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Welcome

Helen Rutherford MBACP Accredited founded Emotional Respite in 2014 to provide specialist support to individuals affected by disabilities and illness. Support through diagnosis, illness, accidents resulting in injury and everyday living - not only the individual but also their family, partners and carers. Helen has brought together a team of disabled therapists to offer this specialist service who have an advanced empathetic understanding of disability and illness-related issues.

As a therapist with a progressive disability, I can understand that you have to constantly readjust to do what you can to be as independent as possible. Physical health and mental health are fundamentally linked as one affects the other. I believe that managing your mental health is the key to staying as healthy as possible. I think it is important for individuals to focus on what they can do, make goals, have a focus, challenge themselves, keep moving forward, and grow.

This service will tackle issues such as:

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  • Internalised ableism

  • Loss

  • Anxiety

  • Low self-esteem

  • Assertiveness

  • Empowerment

  • Coping strategies

  • Depression

  • Isolation

  • Relationships

  • Diagnosis

  • Carer support

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  • Negative thoughts

  • Anger

  • Worry

  • Hopelessness

  • Oppression

  • Progressive illness

  • Sexual abuse

  • Psychological abuse

  • Guilt

  • Independence

  • Transition

  • Stress

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Helen Rutherford Founder of Emotional Respite Disability Counselling Service
BACP Logo Registered member 65042. Professional standards authority. Accredited register.

Meet The Team








 

Helen Rutherford

I am the founder of Emotional Respite Disability Counselling Service. I have Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type II and I'm a full-time electric wheelchair user.

I have built this online safe space for people living with disabilities or illnesses to access psychological support from experienced disabled therapists from the comfort of their own homes. We have a wealth of personal and professional knowledge within the team and we are ready to support you through your difficult days. 

I am striving to create an online therapy service which promotes accessible psychological services where we look at the holistic needs of individuals and what impacts them. As disabled therapists we "get it" and we hope to offer you a space where you are seen, heard and understood. 

​Helen Rutherford BA Hons,
Dip HE,  MBACP Accred
Clinical Director

Our Specialist Disability Therapists

Louise Brookes

Louise Brookes MSc, PGDip, MBACP

Works with issues such as:

  • ADD / ADHD

  • Anxiety

  • Autism

  • CFS / ME

  • Depression

  • Physical Disability

  • Health-related issues

  • Identity issues

  • LGBTQ+ counselling

  • Sexual identity

  • Sexuality

  • Stress

  • MS

  • Life Transitions

  • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

  • Chronic Pain

  • Women's issues

  • Carer support

Liz Whiteley

Liz Whiteley BSc, PGDip, NCPS Accred

Works with issues such as:

  • Trauma and PTSD

  • Disability

  • Autism 

  • Relationship Issues 

  • CFS/ ME

  • Anxiety

  • Family Conflict

  • Self-esteem

  • Self-Harming

  • LGBTQ+ counselling

  • Depression

  • Education and Learning Disabilities

  • Peer Relationships

  • Bereavement

  • Stress

  • Carer Support

  • Emotional Abuse 

  • Disassociation

Libby Webber

Libby Webber DipHe, NCPS Accred

Works with issues such as:

  • Becoming disabled

  • CFS / ME

  • Depression

  • Chronic Pain

  • Disabilities

  • Health Anxiety

  • 'Meaning of life' or existential issues

  • Carer support

  • Life/skills coaching

  • Becoming a step-parent

  • Emotional Abuse 

  • Low self-confidence

  • Relationship problem

  • Trauma

  • Loneliness

  • Cancer

  • Depression

​

Hayley Louise Bailey

Hayley Louise Bailey PGDip, MBACP Accred

Works with issues such as:

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Complex trauma

  • Autism & neurodiversity

  • Panic attacks

  • Loneliness

  • CFS / ME 

  • Cultural issues

  • Disability

  • LGBTQ+

  • ​Health-related issues 

  • Invisible illness

  • Stress

  • Low self-esteem

  • Grief and loss

  • Anger

  • Bullying

  • Death and dying

  • Eating disorders 

Frances Taylor

Frances Taylor Mcs, DipHe, MBACP

Works with issues such as:

  • ADHD

  • Anxiety

  • Autism

  • Chronic illness

  • Disabilities

  • Carer support

  • Endometriosis

  • PTSD

  • LGBTQ+ counselling

  • CFS/ ME

  • ​Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Loneliness

  • Bereavement

  • Cancer

  • Abuse

  • Young Carer

  • Low self-esteem

  • Behaviour problems

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Martin Rigby, MA, MBACP

Works with issues such as:

  • Neurodiversity

  • Trauma

  • Grief and loss 

  • ​Coping

  • Disabilities

  • Long term health conditions

  • Carer support

  • Abuse

  • ​Anxiety

  • Self-harm

  • Sex and sexuality

  • Independence

  • Childhood issues

  • Relationship issues

  • Depression

  • Loneliness

  • Low self-esteem

  • Confidence Issues

  • Emotional issues

Works with issues such as:

  • ADD / ADHD

  • Anger management

  • Anxiety

  • Autism spectrum 

  • ​Abuse 

  • Bereavement

  • Cancer 

  • CFS/ ME

  • Coaching

  • Cultural issues

  • Depression

  • Disability

  • Eating disorders

  • Identity issues

  • OCD

  • Personal development

  • Relationships

  • Self esteem

  • Self-harm

  • Sexuality

  • Trauma​

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Sanjit Hussain PGCert, MBACP Accred, PNCPS Acc.

All of our therapists are fully qualified and insured to practice. They are all members of Governing bodies and receive clinical supervision in line with ethical guidelines for best practice.

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