Welcome to

Lisa Buckingham Counselling

A confidential and non-judgmental space

Counselling and therapy for individuals

Thank you for visiting Lisa Buckingham Counselling

I am a Person Centred Counsellor and offer a confidential and non-judgmental space to facilitate your exploration of feelings, thoughts and life challenges you may be encountering.


I provide both short and long-term therapy to adult individuals in Portsmouth and the surrounding areas. I specialise in bereavement/grief counselling and have been providing support to people from all walks of life with a diverse range of issues since 2003.

Headshot of Lisa Buckingham

I am fully qualified and an Accredited Registered member with the AHPP. I am also DBS checked, providing face-to-face counselling to people both in my private therapy room and at a local outside space for Walk and Talk Therapy. I can also work creatively with clients.

My role as a counsellor is to sit with you, listen without judgment, facilitate your exploration of your experience, and offer coping mechanisms and education depending on what your needs are.

Having counselling can feel like a daunting step as you may feel like you are walking into the unknown. I make the process as easy as possible by offering a short telephone call in the first instance which will help you decide if you feel comfortable enough to meet me. The initial session involves a simple assessment.

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How can counselling help?

There are many reasons to have counselling. My role as a therapist is to work with you and whatever you bring to therapy as your experience is unique to you. Understanding you as a person is very important to me. People often ask me what type of issues I work with and my answer is that I work with the person, not necessarily the issue as their experience of whatever is happening in their life is unique to them and they come to me for help with a wide range of issues Below are some of the more common challenges that I support people with.

Grief, loss or bereavement

Baby or infant loss

Long term illness

Stress or anxiety

Relationship difficulties

Depression

Self-esteem or self-worth issues

Work issues

Abuse

Self-Development

Spirituality

Eco-Anxiety

Walk and Talk

Bereavement Counselling

Grief is something that we will all experience in our lifetime. Grief can’t be cured. It isn’t an illness or a problem to be fixed but you may feel that you are overwhelmed and struggling with your emotions, you may have noticed you are using unhealthy coping mechanisms, that your relationships are suffering or feel terribly alone or isolated. Grief can feel like a very lonely place to be, particularly if you feel that you don’t have someone you can talk to.

A problem shared...

Counselling can provide you with the therapeutic space that facilitates personal development. As a counsellor I aim to be congruent in my interactions with clients in a supportive and growth enhancing way. This may be the first time you have thought about sharing your thoughts and feelings with another person. It can seem like a daunting step to take or maybe you think your problems are not important enough.

Reasons people seek support

  • Someone to talk to who has no pre-conception of the person or their situation
  • A different perspective
  • Clarity
  • Support with decision making
  • Tools and techniques for self-care, healthy coping mechanisms, education about grief and learning about the importance of self-compassion.

Walk & Talk or Outdoor Therapy

For some people sitting in front of a counsellor in an enclosed room can be challenging and overwhelming. Walk and Talk sessions are another way of engaging in a therapeutic relationship without feeling the pressure of having to talk or make eye contact in an enclosed space. Walking alongside another outside can help the person to feel more at ease and moving the body can help to relax any tension or stress being held in the body.

There are also health benefits as breathing in the fresh air can increase serotonin (happy hormone), help to regulate mood, boost immunity, improve blood pressure and heart rate, aid the digestive system, aid sleep as well as the ability to relax. You may not find time to be outside due to a busy life/work schedule, so having therapy outdoors will give you the opportunity to add some time in nature or walking to your week. You may feel you thrive outside so it would make sense to have your session outside.

I can tailor the session to meet your needs and your pace. If for example you have ill health and are unable to walk very far, we can take time to sit on a bench and talk. Pavement walking might be an option for you if you need to walk on even ground. If you would like to engage more with nature or struggle with anxiety we can explore ways of managing this through mindful walking.

The first appointment will be in my counselling room so we can discuss the practical aspects regarding weather conditions and suitability. Even though we would be outside of the ‘normal’ environment of a counselling room, this is still a professional therapeutic relationship so we will discuss the boundaries of the relationship and managing confidentiality at your first session.

The walk takes place in the vicinity of my counselling room which is located in Cosham, Portsmouth. The session lasts for one hour and my fee is the same as a normal counselling session. It is possible to agree on a walking route further afield, subject to agreement and contract.

Please get in touch if you would like to arrange an initial conversation.

Qualifications

I have been a counsellor since 2003. Below are the organisations I have worked with.

The Bereavement Counselling Charity

The Alzheimers Society

Portsmouth Area Rape Crisis

The Rowans Hospice

Employee Assistance Programme service to staff from Special Education Schools.

