Specialisms
Consultation Calls
Schedule a complimentary 15-minute consultation to explore how therapy can assist in alleviating the concerns that occupy your mind. During this session, you will learn how Phiona can guide you in identifying the most appropriate therapeutic approach tailored to your individual needs.
Following this consultation, you will have the opportunity to arrange an initial assessment, enabling you to embark on the journey towards liberating yourself from the burdens you may carry, both mentally and physically.
Take the first step towards the fulfilling life you deserve by contacting Phiona today for a brighter tomorrow.
Specialist Support with Phiona
Phiona offers a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental space for clients navigating some of life’s most complex and often misunderstood challenges. Her therapy practice is rooted in empathy, respect, and a deep understanding of the unique experiences that shape each person’s journey. Phiona specialises in, but is not limited to, the following areas:
Trauma – From generalised anxiety to complex trauma, Phiona offers a grounded, trauma-informed approach
Bereavement – Including complex grief
Animal bereavement - Including, End of life care, disenfranciesed grief and the loss of animals through rehoming or lost pets.
Hidden and Invisible Illnesses – Such as ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis), CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), fibromyalgia, and arthritis, with a focus on the emotional and psychological toll these conditions carry
Child and Parent Estrangement – Helping clients process the pain, confusion, and emotional conflict that can arise from family disconnection
Neurodiversity – Supporting neurodivergent individuals with Autism, ADHD, AUDHD, Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, and Dyscalculia, while acknowledging the intersectionality of their experiences. Along with late diagnosis in adults.
Support for Children and Young Adults – Offering age-appropriate, developmentally sensitive therapeutic approaches
Menopause – Addressing the mental health impact of hormonal changes, identity shifts, and lifestyle transitions
Continual Professional Development
Phiona is committed to delivering the highest standard of care. She has undertaken extensive additional training and ongoing professional development to support her work in these specialist areas. Her qualifications and further study reflect a deep dedication to understanding the nuanced needs of her clients, particularly those who often feel unseen or misunderstood in traditional therapeutic settings.
Her training includes:
Trauma-informed care and somatic approaches
Grief and loss therapy (including pet loss and disenfranchised grief with the Blue Cross)
Neurodiversity-affirming practice
Counselling for chronic illness and pain management
Child and adolescent development
Menopause mental health support
Family systems and estrangement dynamics
Compassionate, Personalised Support
Whether you are navigating a recent diagnosis, living with invisible symptoms, adjusting to major life transitions, or seeking support as a neurodivergent individual or parent, Phiona is here to walk alongside you with compassion, insight, and care. Every session is tailored to your needs, and every story is treated with dignity.
Adults:
IInitial assessment from £90 (up to 90 minutes)
Ongoing sessions for teenagers (14 yrs plus) and adults from £75 for up to 50 minute sessions
Children up to 14 years old:
Initial assessment from £90 (up to 90 minutes with parent or carer)
Ongoing sessions for children up to 14 years from £65 for up to 30 -45 minute session
Trauma Specialism
Understanding Trauma: Beyond Talk Therapy
rauma is more than just a psychological wound, it is an experience that impacts the mind, body, and spirit. It can result from a single distressing event or a series of overwhelming experiences that leave a person feeling helpless, unsafe, or unable to cope. While many people associate healing from trauma with talking therapies, it’s important to understand that trauma is not only held in the mind, it lives in the body.
Trauma Lives in the Body
When we experience trauma, our bodies often respond by going into survival mode: fight, flight, freeze, or fawn. These responses can become trapped in the nervous system, especially if the trauma wasn’t fully processed at the time. Even long after the event has passed, the body can continue to react as if it’s still under threat.
Physical symptoms of trauma may include:
- Chronic tension or pain (particularly in the neck, shoulders, or lower back)
- Digestive issues or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Insomnia or chronic fatigue
- Heart palpitations or tightness in the chest
- Muscle spasms or unexplained aches
- Sensitivity to noise or touch
- A constant sense of being on edge or "wired"
These symptoms are a reflection of how deeply trauma embeds itself into the body, beyond what can always be reached through conversation alone.
