Blue Amber Counselling Psychotherapy and Holistic Therapies
Counselling, Psychotherapy and Hypnotherapy & ADHD/ASD Coaching, Reiki and Counselling Supervision for Student and Qualified Counsellors.
About Me
I am a fully qualified Integrative Counsellor with extensive experience in private practice, which I have been running since 2011. Over the years, I have continued my professional development, gaining additional qualifications and specialising in various areas of counselling, psychotherapy, and hypnotherapy. In addition to my professional expertise, I have ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which provide me with unique insight into neurodiversity and the challenges it can present. This lived experience enhances my ability to support clients navigating similar experiences, fostering a deeper understanding and connection. My expertise extends beyond formal training, drawing on years of professional and personal experience. These include working in the fields of substance misuse and addictions, learning disabilities, domestic violence, chronic pain, fatigue, and life-limiting illnesses. As someone who has lived with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for most of my life—diagnosed in 2011—I understand the challenges these conditions present. Motivated by my personal journey, I established the Fibromyalgia Somerset & Invisible Me Wellbeing Support Group. This group provides support and information for individuals managing pain, fatigue, and invisible illnesses, including online resources. Additionally, I have contributed to the FMA UK National Support Line. I possess extensive knowledge of fibromyalgia, musculoskeletal and arthritic conditions, and other pain and fatigue-related disorders. My counselling and coaching sessions aim to help individuals better understand and manage their conditions to create a more fulfilling life. Mindfulness Expertise
I hold an Advanced Diploma in Mindfulness, which I integrate uniquely into therapy, offering practical approaches that fit seamlessly into daily routines, including workplace settings. Mindfulness has been transformative for my stress management and fibromyalgia, allowing me to lead a more balanced and less painful life. I share this knowledge in my practice as a "plug-in therapy" tailored to client needs. Specialist Areas
I specialize in working with personality disorders and am fully trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). I also offer ADHD coaching, supported by a Level 2 Certificate in working with individuals navigating diagnosis and management. I provide therapy for adults, young people, and children, addressing a wide range of issues, including but not limited to:
Trauma and Abuse: PTSD, CPTSD, childhood abuse, and relational trauma. Mental Health: Anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and personality disorders. Physical Health: Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue/ME, pain management, and life-limiting conditions. Life Challenges: Bereavement, disability, stress, work-related issues, relationship challenges, and general counselling needs. Behavioral Issues: Substance misuse, anger management, ADHD, and more. Session Structure
Sessions last up to an hour and are tailored to each individual. We work collaboratively to identify the issues at hand and determine the best therapeutic approach. You don’t need to be in crisis to benefit from counselling; sessions can also focus on personal growth and finding direction in life. To achieve the best outcomes, a minimum of six sessions is recommended, though this varies depending on individual needs. Complex issues may require longer-term therapy. Contact Information
Lizzy
📞 01278 760680 / 07815 606 372
✉️ blueambercounselling@live.co.uk
Qualifications and Training
Higher Diploma in Counselling (Integrative Therapy): 2011
Advanced Certificate in Counselling Practice: 2009
Mindfulness Diploma: 2016
Diploma in Hypnotherapy: 2019 (Somerset School of Hypnotherapy)
Smoking Cessation, Weight Management, Hypnotic Gastric Band Procedures. Advanced Diploma in Transpersonal Therapy: 2020
Specialized Training:
Adolescent Development and Substance Misuse: 2014
Working with Relational Trauma: Dealing with Disorganized Attachment: 2017
Trauma and the Body: Somatization and Dissociation: 2017
Post-Qualifying Diploma in Counselling Children and Adolescents: 2017
Working with Dissociative Disorders in Clinical Practice: 2017
DBT Essentials (Accredited Level 3): 2018
08/12/2025
🌿 Monday Reset: Let’s Talk Hypnotherapy 🌿
Some Mondays you wake up determined… and some you wake up exhausted by the same old battles — anxiety that won’t settle, habits you can’t break, emotional overwhelm, or patterns you’re just tired of repeating.
