Heather Dale Counselling and Psychotherapy in Keighley, West Yorkshire & Online

Helping You Find Clarity, Strength and Direction

Heather Dale, Counselling, Psychotherapy and Clinical Supervision in Keighley and West Yorkshire and elsewhere.

Welcome to my website.

Hello,

I’m Heather Dale, and pleased to meet you.

On these pages, I’ll give you an idea of how therapy works and how I can support you, both on-line or face to face from my room near Bingley in West Yorkshire. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You’ll also find my contract here, which might answer some of your queries. Here’s a little of what you can expect from our work together:

I am a senior accredited therapist, in practice for over 40 years, offering help and support for through life’s challenges — from children as young as four to adults in their nineties. Most of this time, I have worked from home, in West Yorkshire, between the towns of Keighley and Bingley, but since 2020 I have been offering on-line therapy as well as face to face, or a mixture of the two. The choice is always yours: talking on -line does mean that location is not an issue whereas face to face can suit some people better. IN my 40 years of practice I have worked with an extraordinary range of issues and life experiences so very little will shock or surprise me. I have often been called practical and down to earth, possibly because I am not afraid to offer suggestions when approriate, but also ready to listen if they are not right for you.

I am also trained to support individuals—and their families or friends—with visual impairment. If this is you, the issues you bring may not necessarily be related to VI but may be other challenges. I can offer an understanding space to address both the emotional and practical aspects of that experience.

A significant part of my work is supervision: offering therapists oversight of their practice. I work with people at all levels, from trainees to those coming up for retirement. It's a joy and a privilege to be part of the journey from trainee to qualifed therapist and beyond.
I say a little more abuout my supervision philosophy further down these pages. First of all, I am going to explain some of the issues I offer help with and then I will move onto supervision.

What I offer counselling or therapy help with:

f you are experiencing issues at work or education, perhaps where constant worry is turning to dread at the thought of the day ahead or you are off work and dreading having to return

•f something has gone wrong in your life and it 's affecting your every day-living

Have low vision/are blind and want a therapist who understands that your issues may not necessarily be connected with your vision
•
If you are a therapist (or other professional) and you have had a complaint made against you
•
If you have suffered a break up or break down of a romantic, family or other relationship


I provide both short-term and long-term therapy:

Long-term therapy (1 year or more) is ideal for exploring deep-rooted patterns, long-standing difficulties, or profound questions about life and self.

Short-term therapy can help you navigate immediate challenges or life changes, and find the clarity and tools you need to move forward.


Later on in these pages, you can listen to a podcast I made earlier in the year, or even have a look at my publications.


Some more of What I Can Offer:

A safe, welcoming space where you can explore both past and present challenges, and share your thoughts and feelings in a supportive environment.

An opportunity to gain new perspectives and truly understand your unique self.

Time to reflect on how past experiences may be influencing your life today.

A chance to identify unhelpful patterns and consider changes you might want to make.

Who I Work With

I work with individuals and couples looking to find help with particular issues, in life ( see above for more specific information) a If we’re connecting online or by phone, please make sure you’re in a private, quiet space so our conversation remains confidential. I also encourage taking some time before and after our sessions to reflect on what you’d like to discuss, and what we’ve talked about. While this isn’t essential, it can really enhance the process.

B>My Approach to Therapy
I provide what is broadly known as "talking therapy" which is also sometimes called psychotherapy. That means that through listening closely to what you tell me I may offer new insights or perspectives that help with mental and emotional issues, such as stress ( from whatever reason) and depression.

My clients often describe my style as down-to-earth, pragmatic, and direct. I believe therapy should be purposeful: my aim is for you to discover what you need as quickly and effectively as possible — without unnecessary complication or jargon.

If you are looking for a therapist with decades of experience, a practical approach, and genuine care for you, I would be honoured to work with you.


Counselling vs. Psychotherapy
You might be wondering about the difference between counselling and psychotherapy. While the terms can vary in meaning, I use them interchangeably. Both aim to help people gain insights and make positive changes. Traditionally, counselling focuses on current issues, while psychotherapy dives deeper into past experiences. But in practice, these lines often blur.

I am a senior, accredited therapist registered with the BACP, and I’m also proud to hold a Fellowship for my contributions to the profession. If you'd like to know more about BACP’s ethical framework, or to read my contract with important details about confidentiality, please check the resources on my website.

What Happens Next?
Our journey together will typically begin with a quick phone call to discuss what you’re looking for in therapy. From there, we can schedule your first session, and I’ll send over my contract and other details before we meet. This first session is a chance to see if we’re a good fit for each other. If we decide to move forward, therapy can be an open-ended process, with no set end date.
I’m looking forward to hearing from you and hopefully starting this work together.


Supervision
I offer supervision to therapists from the beginning of their journey as trainees, right through to retirement.

I offer:

supervision to trainees: giving you confidence to decide whether this is the right path for you, and if so, guidance as you start on those diffcult first steps

support in achieving milestones, such as appplying for accreditation/senior accreditation, moving into private practice or moving toward retirement

support if there has been a complaint made, or you are concerned that there might be , or if you are considering making a complaint about another professional.

I still offer in-person sessions, especially for supervision, so please reach out if that’s something that feels right for you.
The beauty of online therapy is that you can meet with me from the comfort of your home—or even from a peaceful garden or quiet spot. No travel time means more flexibility, making it easier to fit sessions into your life. If you’re unsure, why not give it a try?

Please note: because my therapy room is up a flight of stairs, it is not accessible for wheel chair users - sorry!.

My Approach to Therapy

My clients often describe my style as down-to-earth, pragmatic, and direct. I believe therapy should be purposeful: my aim is for you to discover what you need as quickly and effectively as possible — without unnecessary complication or jargon.

If you are looking for a therapist with decades of experience, a practical approach, and genuine care for your journey, I would be honoured to work with you.

I provide what is broadly known as "talking therapy" which is also sometimes called psychotherapy. That means that through listening closely to what you tell me I may offer new insights or perspectives that help with mental and emotional issues, such as stress ( from whatever reason) and depression.

Counselling vs. Psychotherapy
You might be wondering about the difference between counselling and psychotherapy. While the terms can vary in meaning, I use them interchangeably. Both aim to help people gain insights and make positive changes. Traditionally, counselling focuses on current issues, while psychotherapy dives deeper into past experiences. But in practice, these lines often blur.
I am a senior, accredited therapist registered with the BACP, and I’m also proud to hold a Fellowship for my contributions to the profession. If you'd like to know more about BACP’s ethical framework, or to read my contract with important details about confidentiality, please check the resources on my website.

What Happens Next?
Our journey together will typically begin with a quick phone call to discuss what you’re looking for in therapy. From there, we can schedule your first session, and I’ll send over my contract and other details before we meet. This first session is a chance to see if we’re a good fit for each other. If we decide to move forward, therapy can be an open-ended process, with no set end date.
I’m looking forward to hearing from you and hopefully starting this work together.