PTSD vs. C-PTSD: Understanding the Differences
While Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is commonly associated with a single traumatic event—such as an accident, assault, or natural disaster—Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) often develops from prolonged or repeated trauma, particularly in interpersonal relationships (such as childhood neglect, abuse, or domestic violence).
PTSD Symptoms May Include:
- Flashbacks or intrusive memories
- Nightmares
- Hypervigilance or being easily startled
- Avoidance of trauma reminders
C-PTSD May Include All of the Above, Plus:
- Persistent emotional dysregulation
- Negative self-perception or feelings of shame
- Difficulty maintaining relationships
- A sense of hopelessness or disconnection
C-PTSD can be more difficult to treat through traditional talk therapies alone because it often impacts core beliefs about oneself and others, as well as long-standing physiological patterns.
What Is Somatic Therapy?
Somatic therapy bridges the gap between mind and body by helping clients gently reconnect with their bodily sensations in a safe, guided way. Rather than focusing solely on verbal processing, somatic approaches use movement, breath, and awareness to release stored tension and trauma from the nervous system.
By tuning into the body’s messages and working through physical patterns, somatic therapy can promote profound healing—especially when trauma has led to disconnection from the self.
Phiona’s Trauma-Informed Approach
Phiona brings a deeply compassionate, integrative approach to trauma healing. She understands that no two trauma stories are the same—and no one healing path looks identical. That’s why she has trained extensively in a range of trauma-informed therapies, including:
- EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique): A gentle tapping method that calms the nervous system and helps release emotional distress.
- IEMT (Integral Eye Movement Therapy): A powerful tool for shifting stuck emotional patterns and trauma memories.
- Breathwork: Conscious breathing techniques to help regulate the nervous system and process suppressed emotions.
- Hypnotherapy: Accessing the subconscious mind to gently reframe and release trauma responses.
In addition to these core modalities, Phiona has committed to deepening her knowledge through ongoing professional development in creative and body-based therapies, including:
- Sandtray Therapy: A non-verbal, expressive form of therapy that allows the unconscious to speak through symbolism and storytelling.
- Creative Interventions: Using art, play, and imagination to support inner exploration and emotional processing.
Phiona’s integrative and client-centered approach honors the full complexity of trauma—recognising that true healing involves more than just the mind. It requires safety, compassion, and the right tools to reconnect with the body and reclaim one’s sense of self.
Bereavement Specialism
Gentle Support Through Grief and Loss. Bereavement can touch every part of our lives — changing how we think, feel, relate, and even how we breathe. Whether your loss is recent or long ago, sudden or expected, Phiona offers a calm, compassionate space where your grief can be seen, heard, and supported. With professional training in therapeutic approaches to loss and hands-on experience working in a hospice setting, Phiona understands the complexity and individuality of grief. During her time supporting patients and families in hospice care, she offered talking therapies and emotional support through some of the most tender and difficult moments of life.
Understanding Grief in All Its Forms
Grief is not a single emotion. It can look like sadness, numbness, anger, guilt, anxiety, or even relief. It might show up through withdrawal, overactivity, sleep disruption, or physical pain. Phiona welcomes all expressions of grief — there is no “wrong” way to mourn.
She works with clients who may be experiencing:
Loss of a loved one (recent or historic)
Complicated or traumatic grief
Anticipatory grief (e.g. terminal diagnosis)
Grief following miscarriage, stillbirth, or fertility loss
Losses connected to neurodiversity, identity, or life transitions
Disenfranchised grief (when loss is unrecognised or unsupported by others)
Whether your loss is clear or complex, Phiona walks alongside you at your own pace.
A Holistic, Integrative Approach
Grief affects the whole person — mind, body, and spirit. Phiona draws on a range of gentle, client-centred approaches to meet you where you are:
Talking Therapy – to share and explore your experience in a safe, supportive space
Clinical Hypnotherapy – to help calm a grieving nervous system and ease overwhelming emotions
EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) – to gently release the emotional weight of grief
IEMT (Integral Eye Movement Therapy) – to support processing of difficult memories or trauma associated with loss
Breathwork – for grounding, soothing, and finding moments of stillness
Creative Interventions – such as storytelling, art, and metaphor to express the unspoken parts of loss
You do not need to have the "right words" — just a willingness to show up, exactly as you are.
