psychoTherapists
At the Bodywork Centre we have a number of Practitioners specialising in many different methods of Psychological Therapy:
Counsellor - Nick Tasker
Nick trained as a counsellor after benefiting from counselling himself, in his early twenties. He has 30 years of experience and offers counselling to adults and young adults who are seeking to understand themselves better and make sense of their lives.
Nick is accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and works to a professional code of ethics to offer a safe, confidential place for his clients to learn and grow. Most of Nick's experience has been with the NHS working in GP surgeries in the West of Newcastle with a huge variety of people from different backgrounds, cultures and ages. This has shaped his practice to focus on the individual, to listen and build a safe, relaxed working relationship.
Nick's aim is to encourage you to talk, tell your story, hear yourself and understand yourself. This is always a different process with each individual and goes at a pace that you are comfortable with. The frequency and number of sessions is flexible and fits around your needs. Therapy is a developing process.
Nick offers face to face sessions here at The Bodywork Centre but he can also work on the phone or Zoom. In addition, Nick also offers Walking Therapy and may be able to provide home visits in some circumstances. He also offers person-centred supervision to other therapists.
Contact Nick direct, to discuss working together. Tel. 01434 230761 or email: taskernick2@gmail.com
Counselling | Psychotherapy
Integrative Counsellor – Andrea Alder (MBACP)
Andrea is a fully qualified Integrative Therapeutic Counsellor, meaning she can tailor her therapy to suit the needs of the individual, using different models of practice. She is also trained through Relate as a Couples Counsellor and is a full member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). For over 30 years, Andrea has gathered a wealth of knowledge and experience working with families and individuals needing support across the North-East and working as a counsellor for a Northumberland charity. In her private practice PATHWAY, she works with issues including grief and loss, trauma, issues from childhood, anxiety, depression, historic domestic abuse, and relationship issues.
Andrea understands that life can be challenging, and she offers an empathic approach, building rapport and developing trust that allows individuals to share their innermost feelings in confidence and in a safe environment, with the aim of promoting change and growth.
Andrea delivers face to face counselling at The Bodywork Centre, online and telephone, and can offer daytime and early evening appointments.
She offers a free consultation to enable you to share your concerns, and decide if this is the right therapy for you.
Contact Andrea through her website: pathway-counselling.co.uk or Telephone 07510 810280
Counselling | Psychotherapy | Couples Counselling
BACP Counsellor - Joanna Devereaux
Joanna began her clinical counselling/psychotherapy practice in 1994. She originally trained as a Person Centred Counsellor/Psychotherapist and is a fully Qualified, Registered & Senior Accredited BACP Counsellor. She abides by BAP’s Ethical Framework for the counselling professions. She is also a qualified Clinical Supervisor, Clinical Hypnotherapist and Havening Techniques® Certified Practitioner, Expressive Art Therapist and a Life Coach. She is trained in CBT and EMDR.
Joanna believes that the trusting and supportive relationship between client and counsellor is the most important aspect of counselling. Her hope is to create a relaxed environment where she compassionately helps clients find the most courageous parts of themselves, to activate a sense of resilience that will help clients make changes that will positively impact their life, and learn new ways of approaching difficulties and life challenges.
Joanna offers face to face appointments at The Bodywork Centre and also remotely on video platforms. She is able to support clients for open ended therapy for issues that stem from the past, as well as using a brief Solution Focused therapeutic approach, to help individuals move on from current concerns. Trauma, anxiety and grief are issues she regularly works with. She also provides growth & support counselling to counselling students as they navigate counselling training as part of her private work. She provides Clinical Supervision for practicing counsellors as part of their requirement as members of the counselling professional governing bodies. Joanna is also a group facilitator and can offer options for small closed group therapy and workshops for both personal growth and mental health resilience. She also provides Reiki for relaxation and mind body rebalance.
Joanna wants the best outcomes for her clients, she believes in using current and up to date therapeutic techniques to offer the best and most effective therapy to suit client needs. She has a special interest neuroscience and the brain system in relation to mental and somatic wellbeing, meeting and treating the client as a “whole” being. Self-help methods are always offered, to enable and empower clients to continue improvement at home.
Contact Joanna direct: 07720 473334 or email: joannadevereaux686@gmail.com
Person/Client Centred Therapy | Brief Solution Focused Therapy | Group Therapy | Psychosensory Therapy | Hypnotherapy, Reiki for Relaxation | Meditation | Havening Technique | Couples Counselling
BACP Counsellor - Richard Lydall
Richard (Richy) is a qualified person-centred counsellor (since 2018), a creative counselling supervisor (since 2021), and a member of the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy). He works therapeutically with adults, young people, children and couples.
Richard has gained a wide portfolio of experience over the past 30 years, originally working as a youth worker in areas such as offending, substance misuses, domestic abuse, probation, learning disabilities and self-advocacy. He has successfully worked in a wide range of settings and environments, including local authorities, the NHS and in the voluntary sector.
He incorporates three decades of working closely with individuals in both his counselling and clinical supervisory work.
