Vanessa Bear 

Wild and Wellbeing

Psychotherapy and Counselling
for Adults, Children and Young People

Based near Kendal in the South Lakes, offering in-person and online sessions.

Drawing on a variety of psychological and body-based approaches, nature connection, mindfulness, creativity and EMDR to offer a highly individualised approach to support you in connecting with your innate strength, belonging and calm.

I also offer clinical supervision and professional training for counsellors, psychotherapists and other helping professionals, drawing on my experience of working with adults, children and adolescents, and my particular interest in safe trauma recovery, embodied approaches and therapist wellbeing.

Therapy enquiry
Clinical Supervision Enquiry
Nes smiling wearing a brightly coloured dress

A diverse offering for the diverse parts of you.

I work collaboratively with the people I support, exploring different approaches to find what best suits their individual needs and preferences. I particularly value the therapeutic relationship, safety, and helping people develop a greater sense of stability, choice and control.

I am also the co-author, with Babette Rothschild, of the 8 Keys to Safe Trauma Recovery Workbook and Help for the Helper Workbook, and the author of Wild & Well-Being: 70 Exercises for Nature-Based Self Care, all published by W. W. Norton.

 
therapy room

I work with adults, children and adolescents.

I am particularly experienced in working with people who are recovering from trauma, including relational and developmental trauma, PTSD and complex PTSD (CPTSD), as well as those experiencing anxiety, negative self-image, difficulties setting boundaries, eco-distress, and people who wish to gain greater connection with their innate strength, calm, and centred steadiness.

I have extensive experience of working with neurodivergent adults, children and young people, including autistic people and those with ADHD. I offer an individualised approach to psychotherapy, adapting how we work together according to each person's needs and preferences.

I work with children, adolescents and adults.

 

Clinical Supervision

I offer individual and group clinical supervision for psychotherapists, counsellors and other helping professionals who work with children and/or adults.

My approach is collaborative, trauma-informed and individualised, offering space to reflect on your clinical work, explore different perspectives and develop your confidence and skills. We can also incorporate embodied and creative approaches, depending on what works best for you.

Sessions are available in person in Staveley, near Kendal, outdoors, and online.

Find out more about Clinical Supervision

 

Training and Workshops

I offer practical, experiential training for psychotherapists, counsellors and other helping professionals, as well as workshops tailored to organisations, schools and staff teams.

I also facilitate Therapist Socials, offering opportunities for connection and community outside clinical work.

You can find information about my Training & Workshops, Training for Organisations and upcoming Events.

Weekly & Intensive EMDR

EMDR can help people recover from distressing experiences, trauma and difficult memories. I offer EMDR for adults, children and adolescents, as part of longer-term therapy or through more focused weekly sessions and intensives.

EMDR

Eco-therapy

Outdoor psychotherapy, including walk-and-talk sessions and nature-connected approaches, in the South Lakes and Lake District.

Eco-therapy

Yoga Therapy

Individualised sessions exploring movement, breath, mindfulness and rest to support physical and emotional wellbeing, with practices you can use in everyday life. Bringing together ancient wisdom and modern science can be a potent combination.

Yoga Therapy

  • "I couldn’t recommend working with Nes enough. It’s the best self care investment you can make"

    Excerpt from anonymous client feedback form, shared with permission

  • "I find the sessions a really safe space to be able to express myself without any judgement."

    Excerpt from anonymous client feedback form, shared with permission

  • "My daughter blossomed"

    Taken from anonymous client feedback form, shared with permission

  • " I have also learnt how to stand up and advocate for myself, knowing what I deserve."

    Taken from anonymous client feedback form, shared with permission

  • "Nes is very gentle and inclusive"

    Taken from anonymous client feedback form, shared with permission

  • Nes makes me feel seen and heard in a way no therapist has before.  She has a flexible strategy and each session we do something different which helps me understand myself a little more each week.

    Taken from client feedback form, shared anonymously with permission

  • "I felt nervous before working with Nes, unsure what the journey would look like and how much I’d be able to open up. I needn’t have worried, Nes was the calm, non-judgemental and curious presence I needed to understand myself and the way I think and feel with more clarity."

    Taken from anonymous client feedback form, shared with permission

  • "Such a wonderfully relaxing and nurturing (workshop). Nes really made everyone feel welcome"

    Taken from anonymous client feedback form, shared with permission

  • 'You are a very aware, effective and caring therapist'

    Taken from anonymous client feedback form, shared with permission

Wild & Wellbeing Card Deck

A card deck titled 'Wild & Well-Being' by Vanessa Bear next to a sunflower card and a set of instructions, with the deck box open showing additional cards inside.

Wild & Well-Being: 70 Exercises for Nature-Based Self Care is available wherever books are sold, including the links below.

Bookshop UK
Amazon
WW Norton

Help For The Helper Workbook

Book cover for Help for the Helper Workbook

Co-authored with Babette Rothschild, Help for the Helper Workbook is available wherever books are sold, including the links below.

Bookshop UK
Amazon
WW Norton

8 Keys to Safe Trauma Recovery Workbook

Cover of a workbook titled '8 Keys to Safe Trauma Recovery' by Babette Rothschild and Vanessa Bear, featuring an image of keys.

Co-authored with Babette Rothschild, 8 Keys to Safe Trauma Recovery Workbook is available wherever books are sold, including the links below.

Bookshop UK
Amazon
WW Norton
A campsite in a wooded area with a large beige canopy tent, a table with camping supplies, wooden stools arranged in a circle, and surrounded by trees and sunlight filtering through the leaves.

Workshops & Events

For information about upcoming public retreats, workshops and training events, see the event page.

To book an event for your organisation, click here.

Events Page

Embodied, creative, nature-connected, trauma-informed psychotherapy, clinical supervision, workshops and training near Kendal, South Cumbria and online.