Aquilis Counselling Service. Providing free counselling to staff funded by Portsmouth Health Trust at Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth and Renal patients.

Portsmouth Enablement Centre counselling people who have had an amputation.

Accredited Counsellor for pregnancy and infant loss with The Foundation for Infant Loss Training 2018

Currently Affiliated Counsellor with Health Assured’s Employee Assistance Programme

A Bit About Me

When I was in my thirties I became aware that I was struggling with depression, which I had managed to hide really well. Counselling gave me the opportunity to work through my difficulties and the space to express myself. I had always been interested in counselling and eventually after training and doing a great deal of voluntary work, I made the decision to leave my office job and set up in private practice.


I continue to attend workshops and training in order to continue my own personal and professional development and as a Person Centred Counsellor, my committment to my own personal development is intrinsic in my ability to work effectively and with integrity, as the basis of my work with clients is building a respectful working relationship. I believe each person is unique, as is their experience and I work with each person at their pace, with whatever they bring to their sessions, exploring thoughts and feelings without judgement, gaining insight and understanding of their process.


I am particularly interested in how the body is affected by trauma and the environment that we live in and how these experiences can present in the form of illness or discomfort in the body and not just in the mind. We are after all connected through our mind and body, feelings and thoughts. Part of my personal development is meditation and I have found that it helps me to be in touch with how I feel in my body in the here and now. Practising meditation helps me to deal with every day life and the stresses that I sometimes face as a human being. Mindfulness is a form of meditation that originates from Buddhism. It has become very popular in the UK over the last couple of years. Mindfulness is paying attention to whatever is present for you in the moment with awareness and intention. If you are interested in finding out more please click on the link which will take you to Mindfulness Hampshire which is taught by Ali Lambie and her colleagues.


Click here to visit Mindfulness Hampshire


Thank you for taking the time to look at my website. I hope you make the decision to contact me but if you have not found what you are looking for, then you could look at the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) website where you will find more information about Counselling.


Click Here to visit my Blog.

Testimonials

Get in touch

Counselling can seem daunting but you have taken the first step by visiting my website, take the next step and contact me Lisa Buckingham. Once you have had your first session at my therapy room in Cosham, Portsmouth, I believe that you will feel comfortable .

All enquiries are usually answered within 24 hours Monday to Friday and all contact is strictly confidential.

Frequently asked questions

Where does the counselling take place?

At my counselling room in Cosham in Portsmouth. I work from home so it is an informal and relaxed setting in a comfortable and safe space. Clients often comment on how they feel the room is relaxing and they experience a sense of calm.

How long does the session last?

Our sessions will take place usually on a weekly basis and each session will last one hour at a pre-arranged date and time.

How many sessions will I need?

This is really up to you. I work open-ended, so you may decide you only want six sessions or you may want longer-term counselling.

How much will each session cost?

The initial session costs £40 and subsequent sessions are £50.00 for an hour. During the first session we can find out more about each other and you can decide whether you feel that counselling sessions with me will be helpful to you.

I do offer some concessionary sessions for those that are on a low income and unable to afford the full fee.

How do I know you are legitimate?

I am fully qualified and an Accredited Registered member with the AHPP. I am also DBS checked, providing face-to-face counselling to people both in my private therapy room and at a local outside space for Walk and Talk Therapy. I can also work creatively with clients, and I am fully insured.

How do I contact you?

You can contact me by telephone on 07306885180 where you can leave a message on my confidential voicemail if I am unavailable or by email on lisajbuckingham@gmail.com. I will respond as soon as possible between the hours of 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday.

Image of Lisa Buckingham Counselling room

My location

I have been a Therapist and Counsellor in the Portsmouth area since 2003 and have volunteered with various voluntary counselling organisations during that time in Portsmouth, Cosham and the surrounding areas ranging from Fareham to Havant. Home visits are possible in certain circumstances. If you would like to discuss this possibility with me, please contact me by telephone or email. I am easily accessible to the surrounding areas of Portsmouth & Cosham and only 15 minutes from Waterlooville, Hayling Island, Havant, Southsea, Emsworth, Fareham. Only 30 minutes away from Chichester, Petersfield, Southampton. With easy access from the M27, A27 and A3 road network and only 10 minute walk from Cosham Train Station.

Fees & availability

The initial session costs £40 and subsequent sessions are £50.00 for an hour.


During the first session we can find out more about each other and you can decide whether you feel that counselling sessions with me will be helpful to you.


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