 539340 or contact me by email to find out more or book an appointment.
My personal journey into my professional development​
I am in my 50s and a mother of two adult daughters. When they were very young I accessed a course that helped me to develop positive parenting skills. This helped me tremendously, on so many levels. As parents we can choose to bring up our children differently to how we ourselves, were parented - Seems obvious, but actually, it is surprising how we can just follow suit, if we do not think about it enough. This doesn't mean we have to necessarily be extremely different, but adaptive to our personal value systems and the times we live in.
I also became very aware and appreciative of my environment at this time, and the needs of the planet, but it seemed, not enough people cared. There didn’t seem to be enough care about trees, our water supply, the impact that mass industry has on our natural resources. In fact, I realised, we hardly cared for ourselves, or each other. In the self help books I was reading then, I learnt that that first you must find self-love – a concept that is still difficult for most of us to comprehend to this day. This is how and why I decided to enter the ‘caring industry’ and started my counselling training in 1999. I qualified with a CPCAB European Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling in 2002 at Redlands, Bournemouth, Dorset.
Counselling
In 2001 I started a volunteer course for HomestartUK and for two years, I supported families in crisis, with at least one child under five years old. I also worked in a rest home at this time, and developed some rewarding relationships with the elderly residents. To this day, I often think of these people, their life stories they shared, the values that they had come to realise with their life experience, and their views on immortality.
Whilst I was at my final counselling placement, I became acutely aware that drugs and alcohol could affect a person’s ability to heal through therapy, so I trained at EDAS – Essential Drug Advisory Services, which was a dynamic organisation of its time, supporting adults, young people and families, across Poole, Bournemouth and Dorset. I also volunteered for them as an adult service-user advisor.
In 2003 I was invited by the Chief Executive, to start employment in their young people’s service division, as an Outreach Worker. I provided education in the youth clubs and schools, as well as providing one to one counselling. Many of the young people had complex needs; their issues sometimes included self-harm, peer pressure, bereavement, anxiety, depression and other mental health issues, anger problems, and family difficulties. Poor school attendance, employment and housing problems were also common issues.
My roles varied with in the organisation I had the opportunity to set up projects such as an after-care programme, and a parent support service.
I have seen many different kinds of people through my one to one work; age range being from 12 years up, my eldest client being 83
(Eldest resident at the rest home was 100!). Everybody’s life is unique but it seems each of us reach points during our time where it becomes overwhelming, and to talk to someone, safely and privately, outside of our close ones, can really help to clear the mind, release painful feelings, come to terms with our losses; find strategies that help us deal with difficult circumstances or relationships and move through to a freshfocus with more positivity, resilience and confidence. I love this work; it feels an honour to see people grow stronger and happier. See more below - 20 years in
Family Support and Couple Work
To under pin my work with parents & carers, I achieved my Accredited AFT Foundation Certificate in Family Therapy and Systemic Practise in 2009. I then established and piloted my second family support service. My role was to work for the family unit, maybe with one parent or grandparent but would frequently involved mediation if both parents/carers attended, and often included the siblings.
Significant changes to styles of communication within the family can strengthen the executive decision makers’ position (carer(s) in charge) and their delegation of responsibility, which in turn will help their children to become independent adults It can enable safer boundary implementation for the young person(s), helping to reduce the risk of volatile conflict, as well as giving them space to grow and develop their self-orientation, which will support them in their life choices as they become more autonomous. Transitions of the life stages for each family member can often be difficult, as adjustments of expectations in roles change, our sense of identity can be questioned.
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Amongst other relationship training, I have undertaken an accredited course in Couple Counselling with the National Counselling Training Institute. For over 10 years, I have been working with couples on their personal relationship, helping them to navigate issues of importance, vulnerability or intimacy. The personal relationship of the couple can often get neglected as children, work and money, or health, whether physical or mental (including past trauma) has taken precedence, either explicitly or implicitly, and negative coping strategies develop, sometimes leading to breaches of trust. Being able to communicate effectively and negotiate boundaries and significant decisions, without defensive patterns being activated, is so important, ​if we wish to have a healthy fulfilling, yet safe relationship.
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I feel passionate about family life because no matter how a family is made up, the way we treat each other will shape our lives, impact on how we relate to other people and the kind of personal relationships we have, and ultimately, how we feel about ourselves.
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Supervision
As I have trained and worked in the caring profession I have experienced many supervisors and styles of supervision, good and bad. Right from the beginning I realised just how important supervision is, checking my input with my clients; developing my personal awareness and internal observer. Even more importantly, experience has taught me that the supervisory relationship itself can be a catalysis for open and honest reflection and is paramount to professional practice and level of capacity to be there for the clients. This led me to qualify as a Humanistic Counselling Supervisor, with a CPCAB Level 6 Therapeutic Supervision qualification 2012 and have provided over 500hrs of supervision and supervision of supervision - working with managers, counselling supervisors, and trainee counsellors and supervisors, as well as teachers and alternative therapists.
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Private Practice
In 2010 I decided to offer private counselling support and have invested in freshfocus, a service created with you and me in mind. I aim to respond to clients as quickly as possible, not keeping you waiting or being restricted by time limited therapy - If I do not have space I will recommend other counsellors, that I trust.
My aim is to be there for clients who wish to find and sustain a way of living that enables them – you – to take care of the matters that are important and to discover ways that can help you to maintain healthy positive energy and mental wellbeing.
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Generally, I aim to work with clients and the issues they bring, help them find light in their lives, where at times it can be very dark and support them to develop a safe-care routine and a sustainable and healthy relationship with themselves and others.
20 Years in...
As from April 2016 I am (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy) BACP Accredited in Psychotherapy & Counselling – that means I have the rubber stamp approval from the British Association of Psychotherapy and Counselling and deemed to meet 'the quality standard for a competent experienced practitioner and professional recognition of the quality of your practice.'
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In 2018, I professionally qualified as a BACP Level 5 Counsellor for Young People. This qualification underpins my extensive experience for young people counselling and the supervision I provide to other young people counsellors.
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In 2022 I undertook a Level 2 in Understand Autism. I feel it is important to develop an understanding in neurodiversity, and the impact this can have on the person's life path and their relationships.
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I undertake continuous profession development training in trauma, abuse and attachment, and continue to develop my understanding and capacity in working with ADHD, Autism, PTSD, dissociative survivors, and those who have attachment disorders (BPD and EUPD) - often suffering with disabilities, depression and anxiety. I am also increasingly integrating the approach of Internal Family Systems, which works with all parts of a person's, with the aim to bring a sense of inner peace and wholeness, to the individual, as well as couples and their families.
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In 2025, I am expanding my practice to include Group Support Therapy and short courses. As our society continues to change, many of us are experiencing increasing isolation, and financial pressure can make it even harder to find meaningful connection and community. Having personally benefitted from being a part of a support group , I have experienced how powerful it can be. When we come together in a safe space, the collective experience becomes deeply enriching. As Aristotle first phrased, the sum is greater than it's parts. it's an opportunity to grow into our best selves - supported by acceptance, respectful feedback, and shared understanding.
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I am based in Winton, Bournemouth, working face to face and online (for individual counselling). My services can be assessed through a direct self-referral or BUPA.
I still love my work and I look forward to meeting you!