When emotions feel like they run the show, hypnotherapy can help you reset those deeper responses and build calmer, steadier ways of coping. It’s a powerful tool for people who:
• React too strongly to small triggers
• Feel constantly on edge or overstimulated
• Shut down or go numb during stress
• Replay conversations or mistakes endlessly
• Struggle to switch off at night
• Bottle things up until they explode
• Feel guilt or shame after emotional outbursts
• Avoid situations because emotions feel “too much”
At Blue Amber: The Holistic Therapist, hypnotherapy is calm, safe, and genuinely transformative. It supports:
✨ Anxiety & stress
✨ Emotion regulation for ADHD, Autism, and BPD
✨ Emetophobia
✨ Confidence and self-worth
✨ Weight management
✨ Trauma healing support
✨ Breaking habits
If you’ve been thinking, “I’ll sort myself out in the new year,” here’s your Monday nudge:
Book a pre-Christmas call now and get your plan in place.
Start January with support ready to go rather than feeling like you’re already behind.
Change starts the moment you choose it.
💙 Blue Amber is here when you’re ready.
Message this page or text me on: 07815 606 372
07/12/2025
🌿 2-Hour DBT Skills Coaching Intensive (1:1 on Zoom)
Starting January 2026 — contact me now to book your space.
Struggling with overwhelm, big emotions, or communication?
This focused 2-hour DBT Skills Coaching session gives you practical, life-changing tools you can use immediately.
💬 Perfect for ADHD, Autism, BPD traits, anxiety, emotional dysregulation, and anyone who wants better emotional control.
What We Cover in Just 2 Hours:
✨ Mindfulness skills to calm your mind
✨ Distress Tolerance tools for emotional overwhelm
✨ Emotion Regulation strategies that actually work
✨ Interpersonal Effectiveness (boundaries, communication, saying no)
This is not a long DBT programme — it’s a fast, focused coaching session designed to help you feel more in control today.
✔️ 1:1 Private Coaching via Zoom
✔️ 2 Hours of DBT Skills Coaching
✔️ Personalised Skills Plan Included
💷 Cost: £200
📝 How It Works
• We start with a quick call to discuss why you wish to enrol onto the 2-hour coaching session and ensure it’s the right fit for you.
• After our call, you’ll receive a booking email with everything you need, including:
• Your session details
• What to expect
• A secure payment link to make your deposit and confirm your place
Once your deposit is paid, your session is officially booked.
📌 Terms & Conditions:
• A 50% deposit is required to secure your booking.
• The deposit is non-refundable once paid, as this confirms your commitment.
• If you need to change your appointment, you must contact me at least 72 hours before your session.
• With 72+ hours’ notice, your session can be rescheduled, but no refunds are given.
• If less than 72 hours’ notice is given, the session cannot be moved or refunded,
unless exceptional circumstances apply (assessed individually).
Sundays have a way of bringing things to the surface — the thoughts we’ve pressed down all week, the memories we keep meaning to deal with, the quiet ache of trauma that doesn’t magically disappear just because life expects us to keep going.
If you’re noticing those old wounds tugging for attention today, take it as a sign you deserve support… not “one day,” but when you’re ready — and if you’re reading this, maybe you’re closer to ready than you think.
At Blue Amber: The Holistic Therapist, I help people navigate trauma with a steady, integrative approach — blending psychotherapy, DBT skills, hypnotherapy, Reiki, grounding work, and a genuinely human connection. Trauma can make you feel stuck, exhausted, or disconnected from yourself. You don’t have to untangle it alone.
If you’ve been thinking about reaching out, why not book a pre-Christmas call?
A simple conversation now can give you a clear plan for starting therapy in the New Year — calm, organised, and already moving forward.
Your healing doesn’t have to wait until January.
A small step today is still a step.
💙 Ready when you are — Blue Amber is here to help.
Message me via this page or on: 07815 606 372
06/12/2025
06/12/2025
Today we heard "Streeting orders review into mental health and ADHD diagnoses" [BBC]. ADHD is an underdiagnosed and undersupported medical issue.
ADHD is not overdiagnosed. A recent Lancet study published research that analysed 9 million GP records and showed just 0.32% of patients have a diagnosis of ADHD. That's nudging just 10% of the 3-4% of the population who have ADHD. We're underdiagnosed, not overdiagnosed. In addition, a BBC study showed the average wait for an ADHD diagnosis in England is 8 years. The idea that you can achieve overdiagnosis with an average wait of nearly a decade is just preposterous.
The targets of the announced report are laudable "to raise the healthiest generation, increase healthy life expectancy, and reduce su***de". People with ADHD are more at risk of su***de and have a lower life expectancy. 1 in 4 women, and 1 in 10 men, with ADHD will at some time try to take their own lives. On average, a woman with ADHD will die 9 years younger than her peers, and a man 7 years younger than his peers. The issues and challenges that ADHD can bring are finally being recognised, and our potentially naive hope is that this review will progress the recognition of ADHD.
