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Empowering Healing and Recovery

Compassionate support and guidance on trauma healing and addiction recovery.

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Expertise in Difficult Cases

Compassionate support and guidance on your journey through grief

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Unlock the secrets to stronger, more fulfilling relationships with our expert guidance and support

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Empowering Healing and Recovery

Image of a sunrise over Hallstatter lake in Austria - Compassionate Support and guidance

Compassionate Psychotherapy Services

Empowering Your Journey to Fulfillment

At Life in Hand, we offer professional psychotherapy services tailored to address a wide variety of difficulties, providing compassionate support for individuals navigating challenging life experiences. Our dedicated team is committed to guiding you through your unique journey, empowering you to overcome obstacles and lead a fulfilling life. Whether you are dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction, bereavement, relationship issues, or other emotional and psychological challenges, we are here to support you every step of the way.

You at the Heart of Healing

Our person-centred approach ensures that you are at the heart of the therapeutic process, allowing you to explore your thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a safe and non-judgmental environment. We believe in the innate potential for growth within each individual and operate with unconditional positive regard, offering empathy and understanding regardless of the difficulties you may be facing.

Competent To Work with Children & Teenagers

As part of my DBS Qualification, I am able to provide assistance to work with Children and Teenagers providing compassionate support to meet their needs and requirements.

Psychotherapy and Counselling Approaches

"Through our face-to-face and online psychotherapy services, we aim to make professional support accessible and convenient, allowing you to engage in therapy from the comfort of your own space. Contact us today to begin your journey towards healing and personal growth – at Life in Hand, we are dedicated to helping you navigate life's challenges with resilience and optimism. Give us a message to get yourself started!"

Anxiety

Depression

Alcohol, drug and Sex addiction

Co-dependancy

Domestic Violence

And more

Psychotherapy and Counselling Approaches

Person-Centred Therapy

At Life in Hand, we believe in the power of empathy and unconditional positive regard. Our Person-Centred Therapy is designed to create a supportive and non-judgemental environment where you can explore your thoughts and feelings at your own pace. We focus on your unique perspective and innate ability to achieve personal growth and self-understanding. With the guidance of our compassionate therapists, you'll find a safe space to express yourself freely, leading to greater self-awareness and a more fulfilling life.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Life in Hand offers Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help you understand the connection between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. CBT is a practical, goal-oriented approach that empowers you to challenge and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviours. Our skilled therapists work with you to develop coping strategies and problem-solving skills, enabling you to manage stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges. Through CBT, you'll gain valuable tools to improve your mental well-being and achieve a balanced, healthy life.

Psychodynamic Therapy

At Life in Hand, we provide Psychodynamic Therapy to help you uncover and address unconscious patterns and past experiences that influence your current behaviour and emotions. This insight-oriented approach delves into your personal history, exploring unresolved conflicts and deep-seated issues. Our experienced therapists guide you on a journey of self-discovery, fostering a deeper understanding of yourself and your relationships. By bringing these underlying issues to light, Psychodynamic Therapy can lead to profound personal growth and lasting emotional healing.

Hypnotherapy

Life in Hand offers Hypnotherapy as a powerful tool to access the subconscious mind and facilitate positive change. Through a state of deep relaxation and focused attention, our certified hypnotherapists help you tap into your inner resources and overcome a range of issues, from stress and anxiety to habits and phobias. Hypnotherapy is a safe and effective way to reframe negative thought patterns, boost confidence, and enhance your overall well-being. Discover the transformative potential of your mind with Life in Hand's Hypnotherapy services.

Empower Your Journey

Meet the Team

Shelley Purchase

I am a qualified pluralistic/integrative psychotherapist/counsellor. This simply means that I can support clients using a number of modalities such as person-centred approach, psychodynamic and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).

I have always been motivated to understand and support people and the seed that was sown into my personal journey into joining the profession of counselling started with my own personal experience many years ago. Very often the first obstacle to growth and a happier more fulfilling life is recognising you may have a problem and are not coping with everyday life. That was certainly my experience when facing up to my trauma and addiction. Today, I am 20 years sober. There are very few of life’s difficulties and challenges that I have not personally experienced, and I believe this places me in a unique position together with my training, compassion, empathy and desire to support and facilitate clients in their journey to a happier life.

I currently hold a Professional Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling Practice. I am an accredited member of the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS) membership number NCS21-02328 and a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) membership number 01016765.

Previously, my career background has been in Senior Human Resources Management with a strong focus on the health and wellbeing of people. I have been fortunate to have worked in many varying sectors from private, non-for-profit, local authority and most recently education. Despite these different sectors what I have found is people are primarily the same wherever you go and need the same level of support, understanding and empathy to navigate through life.

I also have a BSc (Hons) in Politics & Psychology, (LLM) Masters International Law and Relations as well as Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) Teaching in the Lifelong Learning sector.

Oliver Purchase

I am qualified Hypnotherapist and currently training in Psychotherapy, with a focus in developmental trauma and addiction.

My journey into therapy began from life changing experiences in 2013 and 2020. Our earliest experiences in childhood shape our understanding and processes in the world. If early development is disrupted this can have a profound affect on how we perceive our environment and the world we live in.

It is my belief that all addiction is a manifestation of unresolved trauma. Addiction is not always a conscious choice but rather a maladaptive survival/coping response to the internalised pain and suffering that we endure.

My interests in therapy modalities include internal family systems, somatic experiencing and I have a passion for neuroscience and brain development.

I currently hold a Prince’s Trust Level 3 Professional Diploma in Hypnotherapy and Introduction to Counselling Skills and Level 4 Professional Diploma in Counselling Skills and Theory. I am accredited to the National Hypnotherapy Society accredited membership no. HYP22-00439.

Why Choose Us?

Relatable Life Experience

Nurturing Parental Journey

All-Inclusive Client Support

Unwavering Positive Approach