Walking With You, Not Ahead of You. Phiona’s work is grounded in empathy, presence, and the understanding that grief doesn’t follow a timeline. Her approach honours each client’s unique process, offering therapeutic support that is intuitive, respectful, and gently paced.
Pet Bereavement Specialism
Honouring the Loss of a Beloved Companion: Pet Bereavement & Grief Support with Phiona. Grieving the loss of a pet is a profound and often misunderstood experience. Whether your beloved companion has passed away, gone missing, been rehomed, or is suffering from chronic illness, the depth of pain can be immense. For many, pets are not “just animals”—they are family, confidants, sources of unconditional love, and anchors of comfort and routine.
Yet, society often overlooks this kind of grief, labelling it as less significant. This is known as disenfranchised grief—a form of mourning that isn’t always recognised or validated by others. This can make your experience feel isolating, invisible, and even shameful to speak aloud.
Phiona deeply understands this terrain of sorrow.With warmth, sensitivity, and a trauma-informed lens, Phiona offers a safe and nurturing space for you to process the heartbreak of losing a pet. Her integrative approach acknowledges that this kind of grief touches every part of you—mind, body, and spirit.
With a professional background as a trained veterinary nurse and training with British Horse Society, and Blue Cross ,Phiona brings a rare and heartfelt understanding of the deep bond between humans and animals. Having spent many years working hands-on in kennels, veterinary clinics, and stables, she has supported animals and their owners through all stages of life—from playful beginnings to tender goodbyes. This grounded, real-world experience means Phiona doesn’t just understand pet loss on a theoretical level—she’s walked alongside it countless times. She knows the heartbreak of watching a beloved animal age, decline, or suffer, and how agonising it can be to make decisions around care or euthanasia. With empathy and depth, Phiona holds compassionate space for you to express your grief fully, even if you're still navigating anticipatory loss or struggling with the emotional weight of rehoming or terminal illness. You don’t have to carry this alone.
Phiona gently guides you to reconnect with the sensations of your body, helping you safely feel into the sadness rather than override it. Grief is not something to be "gotten over" but honoured and moved through.
Creative and holistic interventions can include:
- Sandtray therapy to express the unspeakable through imagery and metaphor
- Breathwork to ground and release held tension or sorrow
- Guided Emotional Techniques (GET) to soothe emotional overwhelm
- Bach Flower Remedies to gently support emotional balance
- Clinical hypnotherapy to explore unconscious patterns of loss and healing
Each session is personalised, forming a 360° support system that meets you exactly where you are—with deep respect for your unique connection to your companion animal.
You do not need to grieve alone. Whether your loss is recent or long-held, Phiona is here to witness and walk with you through this sacred process of healing. You are not invisible. Your grief matters. Your love is real. Let Phiona hold the space for your story, your sorrow, and your healing.
Hidden and Chronic Illness Specialism
Supporting Hidden and Chronic Illness with Phiona: A Holistic Approach to Healing. Living with chronic illness, disability, or a hidden health condition often feels like facing an uphill battle. Such as ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis), CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), fibromyalgia, and arthritis, with a focus on the emotional and psychological toll these conditions carry. The world moves at a pace that those with invisible health struggles sometimes can't keep up with, and the emotional, physical, and mental toll is something able-bodied individuals may not always understand. That’s where Phiona comes in — offering an empathetic, trauma-informed, and somatic approach to help clients navigate these often-overlooked areas of health and wellness.
A Personal Understanding of Chronic Illness and Disability
Phiona brings a unique and invaluable perspective to the field of health and wellness, one shaped by lived experience. As someone who has personally navigated the challenges of chronic illness and disability, she knows just how isolating it can feel when facing the day-to-day struggles that many people don’t see or understand. This personal journey allows her to approach each client with deep empathy, acknowledging the unique challenges they face while also fostering a safe space for them to explore their healing.