Developing key values when working with individuals has always been crucially important to Richard's work. Valuing individuals and their experiences in a non-judgemental setting is the cornerstone of his practice. He endeavours to create a safe and confidential space where emotions, feelings and thoughts can be shared, heard, explored and understood. As a person-centred counsellor ,Richard trusts that the client has the inner resources (often hidden) to work through issues and problems, and he tailors each session individually, whatever the presenting issue or age of the client. He has an eclectic, creative approach, incorporating engaging methods and tools to share, explore and help connect people with their feelings.
Richard's extensive experience includes working with individuals with a wide range of issues, such as managing stress and anxiety, living with cancer and anticipatory grief, childhood trauma, late diagnosis of neuro-diversity (Autism/ADHD etc), working towards acceptance and understanding of self, eating issues, school/exam stress, self-harm, suicide ideation, and friendship/ relationship issues. He is committed to professional development and keen to expand his therapeutic offer, now including ‘couple counselling’. Richard is known for his warmth, sincerity, honesty and professionalism.
Should you wish to discuss your needs for counselling therapy contact Richard direct for an initial session, or discussion:
07926835540 or email: RandRtherapies@gmail.com
Couples Counselling | Young Person Counselling | Counselling for Cancer | Relationships
Estelle Brightwell - Accredited Art Psychotherapist
Estelle has over 30 years’ experience working with children, young people and adults from difficult and complex backgrounds. She has worked at CAMHS, within mainstream education and pupil referral units, speech and language schools, NHS psychology services, learning disability services, creative therapy services and children’s residential homes. Her experience
has enabled her to develop strong skills in assessment and psychotherapy interventions.
Art Psychotherapy is a psychotherapy that can support psychological, emotional, educational, social, physical and brain development. Offering a safe, non intrusive private space to express ,communicate and to work through experiences and to explore future goals. We all interact with, process and produce art differently .Every individual's work can be called an original!
Estelle offers an integrative, person centred, client-led therapy involving art, play, games, psychoeducation, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and psychotherapy interventions. The art process is seen from a neuroscience perspective. Sessions aim to be comfortable, relaxed and easy going. Creating art uses the senses and can support brain development and art can be a tool that helps links between mind and body. It is different to art teaching, you do not need to feel experienced in art techniques, to benefit from art therapy. People from all ages and backgrounds can benefit.
Please see www.art-psychotherapy-northumberland-and-cumbria.com for more information about the benefits of Art Therapy. Estelle offers one to one Art Psychotherapy at The Bodywork Centre, Hexham (sessions last for 50 minutes.) Please phone 07553 759668 or email Estelle direct to book in: estellemaria7@gmail.com.
Art Therapy | Children's Psychotherapy | Art Psychotherapy | CBT
Caroline Wagstaffe - Psychological Therapist (MBACP)
Caroline is a person-centred counsellor offering a safe, empathetic space for you to explore whatever you wish. With a non-directive approach, she supports you in leading the process at your own pace, offering genuineness, acceptance and respect. She believes in the innate capacity for growth and self-healing and aims to help you explore and build on your own understanding and connection to yourself, hopefully enabling you to feel more resilient and balanced as you navigate life's challenges.
Caroline has a deep belief in working holistically, paying close attention to the interconnection between the mind, body, emotions and spirit. Although she does not mix the modalities, her experience and knowledge as a bodywork therapist constantly inspires her to work with clients with high levels of attunement and sensitivity.
She has experience of working with adult (18+) clients experiencing a variety of challenges such as: anxiety, depression, low mood, neuro-diversity, trauma, abuse, childhood trauma, attachment issues, grief and loss, serious illness, learning disabilities, PTSD and C-PTSD. People come to counselling for a multitude of reasons that are often complex and intertwined and there is no expectation that a particular presenting issue is needed in order to access counselling.
Caroline offers short or long term, face to face, online or telephone sessions. She encourages a free initial online or telephone meeting for up to half an hour for you to get a sense of her as a counsellor and to see if it feels right to go ahead.
Concessionary spaces are available for those experiencing financial difficulty.
Caroline is a full registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP) and adheres strictly to their Ethical Framework and Principles.
For more information go to www.carolinewagstaffe.co.uk or contact her at carolinewagstaffe@yahoo.co.uk
Telephone: 07982 997052
Counselling | Psychotherapy
Psychotherapeutic Counsellor - Sarah Smith
Sarah offers a compassionate and supportive space in which to explore your thoughts, feelings and behaviours. By talking with an understanding therapist, many people find they reach greater self-awareness and self-acceptance. This can be a catalyst for change in the direction you desire, whether that’s more self esteem, inner peace, a sense of freedom and autonomy or healthier relationships.
The initial focus is on building a trusting counsellor-client relationship, creating a safe environment for therapeutic work. Sarah listens with warmth and acceptance, enabling you to express parts of yourself that may not have been heard before. Sarah works in an integrative way, meaning she draws on different theories and techniques depending on your reason for seeking support. Her approach is rooted in humanistic principles, including the belief in people's inherent potential for growth and the role of the therapist as a guide rather than an expert.
