Rate Lisa Howarth

Lisa Howarth, MBACP

Counsellor | Trainee Psychosexual & Relational Psychotherapist

Online therapy for anxiety, self-worth, relationships, trauma, neurodivergence, and life transitions

About Me

I've worked in the helping professions for over 30 years, across sectors including counselling, the justice system, education, and addiction services. I currently work as a counsellor and service co-ordinator—supporting 40 volunteer counsellors and hundreds of clients—alongside my private practice, both online and in person. With over 700 hours of therapy completed, I bring warmth, groundedness, and compassion to my work.

Often described as friendly, adaptable, and non-judgmental, I aim to meet you where you are. While counselling can be challenging, there’s also room for humour.

I support people to explore parts of themselves that feel conflicted, overwhelmed, disconnected, or unsure how to move forward. Our work can be a space to reconnect with what you want—and begin moving toward it in a way that feels manageable and true to you.

You’ve likely been holding things together—at work, in relationships, in your family—while something unresolved plays out beneath the surface. Maybe you push feelings aside, second-guess yourself, or wonder why everything feels like such an effort. Perhaps you're stuck in cycles of procrastination, even when something really matters to you.

I work with people navigating anxiety, stress, low self-worth, and inner tension—often shaped by early relationships, trauma, or life transitions. You might find yourself constantly weighing up what others need, what you think you should do, and what you actually want—without much space to hear your own voice.

Do you say “yes” when you mean “no”? Get close to someone, then pull away when it feels too exposed? Try to get everything right for everyone else—and still feel like it’s not enough?

Therapy offers space to slow down, make sense of what’s happening underneath, and begin responding to yourself with more integrity and compassion.

How I Work

My approach is sensitive, collaborative, grounded, and warm. I’m interested in how you relate to yourself, and in what unfolds between us in the therapeutic space. I pay close attention to the different parts of you that show up—especially those that have learned to protect you. What feels unhelpful now often began as something that kept you safe.

I offer a reflective, responsive space where your pace and preferences matter. I work in a pluralistic, person-centred way, with influences from CBT, mindfulness, trauma-informed practice, and parts work. Where helpful, I can introduce grounding or visualisation techniques, or draw on tools that explore links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours—supporting you both in and between sessions.

Whether you're working through something painful, stuck in a pattern, or moving toward a specific change, our work is shaped by what matters to you. I offer both short- and long-term therapy, depending on your needs.

You don’t need to be in crisis—or even know exactly where to start.

Areas We Might Explore

People come to therapy for all kinds of reasons—some very clear, others harder to name. Here are some of the themes we may explore together:

A loud or critical inner voice

Emotional overwhelm, shutdown, or dissociation

Shame, anxiety, or internalised fear

Depression, low motivation, or burnout

Trauma, including domestic violence and child sexual abuse.

Grief and loss

Major transitions (e.g. children leaving home, menopause)

Navigating neurodivergence (e.g. ADHD, autism)

Relationship patterns, boundaries, and emotional closeness

Sexual wellbeing, desire, and psychosexual concerns

A sense of having lost touch with yourself or your needs

I’m a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP) and currently completing a postgraduate diploma in Psychosexual and Relational Therapy, an LGBTQ+ ally and have lived experience and understanding of neurodivergence, and trauma.

Starting Therapy

Beginning therapy—even after signing up—can still feel like a big step. Whether you're feeling stuck, working toward change, or simply wanting to understand yourself more fully, I’d be glad to hear from you.