Get to know us - Rebecca Leakey

I am passionate about the field of therapy. My passion and enthusiasm, I feel, come from my personal experiences and witnessing the transformative power of this work. The time I spent in Asia, learning and practising different methods and therapeutic approaches orientated in Eastern philosophy, was growth-promoting. I feel these experiences positively inform my practice as I have a holistic view and appreciation of each individual. I am particularly interested in how the body can advise and guide therapeutic practice.

I have trained with the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute in London. I am currently undergoing Somatic Experience training in London and Edinburgh to deepen further my knowledge and understanding of the role of the body and nervous system in understanding trauma, mental health, and recovery. I am also nearing completion of my Internal Family System’s training: a powerfully transformative, evidence-based model of psychotherapy.
I am committed to my ongoing personal and professional development. I am constantly looking to evolve my practice and the effectiveness of my work. I am a registered member of the BACP, adhere to the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy’s Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions and attend regular supervision sessions. I have experience working with trauma, addiction, and other complex issues in private practice and organisations.

I am a versatile therapist and work integratively to ensure I can meet each client’s individual needs. I draw on a variety of approaches in my work. These include (although not exclusively); Somatic experiencing, which works by bringing awareness to the sensations in the body, thus giving access to the nervous system and the body’s natural healing powers to resolve trauma and other stress-related disorders. Internal family systems therapy – which works on supporting the relationship between the “self” and the parts that make up the self, allowing us to work with defence and protective patterns which have built up over time in response to trauma. Compassion-focused therapy, which aims to promote healing by encouraging individuals to practice compassion towards themselves and others. Sensorimotor psychotherapy – a body-centred approach that seeks to treat the somatic symptoms of unresolved trauma. Sensorimotor psychotherapy combines somatic therapies, attachment theory, cognitive applications, neuroscience, and techniques from the Hakomi method.

The core values of the person-centred approach underpin all my work. I believe wholeheartedly that individuals can move in the direction of change, growth, empowerment, fulfilment, and the opportunity to reach their full potential when provided with a safe and facilitative environment.

I have proven experience of working with clients from broad demographic and cultural backgrounds. I am creative, empathetic and nonjudgmental, dedicated to ensuring ethical and reflective practice. I am also collaborative and conscientious, committed to meeting the unique needs of every individual.