Lisa Walters - Profile

I am offering face-to-face therapy sessions.

I’m a Chartered Counselling Psychologist with over 10 years experience and have worked in the field of mental health (in various professional roles), for almost 20 years.  I have extensive experience of working with diverse clients and differing concerns.  I offer both short and long-term face-to-face therapy for adults (18 and over).

Not everyone will need or seek professional help when they experience a challenging life event; or complicated, distressing thoughts and feelings, especially if they have a strong support system of friends and family.

But what happens when you feel like life is becoming unmanageable?  Or despite having a support network, you find it difficult to share your concerns with loved ones. Perhaps you wish you had someone to talk to? Ideally, someone qualified, experienced, empathic and impartial.

As a specialist counselling psychologist, I will work collaboratively with you through the process of (informed) assessment and formulation (a structured and joint approach to making sense of one’s difficulties in the context of relationships, social circumstances, and life events).  I have a special interest in the following areas and have honed my clinical skills to assist in addressing: anger, anxiety, grief, depression, stress-management and related issues, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and trauma.

Together we can make sense of your thoughts, feelings and behaviours in a safe, confidential and non-judgmental space.  The thought of starting ‘talking’ therapy can sometimes be daunting at first, but it needn’t be.

I draw on psychological models with a proven track record including: cognitive behavioural, compassion-focused, psychodynamic and schema informed therapy, to provide individually tailored treatment plans and the best route towards recovery.

My working style is collaborative, transparent and practical. I also focus primarily on the unique lived experience of each individual, (including their strengths), as opposed to preconceived mental health diagnoses or labels.

• If you’ve lost someone or something important to you?
• Or have witnessed or experienced something traumatic
• If you’re using drugs, alcohol, food or sex to cope?
• Or eating or sleeping more or less than usual.
• If you’re withdrawing from family and friends
• Or have stopped doing the things you like to do?
• If you sometimes question if life is worth living or have thoughts about suicide and/or self-harm?

You don’t need to go it alone. We can work together, using the best evidenced-base psychological interventions for understanding and overcoming your personal circumstances.

In addition to working in private practice, I also work for Combat Stress: treating armed forces (British and Common Wealth) veterans with PTSD and associated problems such as; anxiety disorders, depression, substance misuse and interpersonal/relationship difficulties.

Specialist Training Certificates in:

• Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET)
• Running Mindfulness Groups
• Advanced Compassion Focused Therapy Training
• Helping Survivors of Childhood Trauma
• Complex PTSD Presentations Following Adult Trauma
• PTSD Master Class in Trauma Focused CBT
• The Rewind Technique for Trauma and PTSD
• CBT for Anxiety Disorders
• CBT for Personality Disorders
• Introduction To Schema Focused Therapy
• CALM – Controlling Anger and Learning to Manage It
• Co-facilitation of Group Work Skills Training
• Supervision Skills Training (BPS Workshops 1-4)
• The ‘Newcastle Model’ of CBT Supervision
• Working with Interpreters in Individual Therapy

Previous Experience:

I have worked in the NHS, forensic mental health services, HM prison service, higher education, the private sector, private practice and mental health charities since 2000. I have worked in GP surgeries, in-patient settings, universities, outpatient services, and treatment centres.

Alongside individual therapy work, I have extensive experience facilitating (psycho-educational) group work, as well as providing training, consultation and clinical supervision to counselling and clinical psychologists in training, and other mental health professionals.

Calm Walters, my private therapy practice is based in Guildford.