However, we are very worried about the government's failure to bring a political solution to the rising cost of welfare, means they're instead looking to run roughshod over decades of medical progress and recognition. In particular for ADHD.
06/12/2025
Dialetical Behaviour Therapy (DBT): Real Support for Real Life – Without the Waiting Lists
By Blue Amber: The Holistic Therapist
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy has a reputation for being intense, complicated, and—let’s be honest—hard to access. Most people hear “DBT” and immediately picture long waiting lists, strict programmes, and group work they don’t feel ready for.
But DBT isn’t meant to be a mountain you climb.
At its core, it’s a practical set of life skills:
• Managing emotions without feeling hijacked by them
• Staying present instead of catastrophising
• Communicating clearly without blowing up or shutting down
• Building a life that actually feels worth living
That’s what DBT was built for. And that’s exactly how I deliver it at Blue Amber—stripped of jargon, shaped around real life, and focused entirely on you.
What DBT Is Used For (and Why It Helps So Many People)
DBT is one of the most evidence-based approaches for:
• Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD/EUPD)
• Emotional dysregulation
• ADHD & ASD emotional intensity
• Impulsivity and self-sabotaging behaviours
• Relationship chaos and communication struggles
• Anxiety, self-esteem issues, chronic overwhelm
• Trauma-related emotional swings
The reason it works?
Because DBT doesn’t just help you understand emotions—it teaches you how to handle them when they’re loud, messy, inconvenient, or overwhelming. It gives you the tools that most people quietly wish they’d learned years ago.
Blue Amber’s Approach: DBT Without the Overwhelm
This isn’t a 6-month programme.
This isn’t a tick-box course.
This isn’t a clinical group where you’re expected to bare your soul to strangers.
My version of DBT is different:
One-to-One. Personalised. Neurodivergent-friendly. No waiting list.
You get:
• DBT skills taught in plain language
• Real examples tailored to your actual life
• Space to ask questions and process things at your pace
• Sessions built around the way you think — perfect for ADHD, ASD, BPD, trauma, and chronic fatigue
• Support that adapts as you grow, instead of forcing you into a rigid system
This is DBT simplified — still powerful, still clinically grounded, but accessible and usable from day one.
What Makes My DBT Support Different?
🟣 You’re not just learning skills — you’re applying them in real time
We focus on what’s happening in your world right now and build skills straight into it.
🟣 It’s confidential, private, and one-to-one
No groups, no pressure, no comparison.
🟣 You can start immediately
No 18-month wait. No hoops. If you’re ready, I’m ready.
🟣 You get an integrative approach
DBT blends with my wider therapeutic toolkit: trauma-informed work, ADHD/ASD coaching, hypnotherapy, somatic work, and mindfulness—tailored to your needs.
🟣 You leave each session with something you can use that same day
Not theory. Not homework you’ll never touch. Actual, practical tools.
**If You’re Tired of Feeling “Too Much,” “Not Enough,” or “Out of Control…”
You don’t have to stay stuck there. DBT can genuinely change how you move through the world. And you don’t need a massive programme to start—just a willingness to take the first step.**
Blue Amber makes DBT accessible, human, and grounded in everyday life.
One-to-one. Compassionate. Effective. And ready when you are.
Just drop me a message for more information.. or call or text 07815 606 372 🤗
06/12/2025
✨ Happy Saturday, everyone! ✨
Wishing you all a peaceful, gentle weekend. I hope you get a moment to breathe, reset, and take care of you.
It’s wild to think Christmas is fast approaching, and there’s a lot coming up here, so stay tuned! 🎄💫
Starting soon, we’ll be celebrating The 12 Days of Christmas right here on this page, each day sharing something new, helpful, or inspiring. I’ll be giving bite-sized info about all the services I offer, supporting you in planning ahead, and helping you get ready for those January “new chapter” intentions.
If you’re already thinking about personal growth, healing, or making real changes in 2026, now’s the time to start booking your January sessions. Fresh year, fresh energy, fresh momentum. ✨
And keep your eyes open because I’ll also be revealing something new that I’m very excited about. 👀💙
Wishing you a calm, restful weekend,
Lizzy – Blue Amber: The Holistic Therapist 💙✨
05/12/2025
Sometimes all the extra pressure at this time of year makes things feel even heavier, especially if you’re already having a tough time. We’re here if you need us. 116 123 📱
05/12/2025
WE'RE IN!