The Power of Spoon Theory
Living with chronic illness often means dealing with a constant balancing act. Spoon Theory, created by Christine Miserandino, is a tool used by many people with chronic illnesses to describe their energy levels. Phiona integrates Spoon Theory into her practice to help clients understand and manage their energy, setting realistic expectations and honoring the limitations of their bodies. With this framework, clients can approach their health journey with more compassion and insight into their daily struggles.
Trauma-Informed and Somatic Therapy: A Holistic Approach
Phiona specialises in trauma-informed therapy, an approach that considers the whole person — mind, body, and spirit. For those with chronic illness and disability, trauma can be both physical and emotional. This can manifest in frustration, anxiety, depression, and even feelings of helplessness. Through somatic therapy, Phiona helps clients connect with their bodies, understand where emotional tension resides, and learn how to release it, promoting healing at the deepest levels.
Phiona also uses creative therapeutic interventions that allow clients to express themselves in ways words sometimes can't capture. Tools such as Sandtray Therapy and Breathwork offer powerful avenues for healing, helping clients process emotions and trauma in a safe and non-judgmental space.
Integrating Holistic Tools for Complete Healing
In addition to traditional therapy techniques, Phiona incorporates a range of holistic practices to support her clients' journey:
- Bach Flower Remedies: Phiona integrates these gentle yet powerful remedies to help restore emotional balance and resilience.
- Clinical Hypnotherapy: Used to guide clients into a deep state of relaxation, clinical hypnotherapy can be a transformative tool for reducing stress, anxiety, and pain, while empowering clients to shift their mindset and take control of their healing.
- Creative Interventions: Using the power of art, movement, and imagination, Phiona works with clients to tap into their subconscious, helping to release deep-seated emotions and gain clarity on their healing journey.
This integrated approach supports healing on every level — mind, body, and spirit.
The Importance of Being Seen and Held
For those living with chronic illness or a disability, feeling invisible can be one of the most painful aspects of their experience. Phiona’s therapeutic approach creates a space where clients feel truly seen and held. She recognises that chronic illness is not just about physical pain; it's about the emotional and mental toll that it takes on individuals. Through Phiona’s work, clients can find solace, comfort, and support, knowing that they are not alone in their struggles.
A Path Forward: Empowerment and Healing
Phiona’s expertise in hidden and chronic illnesses empowers clients to navigate their journey with strength, resilience, and compassion. By combining lived experience with a range of therapeutic techniques, she offers a comprehensive approach that can help clients not just survive, but thrive. Whether you're struggling with the isolation of a hidden illness, or seeking support for emotional well-being, Phiona's compassionate care can help you feel truly seen, heard, and supported. If you're ready to begin your healing journey, Phiona is here to walk beside you every step of the way, offering understanding, empathy, and a full-spectrum approach to health and well-being.
Child and Parent Estrangement Specialism
Navigating Parent and Child Estrangement: Finding Peace and Reconnection Within. Parent and child estrangement can be one of the most emotionally painful and confusing experiences. Whether you are a parent who no longer has contact with your child, or an adult child who has created distance from a parent, the experience can leave deep feelings of grief, guilt, and longing. This kind of separation can stir a wide range of emotions—sadness, anger, shame, relief, or even hope—and it’s normal for these feelings to shift over time. What remains constant is the need for space to process, reflect, and heal.
Estrangement Is a Deeply Personal Journey
No two estrangements are the same. Some happen suddenly after a conflict; others unfold slowly over time, often without a clear explanation. Regardless of how it begins, the impact of disconnection within a family can run deep. Many people find it hard to talk about, especially when they fear being judged or misunderstood. And while talking with a therapist or coach can help, healing isn’t always something that happens just through conversation.
Estrangement can show up in your everyday life through:
- A persistent sense of sadness or emptiness
- Struggling with important dates like birthdays or holidays
- Feeling emotionally stuck or unsettled
- Replaying conversations or wondering "what if?"
