Finder

Specialises in

• Counselling

• Psychotherapy

Offers

• Face-to-face consultations
• Video and telephone consultations

About me

Hi I am Leigh and I have been a counsellor/psychotherapist for over 25 years. I have worked for many Employee Assistance Programmes over those years which is mainly short term work (5-6 sessions). I also work in private practice. I worked in secondary schools for 16 years, counselling children and young people.
I am a person-centred pluralistic therapist - this means that I will work with you to work out what you want and we co-create your therapy, to ensure you get what you need. Person-centred therapy relies on providing the conditions within the therapeutic relationship to allow you to listen to yourself and to find your own answers. In doing this, you learn to trust your own inner wisdom to help you fulfil your potential and arrive at your own solutions and work towards change.
My ongoing professional training equips me to cover a list of issues but my main area of interest will by You and who you are. I also work in a university, teaching and researching counselling and psychotherapy. Creativity is a huge part of my work and I often use creative methods to help clients explore what is going on for them in a way which is not so reliant on words. This is always an invitation to the client and there is no pressure to work in this way.
I am an empathic, warm, open human being and I look forward to meeting you.

Publications
Contributions to following chapters:
Understanding the Developmental Impact of Domestic Violence and Adverse Childhood Experiences in Childhood https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003253266-9 (doi: 10.4324/9781003253266-9)
Using Creative Arts Therapies to Work with Trauma Developed from Experiences of Domestic Abuse.. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003253266-13 (doi: 10.4324/9781003253266-13)
Enhancing Therapeutic Skills https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003253266-4 (doi: 10.4324/9781003253266-4
in Working with Client Experiences of Domestic Abuse A Handbook for Counsellors, Psychotherapists, and Other Mental Health Professionals. 2023. Ed. Roddy. J. London:Routledge.
Expressive Therapies chapter in Next Steps in Counselling. (2025)Eds. Blunden. N., Sanders. P. Wilkins. P. PCCS
Co-editor on forthcoming, Handbook of Creative Counselling and Psychotherapy. Volume 1 and Volume 2. Published January 2027 by Taylor and Routledge.

Areas of interest

I work with clients aged 16+.
My practice is LGBTQI+ friendly, neuro affirming and I work a lot around issues of identity, culture, similarities and difference.
Areas of interest and extra training in order to specialise in these are as follows:
-abuse, historical as well as recent, emotional, sexual, physical; support after crime; bereavement and loss (including loss of pets); self-esteem; decision making; anxiety: stress; difficulties at work including overload, bullying, change; depression; relationship issues including separation, divorce, domestic abuse,: trauma, PTSD, complex PTSD, eating disorders; family; relationship problems; fertility issues; peri menopause and menopause;

Specialist interests and expertise in the following physical conditions

• Eating disorders
• Gastrointestinal disorders
• Gynaecological disorders

• Neurological disorders
• Oncology
• Psychophysiological disorders

• Physical disability
• Rheumatological conditions

Medical secretaries

• To book an appointment see below
• Whalley Range Manchester M16 8WF
• 07976 523787
• 07976 523787
• leigh-gardner@hotmail.co.uk