Counselling and Reiki in Market Lavington – Devizes – Wiltshire

~ claire ballardie

Welcome to my website. As a Psychotherapeutic Counsellor, my aim is to provide a variety of options to improve both physical and mental health- a holistic way to feel good and to be, and to promote calmness and relaxation. I offer counselling and reiki  near Devizes in Market Lavington, Wiltshire..

Counselling

I offer psychotherapeutic counselling near Devizes, Wiltshire. My role is to support you and to provide a safe place for you to explore your feelings and provide an outlet for emotions.

Life can throw all sorts of unexpected events at us. At the  we are all in a very unusual situation with Covid19, with the added stress of social distancing and the fear of being ill ourselves.

Anxiety and depression can be a result of not being able to be close to poorly friends or being isolated, Being in lock-down with family where relationships are foundering can require careful management. Talking to someone who can listen without judgement, can help to bring a new perspective to handling.  the struggle of day-to-day life.

I believe in a holistic approach, taking into account how our mental state impacts on our whole being. When we are stressed and tense, this has an impact on the body,  Improving mental health can have a positive effect on the body’s energy, releasing tension and stress.

I have both indoor and outdoor facilities, with options for outdoor therapy, the healing qualities of being in nature and around animals. In normal circumstances, we would meet face to face, but while we are within the confines of social isolation, I am working in different ways.

Options I offer are::

  • FREE introductory phone call (20 minutes)
  •  On-line  sessions on Zoom 
  • Face-to-face therapy
Eco-Therapy

Indoor therapy may not be for everyone: being outdoors can be very grounding and healing – connecting with nature can promote a sense of calm and serenity, even if the weather is bad! Nature is powerful and profound and can be refreshing for the soul.

Equine-assisted Therapy

Animals can play a very important part in the therapeutic process, aiding relaxation and a sense of calm, reflecting mood and body language.

Exercise

Movement is good for both physical and mental health. Exercise boosts your mood, and improves physical awareness: classes are a great way to make friends.

Meditation
Life can seem very busy. Taking a mental break through meditation helps you to discover a quiet place, away from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

Mindfulness

Feeling overwhelmed is common if you have many worries on your mind, and trying to juggle daily life. Mindfulness helps you to focus on one thing at a time, to take time and to find pleasure in simple tasks, bringing a sense of calm to the day.

Reiki

Physical and emotional issues can have a huge effect on the body’s energy. self-heal. Reiki can help to rebalance the equilibrium  between mind and body through deep relaxation.

I am a qualified Counsellor,  Reiki Master, Exercise Professional, and a British Horse Society Registered Equestrian Coach.

I can offer:

Please contact me for further details on any of the above.

wiltshire-counselling-reiki-wiltshire-counsellor-reiki-wiltshire-counsellor- reiki

Mindfulness in Nature Workshop

~ claire ballardie

SUNDAY 24th JULY 2022

MINDFULNESS IN NATURE WORKSHOP

 for both qualified and student counsellors.

A relaxing and informative day of mindfulness practices while connecting to the healing power of nature.

Programme:
 Guided meditations-Connection to nature-a variety of mindfulness practices-Mandala creation-Drumming-Movement

WHO IS IT FOR?

Counselling students & qualified counsellors who are either new to mindfulness/nature therapy or who would like to expand their knowledge of it, in an experiential and educational way. Come and join us for a wonderful day in a quiet and private setting, offering a unique and rustic feel among the woodland and fields.

 

WHERE?

Private setting in Market Lavington, near Devizes, Wiltshire.

TICKETS

£60 fee

TO BOOK: 

Dawn Harding 07585 558101

dawn@stepping-stones-counselling.co.uk

Claire Ballardie 07710 420357

claire@wiltshire-wellbeing.co.uk

   

 

 

 

 

 

Claire Ballardie interview on BBC Radio Gloucester

~ claire ballardie

Claire Ballardie interviewon BBC Radio Gloucester

Ecotherapy, Nature therapy
Ecotherapy, Nature therapy

I had a lovely chat this afternoon with Dom Cotter at BBC Gloucester Radio about Nature Therapy.

Whatever the weather, there is always an element we can connect to in some way with our senses. The snow drops are coming up, and hanging in there, tempting us to look forwards to new growth as spring arrives.

I am on just after 5pm, after a track from Madonna!

Claire Ballardie on Nature Therapy with Dom Cotter BBC Radio Gloucester

 

 

What is Attachment Theory?

~ claire ballardie

What is attachment theory?

Attachment is a biological impetus to survive throughout life. Experiencing an enduring and consistent relationship develops a secure attachment style, enabling the exploration of the world, with the knowledge that the secure base is consistently accessible.

Attachment theory by John Bowlby, examines the attachment styles learned from a very young age, in a response to separation, which influence childhood behaviour and develop as survival mechanism as adults. Separation from a secure attachment figure, causes emotional distress, such as anger, anxiety and depression, affecting attachment behaviour (Mary Ainsworth).

Mary Main, a student of Mary Ainsworth, related Ainsworth’s findings in infant attachment to adult attachment. She suggested that an individual’s Internal Working Model was developed from learning from parental example. This model was a blueprint for understanding life experience. Being both physically separated from loved ones, and emotionally distant renders the attachment insecure.

Attachment styles

A particular style of attachment will lead to a distinct behaviour pattern and way of establishing relationships. This has implications for the building of relationships with friends, loved ones, pets and, not forgetting,  the therapist.

A Secure – a loving, trustful relationship, where ‘someone has your back’. In a secure relationship, it is easy to be yourself, feel valued, and to have your needs met.

Styles of insecure attachment as adults are identified as:

Ambivalent – a ‘take it or leave it’ approach to relating to others.

Avoidant– resisting intimacy with others, reluctant to commit to relationships, withdrawing from others.

Disorganised– fluctuating between seeking approval, and pushing others away.

Dismissive– a lack of trust in others, low self-esteem, feeling unworthy of being loved.

Preoccupied– difficulty in committing full attention to others.

How Attachment works in Therapy

Building a relationship with the therapist is influenced by learned attachment styles. The role of the therapist is to be the ‘safe base’ for the client, and to learn about the client’s ‘internal working model’, their individuality. The therapist offers support without judgement, in a role of trust, enabling the client to explore their own relationships with others.

Exploring the attachment style between therapist and client, noticing what strengthens, or disrupts, the therapeutic relationship, paves the way for a secure attachment with the therapist, with an ease of communication developing.

Why is understanding attachment theory important?

Learning to communicate with others helps to build, or repair, relationships with our loved ones. Forming a secure attachment in adulthood, that may have been missing from childhood, leads to improved self-worth, self-confidence, and a capacity to love, and be loved.

©Claire Ballardie 2022

References

Ainsworth, M., Blehar, M., Waters, E., & Wall, S. (1978) Patterns of Attachment: A psychological study of the strange situation. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum

M. Parkes and Bowlby, J. (1988) A Secure Base. London: Routledge

Crittenden, P, M. (2017) Gifts from Mary Ainsworth and John Bowlby. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry (2017) Vol. 22 (3) 436-442

Main, M. (2000) ‘The Organized Categories of Infant, Child, and Adult Attachment: Flexible Vs. Inflexible Attention Under Attachment-Related Stress’, Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, 48(4), pp. 1055–1096. doi: 10.1177/00030651000480041801. (Accessed 7 February 2022).

Murray-Parkes, C., Stevenson-Hinde, J. & Marris P.  (1993) Attachment across the Life Cycle. Routledge.

 

 

Flexercise Anytime with Claire

~ claire ballardie

I am now offering FLexercise with Claire exercise video downloads.

Here is a sample.

 

Downloadable sessions cost £20 per four week period (equivalent to £5 per week).

On receipt of your payment,  I will send you a link to six workouts of between 13-15 minutes in length. You can access these can be accessed as many times as you like for the duration of four weeks. (please note some of the workouts may be repeated in different combinations)

If you are new to FLexercise please complete and return the registration form by email.

Registration Form

Click on the button below to pay for video links.




I also take credit card payments by sending you a link.

To pay by bank transfer, please contact me for details.

Please note there is no refund if for any reason you do not get around to using the videos within the allocated time  frame. 

As with all exercise programs, you are advised to consult with a medical practitioner/GP before commencing any new fitness programs and to stop immediately and seek medical advice if you experience any discomfort or pain. By performing any fitness exercises, you are performing them at your own risk.

Claire Ballardie, FLexercise or Wiltshire Wellbeing will not be responsible or liable for any injury or harm you sustain as a result of our fitness program, online fitness videos, or information shared on our website.

Movement for the Mind

~ claire ballardie

Movement for the mind works by helping us focus on the way our body is affected when we are anxious or fearful. Focusing on how we feel in our bodies when we are stressed, or depressed, helps to identify issues such as physical sensations, or long-term symptoms of illness. I work with you one-to-one  using gentle stretching exercises, focusing on posture, to to help you to connect mind and body.

Exercise relieves stress and tension by releasing the feel-good hormones (endorphins), which give a sense of calm and lift your mood.I offer one-to-one sessions either in person or on-line.

Learning how to stretch and relax your body also calms the mind. Controlled breathing and focusing mindfully on how you are moving helps to prevent a ‘busy brain’ from worrying about day-to-day concerns. This can be part of on-going therapy, using techniques in your counselling sessions, if it would be of benefit to you.

Exercise helps you to feel positive about yourself, increasing your self-esteem, which is a useful tool in coping with life on a day to day basis. As well as improving your energy levels and improving sleep and digestion, the sense of achievement increases self-worth and lifts your mood, reducing stress and improving resilience to life events.

Learning how to stretch and relax your body also calms the mind. Controlled breathing and focusing mindfully on how you are moving helps to prevent a ‘busy brain’ from worrying about day-to-day concerns.

PRICES