- Trouble sleeping or relaxing
- Physical tension, heaviness, or restlessness
These experiences aren’t signs of something being "wrong" with you—they’re simply signs that something within you needs care, attention, and support.
Supporting the Whole Self—Mind and Body
Sometimes, the feelings around estrangement are held not just in our thoughts, but in our bodies too. The body remembers what the mind can’t always express, and emotional pain can leave us feeling tense, disconnected, or overwhelmed. That’s why gentle, body-based practices, combined with talking therapies can be so helpful. Rather than trying to "think your way" through it, these approaches support you in feeling more grounded, calm, and connected to yourself—one step at a time.
How Phiona Can Support You
Phiona offers a compassionate, holistic space for those navigating the emotional complexities of family estrangement. Her work is gentle, creative, and focused on helping you find peace within—whether or not reconnection is part of your path.
She is trained in a range of supportive approaches, including:
- EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique): A calming tapping method that helps ease emotional tension and bring clarity.
- IEMT (Integral Eye Movement Therapy): Useful for gently shifting repetitive thoughts or patterns.
- Breathwork: Supporting relaxation, emotional release, and nervous system balance.
- Hypnotherapy: Helping you reconnect with your inner wisdom and let go of unhelpful beliefs.
Phiona also incorporates creative and expressive tools such as:
- Sandtray Therapy: Using symbols and imagery to explore feelings and relationships non-verbally.
- Creative interventions: Drawing, writing, and other creative processes to support reflection and healing.
Her approach is always respectful of where you are, without pushing toward reconciliation or decisions you’re not ready for. Instead, the focus is on helping you reconnect with yourself, understand your needs and boundaries, and find meaning in your journey. There is no single “right way” to navigate estrangement. Whether you're looking for understanding, emotional support, or simply a place to be heard, Phiona is here to walk alongside you. You don’t have to go through it alone.
Neurodiversity Specialism
Supporting Neurodiverse Minds with Understanding, Compassion and Experience. At the heart of Phiona’s practice is a deep commitment to supporting neurodiverse individuals in a world that often doesn’t accommodate their needs. Drawing on specialist training and personal lived experience, Phiona offers a safe, informed, and empathetic space for both children and adults navigating the challenges and strengths of neurodiversity.
Specialist Support for Neurodiverse Conditions
Phiona works with clients across the neurodiversity spectrum, including:
Dyslexia
Dyspraxia
Dyscalculia
ADHD / ADD
ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder)
AUDHD (Autism + ADHD)
And other neurodiverse presentations
With a special interest in late diagnosis in adults, Phiona recognises the complex emotions and identity shifts that can come with understanding yourself in a new light. She provides support that is validating, trauma-informed, and tailored to each individual’s unique way of being.
An Integrated, Holistic Approach
Phiona uses a blend of evidence-based and intuitive methods to meet each person where they are. Her toolbox includes:
Clinical Hypnotherapy – to help calm the nervous system, reduce anxiety, and create new supportive patterns
EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) – a gentle tapping therapy that can help release emotional blocks and overwhelm
IEMT (Integral Eye Movement Therapy) – a rapid-change process for addressing troubling memories, emotions, and stuck patterns
Breathwork – to support regulation, grounding, and reconnection with the body
Creative Interventions – using art, movement, metaphor, and story to help express and explore what words alone may not reach
These approaches are especially effective for individuals who experience:
Hypersensitivity and sensory overwhelm
Generalised anxiety or social anxiety
School avoidance and difficulties with educational settings
Friendship struggles and social communication challenges
Emotional withdrawal and masking
Burnout from trying to "fit in"
A Personal and Professional Passion
Phiona's lived experience of neurodivergence informs her practice in a powerful way. She understands, on a visceral level, what it’s like to navigate a world that isn’t always designed with your brain in mind. This insight allows her to offer not just therapeutic techniques, but real-world understanding and resonance. Whether you or your child have a formal diagnosis, are awaiting one, or are simply beginning to explore what neurodiversity might mean for you, Phiona welcomes you with empathy, respect, and expertise.
You don't need to "fit in" to be supported. You just need to be heard.
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