Sarah offers both short-term, solution-focused therapy for present concerns and longer-term exploration of how past experiences may be influencing your life. If you wish to go deeper, she provides supportive techniques such as inner dialogue, sand tray, and imagery work to help uncover and address what might be holding you back. She regularly checks in to ensure therapy aligns with your needs, encouraging you to take an active role in your journey.
Sarah works with adult individuals, supporting a range of concerns including (but not limited to): anxiety, depression, grief and bereavement, life transitions, illness, ageing, relationship difficulties, loneliness, self esteem, trauma, family dynamics, stress, career challenges and personal growth.
Sarah is a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP) and adheres to their Ethical Framework and Principles.
Contact Sarah via email at counsellingonthetyne@gmail.com or call on 07942 483495
Counselling | Psychotherapy
NCPS Accredited Counsellor - Riccardo Carosi
Riccardo has over 16 years of experience working with adults, couples and young people. He believes in his clients' potential to grow, heal, and thrive, even through the most difficult experiences. Riccardo's focus is on building clients' capacity to embrace and overcome struggles. He believes true resilience comes from understanding and navigating difficulties, not just avoiding them.
Working with Individual Clients: Riccardo has extensive experience working with anxiety, relationship problems, anger, ADHD-ASD, separation/divorce, family issues, depression, bereavement and loss, emotional impact of boarding school, low self-esteem, and LGBTQ+ issues. He is a gender affirming therapist. His aim is to empower clients to understand themselves, their reactions to life events, and their behaviour within relationships, transforming struggles into opportunities for growth and self-discovery.
Working with Couples: Riccardo works with couples facing communication difficulties, affairs, arguments, managing difference, parenting challenges, deciding whether to stay together or separate, and negotiating different life stages. Many couples come to therapy feeling unheard, disconnected, or stuck in the same arguments. Riccardo offers a space where both partners can explore what's going on, understand each other more deeply, and find ways to move forward. He works with complete respect for Gender, Sexual, and Relationship Diversity (GSRD).
Counselling for Young People: Riccardo has been supporting young people for over 16 years in diverse educational settings. In addition to his private practice, he works for Barnardo's, where he support children, teens and their parents/carers. He works with anxiety, ADHD-ASD, bullying, behavioural struggles, isolation, family issues, loss and illness in the family, school refusal, gender identity issues, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts. Riccardo believes engaging young people and establishing a strong alliance is critical in maximising counselling success. This is a skill he has acquired working in online therapy, secondary schools, and an independent school specialised in trauma.
Riccardo's approach combines Psychodynamic and Person-Centred therapy. Psychodynamic therapy offers insight into how past experiences shape present feelings and behaviours. Person-Centred therapy supports clients in taking ownership of their lives, building the courage and self-esteem needed to face challenges with confidence. He is an accredited member of the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCPS) and hold an Enhanced DBS certificate.
Riccardo offers face to face sessions at The Bodywork Centre and online via Google Meet, WhatsApp or phone. Contact Riccardo direct to discuss working together. Tel: 0781 756 5837 or email: rckcounselling@gmail.com
Counselling | Psychotherapy | Couples Counselling | Young Person Counselling | LGBTQ+ Affirmative Therapy
BABCP Therapist - Paul Wait
Paul works with adults, offering EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing), Clinical Hypnotherapy, Coaching and CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy). He is also a Mental Health Nurse, registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). He has worked with people experiencing mental health problems of all varieties, within various mental health settings including inpatient hospitals, community mental health teams, and specialist services, including crisis teams and accident and emergency.
Paul qualified as an NMC registered nurse in 2008. He undertook further training in CBT and was awarded a Post Graduate Diploma in 2015. Paul is also a qualified and accredited Clinical Hypnotherapist with General Hypnotherapy Standards Council, and Coach and Mentor with The Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM). He is also a qualified EMDR practitioner, working towards accreditation. Paul now works exclusively in private practice, providing EMDR, CBT, Hypnotherapy and Coaching to clients at The Body Work Centre. Paul has also undertaken additional study in Mindfulness, Solution Focussed Therapy (SFT), Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) and Neuro Linguistic Programming practitioner (coaching) and integrates these into sessions.
As a therapist, Paul can help you recognise inaccurate or negative thinking so you can view challenging situations you may face more clearly and respond to them in a more effective way. Therapy can help in treating depression, anxiety, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), OCD and phobias. It can also benefit those who wish to manage stressful life situations and address emotional challenges such as coping with grief or loss, coping with a medical illness, resolving relationship conflicts and overcoming trauma related to abuse or violence. Paul believes therapy helps you move forward with clarity, confidence, and purposeful action. It supports you in understanding where you are, where you want to be, and what might be getting in the way. Most importantly, it equips you with practical tools and insight so you can create meaningful, lasting change in your life. Paul integrates his skills, based on the client’s needs.
Contact Paul via his website: Flourish and Co or telephone 07964022259
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing) | Clinical Hypnotherapy | Coaching | CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy).