Fiona Oppenheimer Adv. Dip, BA (Hons)
Professional Counsellor & Psychotherapist
A warm welcome to you!
I am a registered accredited Integrative Psychotherapist, member of the NCPS (National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society) who has worked as a Cancer Care Counsellor with the NHS and with NDADA (North Devon Against Domestic Abuse).
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I work with young people 16+, adults and couples with a wide variety of mental health challenges, emotional difficulties and interpersonal relationship issues.
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I am trained as a Therapeutic Integrative Counsellor and Psychotherapist, which means my training covered not just one but a number of therapeutic models, approaches and techniques. This enables me to adapt and personalise how I work, depending on each individual's unique circumstances and needs.
Building on my rich life experience and solid background have enabled me to give a steadfast capacity to working with difficulties, with warmth and genuiness.
Our work together has been incredibly powerful. I have discovered parts of myself that were previously unknown to me and you have shown me how I might begin to care for and accept myself. The impact of our time together will be lasting.
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Client Testimonial
It's all about love
Do you feel you need some extra support right now and are considering talking to someone professionally?
Talking together can help to clarify things and to find a clear path. Counselling is a unique opportunity to learn more about yourself, improve your psychological health and feel supported to make positive decisions about your life.
You can't stop the waves,
but you can learn to surf.
Jon Kabbat-Zinn
HOW ARE YOU?
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We’re often asked, “How are you?” but how often do we have the time to really answer, let alone know how we truly feel?
It may be that you are feeling lost, confused, or stuck in your life and do not know which way to turn? You might be feeling overwhelmed by your feelings or unsure how you feel at all. These are very common experiences that can be helped by counselling.
In a therapy session, we would take time to see how you really are and for you to feel supported and cared for. Coming for therapy can be a reliable way of improving your mental health, creating stability in your mind and strengthening how you feel about yourself through building your confidence.
Life is so busy. Giving yourself time each week to have counselling may feel like a luxury, but most people really appreciate and value a peaceful space away from the demands of their lives to talk in private. Here you can receive psychological care uniquely personal to you.
I welcome you to contact me, to see if counselling can be of help to you.
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First of all Fiona is very approachable and accommodating, initial contact was responded to promptly and I felt very at ease straight away... Would definitely recommend if you are experiencing emotional difficulties, or facing a sort of crossroads in your life. The rate at which I made progress was rapid and hasn't waned like it would with a one-off session. Thank you so much for your help! It has been life changing.
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Client Testimonial
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Low self-esteem
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Miscarriage
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Panic disorder
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Physical abuse
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Postnatal depression
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Pregnancy and birth
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Relationship issues
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Retirement
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Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
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Self-harm
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Separation and divorce
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Sexuality
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Spirituality
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Stress
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Social Anxiety
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Trauma
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Work-related stress
General overview of work areas:
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Abuse
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Affairs and Betrayals
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Anxiety
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Anger Management
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Bereavement
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Bullying- at any age
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Cancer related issues
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Carer’s issues
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Chronic pain
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Depression
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Disabilities
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Divorce and separation
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Domestic violence
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Emotional abuse
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Family issues
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Generalised anxiety disorder
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Grief
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Isolation- e.g. new to an area
Having approached Fiona full of anxiety I was worried that I would find the sessions awkward and uncomfortable. By the end of my first session I was at ease and knew that I could speak to Fiona about absolutely anything without fear of judgement.
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Fiona is gentle and compassionate. Over our sessions I developed a wonderful connection with her and I looked forward to our chats. Fiona has given me some amazing tools and strategies to help manage my anxiety and depression and these will stay with me forever.
Client Testimonial
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Specializing in Anxiety Therapy,
Depression, Trauma and Relationships
Anxiety
Depression
Relationship Issues
Anxiety can make you see life worse than it really is and can prevent you from being able to do everyday tasks and even wanting to go out of your house. When we experience stress our 'fight or flight' system turns on, it's like an internal brain-warning alert that is made to protect us from harm in the wild.
Unlike moments of feeling sad, depression affects your daily life, making it hard for you to find enjoyment in day-to-day activities. Some days you may find it impossible to get out of bed, while other days you may feel more able to go about your normal daily tasks.
Relationships for many people bring an important source of love, support and advice, for others, it may not come so easily. Happy, strong relationships need time and effort. But sometimes these connections break down, leaving a person feeling lonely, sad and lost.
Self Discovery
Trauma
Bereavement
Who am I, really?
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In my search to answer this question, I realized that one level of authentic engagement is to develop the practice of listening, in the moment, to what is going on inside of me -- my thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, memories, and dreams.
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What makes life meaningful?
Why can't I find real happiness?
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These questions can come up for us at different points in our life...
Having a traumatic experience or witnessing some traumatic event can create a huge effect on your emotional well-being. Psychological trauma is normally occurs after a one traumatic event or many events that happen over time. Not everyone will react in the same way it depends on your emotional experience of the event. For some this can leave them feeling totally overwhelmed and unable to cope. Reactions like this are normal though even if they seem unusual.
If you have just experienced a death of someone close to you, you may be finding the changes to your life difficult to adjust to right now. To accept to a reality without your loved one can be very hard. Many find grief to be painful and our losses can effect all dimensions of our life.
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People react in different ways to loss. Anxiety and helplessness often come first.