About Us
Hartwood Health was set up in October 2019 by Paula Wood, a registered dietitian with many years of experience. She strongly believes that health issues are rarely solved in isolation. Instead, a whole-body approach is required to identify where a problem originates and how to achieve better health.
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It is for this reason that Hartwood Health has a broad team of specialists,
covering nutrition, counselling, musculoskeletal health, and more.
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Please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
We can discuss your concerns and assist in finding the most appropriate treatment for you.
Meet The Teams
Our Counselling experts
Lorraine Stevens
Counsellor
Lorraine is a qualified Counsellor, working with both young people and adults in an agency in Wokingham and for the NHS Youth Counselling Service.
In her previous career role, Lorraine recognised the warmth, empathy and passion she has for connecting with people.
She subsequently spent 4 years training to be a Counsellor at Farnborough College of Technology, followed by a further year working with young people and adolescents.
Lorraine is an integrative counsellor whose belief is: “negative experiences from the past shape and affect our life and our sense of who we are. Sometimes people feel the need for extra support, so talking to an impartial third party can be helpful; to talk freely in a confidential space with someone whose life is separate from their own''
Lorraine has experience of working with a wide variety of common life issues and mental health problems, from anxiety and panic attacks to suicidal ideation, trauma and neurodiversity.
In her free time, Lorraine enjoys yoga, reading and walking her dog.
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Fiona Herbert
Systemic Psychotherapist & Social Worker
Fiona Herbert is a Couples and Family Systemic Psychotherapist and Social Worker with 25 years of experience in the health and social care sector.
She has worked extensively in local authority and health settings, residential care, public and international schools with 10 years’ experience in private practice.
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Fiona currently works part-time as a Systemic Family Psychotherapist in an NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) and in private practice.
Fiona’s qualifications include Master’s degrees in Social Work and Marriage and Family Therapy as well as a Postgraduate Diploma in Systemic Psychotherapy. She is also a Doctoral student in Psychotherapy focusing on the use of Family Therapy interventions with Autistic patients.
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Fiona provides individual, couple and family therapy to adults, adolescents and children above the age of 8 challenged by a variety of issues.
This may include but is not limited to parenting, relationships, behavioural issues, substance abuse, depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, loss, trauma and educational issues.
Fiona enjoys using an integrated strengths-based approach that is family-based and systemically applied to enable a holistic understanding of the issues. She uses a wide range of therapeutic modalities but is particularly interested in solution-focused, narrative, expressive, ACT and experiential therapies. Fiona is trained in EMDR, Gottman method couples therapy, and emotion-focused couples therapy.
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In Fiona’s free time, she loves spending time with her family, friends and playing any sport she can !
Helen Rowell
Counsellor
Helen is a qualified counsellor who works with adults. Having had counselling herself, which she describes as “life changing”, she decided she also wanted to help people in the way she had been. She subsequently spent 4 years training to be a counsellor, specialising in Person Centred Counselling. She provides counselling for MIND and has also worked within a Domestic Abuse Charity as a counsellor.
Helen says, “ In a world where there are so many expectations, pressures and challenges, I am passionate about providing counselling and a time where you are able to feel heard, understood, valued and fully accepted for the true person you are.”
She works with the client to make sense of what is going on for them, recognising how it is affecting their well-being, behaviours, thoughts and feelings. Through counselling she can help you to explore solutions, connect to the answers that are within you and support you as you move forwards towards personal growth, wellness and a more fulfilling, meaningful and happier life.
Helen is a registered member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP), and adheres to their code of ethics. She is continually developing her knowledge and skills as a practitioner. She is an autistic aware counsellor.
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Helen has experience of working with a wide variety of life challenges and mental health conditions and some of the issues she works with include anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, domestic abuse, loss of confidence, low self-esteem, grief, life changes, relationship problems and personal growth.
In her free time, Helen loves to walk her dog and spend time with her family and friends.
Counsellor
Vanessa Shefras
Vanessa is a qualified Humanistic Counsellor with training in Transactional Analysis (TA), who has worked with individuals of all ages in a GP surgery in Chandler’s Ford. She also helps manage the service there and supports trainee counsellors.
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Her background is within the medical profession, and she has always been passionate about helping people achieve their potential, enjoying the role of facilitator in that process.
Vanessa’s empathic and caring nature has been key to supporting individuals in reaching their goals.
She spent three years training as a counsellor at Peter Symonds College in Winchester after working with young people in education who needed emotional learning support. Upon qualifying, she remained at the GP surgery where she completed her placement and also worked with young people through a local charity.
Vanessa understands that life can sometimes throw unexpected challenges, and the ways people previously coped may no longer work. Everyone can feel lost, stuck, or confused at some point, but she believes in the capacity for change.
She provides support by helping individuals explore and understand themselves within a safe, confidential space. Her approach is tailored to each individual to promote healing and personal growth.
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Vanessa has experience working with a wide range of life challenges and mental health issues, whether in personal or work life, including loss and bereavement, work-related stress, trauma, anxiety, ill health, self-harm, and suicidal ideation.
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In her free time, she enjoys yoga, walking outdoors, and attending concerts.
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MBACP: 396753
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