About me

I have 20 years' experience working in variety of clinical and residential settings with adults and young people struggling with mental health issues: depression, anxiety, bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia, psychosis, self-harm & suicidal ideation, eating disorders, personality disorders, challenging behaviours, drug & alcohol addiction & recovery.

As a trauma-informed practitioner, I’m inclined towards supporting clients with childhood trauma, dysfunctional relationships, substance misuse and LGBTQ+ identity and providing an opportunity to process and learn to manage complex issues. I'm curious about you, who you are as an individual, what's happened to you to make you the way you are and do the things you do. I'm interested in your identity, your sense of self, perhaps different selves; your connection to yourself and how you relate to others. I am mixed race and also a member of the LGBTQ+ community.

I am currently employed part-time at The Nelson Trust as a therapeutic counsellor across their residential drug & alcohol addiction/recovery rehabilitation units. I am also part of Gloucestershire Counselling Collective, a small team of qualified counsellors who offer local ‘emotional health & wellbeing’ support groups.

What I offer

I can offer you my undivided attention in a safe, confidential space, where I will listen to whatever problems you are experiencing, without judgements or expectations, and help you work your way through your difficulties at your own pace.

I have an integrative Person-Centred approach to counselling. I believe in providing the safe conditions for you to explore your uncomfortable experiences and feelings, and walk with you through the darker, unlit areas so you’re not so alone and afraid, and by turning on the light there you may come to see and understand yourself better. I aim to help you to make sense of your unique experiences and to empower your authentic self.

I may offer information and integrate concepts from Emotion-Focused Therapy, Existential approach, Psychodynamic approach and Transactional Analysis to help you clarify and identify feelings, make links and connections between present and past events, understand how influences and attachments have shaped you, and recognising old patterns of behaviour and self-beliefs that play out in current relationships and identity.

Any concepts and methods from other approaches will only be used with your consent.

Contact me

Rebecca Lazaro

Professional accreditations and qualifications