Yesterday was the big day, with the help of lots of happy helpers we got everything moved either to our new home or to our storage unit over at Big Bull Self Storage.
We're getting everything ready as much as we can, but it's going to be a work in progress for a while. We're hoping to have a proper plan and timeline after a site visit this weekend.
The future is looking bright!
As always, please keep sharing our crowdfunder, we still need your help to make our new home the best it can be for our clients both current and future.
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Blue Amber Counselling Psychotherapy and Holistic Therapies posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Contact The Practice
Send a message to Blue Amber Counselling Psychotherapy and Holistic Therapies:
About me
My name is Lizzy Oakley of Blue Amber Counselling.
I am a qualified Integrative counsellor. Integrative therapy , or integrative counselling is a combined approach to psychotherapy that brings together different elements of specific therapies.
I have been a carer in many capacities which include the care of my own daughter who contracted meningitis at the age of 13 months old. She was left with life limiting injuries and severe to profound deafness. From this I have gained a vast amount of knowledge which I feel could benefit other people alike.
My counselling training started at a school working with children and adolescents ranging from 11 to 16 years of age.
My other areas of expertise comes from working within the field of and life experience itself, and include: substance misuse and addictions, learning disabilities, domestic violence, pain and chronic fatigue, life limiting illness, and much more.
I have extensive knowledge around fibromyalgia, musculoskeletal and arthritic diseases as well as other pain and fatigue conditions.
I have suffered from Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue for most of my life but was not diagnosed until 2011. From this I set up and created a local community support group and a online support page under the name of Fibromyalgia Somerset & Invisible Me Wellbeing Support Group. Sadly the local community group has now closed but I continue to support people on a one to one basis in the community as well as still run the worldwide support page. This page supports anyone suffering the impact of any pain and fatigue related illness.
One to One Community Support
Are you newly diagnosed and don't know how to cope or where to find help ?
Do you feel isolated, anxious and lonely ?
Do others around you not understand you ?
Are you struggling to get your GP or other health professional to understand how you feel or listen to you ?
Do you grieve over the way you used to be able to do things ?
You could benefit from one to one private counselling/therapy. I offer a 6 week package which will help you be able to move forward with your life again. This can be in your own home or at an easy to get to location.
Contact me for more information.
I have a Diploma in Mindfulness and offer courses for this as well as Mindfulness Therapy. I also offer a number of other courses and this can be found on my webpage under the services I offer Section.
I am a registered member of the British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) I abide by its Ethical Framework for good practice in Counselling & Psychotherapy.
I work with:
Abuse, Anxiety, Depression, Bereavement, Disability, General Counselling, Self Esteem, Relationships, Stress, Work Related Issues, Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue/ME, Substance Misuse, Anger Management, Couple Counselling and many others.
I offer:
Low Cost Counselling for Counselling Students
Long term face to face work
Short term face to face work
Home visits (Usually housebound or disabled clients)
Online counselling (Email or Chat)
Telephone Counselling
I offer a confidential service whether this be face to face, through a telephone call, email or social media.
After you have made first contact we will then agree a time and day to meet either at Blue Amber Therapy Rooms or at an agreed local venue.
My sessions are for a full hour where we discuss what the issues might be if any and how I might be able to help you.
I offer Integrative therapy where I will look at what the issues may be and then look at the right ways to help you work through things. However you don't need need to have any issues when coming to counselling but just looking for a way forward with your life.
To get the best from your counselling you will need to see me for at least 6 sessions. However some people need more and this is fine as not everyone is the same and need more time to resolve their issues.
"Knowing Yourself Is the Beginning of all Wisdom"
Training, Qualifications & Experience
Higher Diploma In Counselling [Integrative Therapy] [2011]
Advanced Certificate In Counselling Practice [2009]
Mindfulness Diploma [2016]
Adolescent Development and Substance Misuse [2014]
Extensive Experience around Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue and its Research.
Working with Relational Trauma: Dealing with Disorganised Attachement. [March 2017]
Trauma and the Body: Somatisation and Dissociation. [March 2017]
Post Qualifying Diploma In Counselling Children & Adolescents [July 2017]
Working with Dissociative Disorders in Clinical Practice [Oct 2017]
