Bridget Woodward

Child counselling in Salisbury

I work with schools and parents to motivate and engage children using the arts, storytelling and relaxation techniques. My aim is to help teachers and parents to give children the opportunity to discover their inner strength and wisdom and to develop a sense that they are in control of their lives and their learning.

About Bridget Woodward

Hi there, I’m a nature lover, aunty, book collector, creator of imperfect art and HSP (highly sensitive person). I’ve been a qualified child counsellor for five years, working in a variety of settings. I have worked in education for over 25 years, as a teacher, literacy specialist, consultant, wellbeing practitioner and now as a counsellor.

I bring a sense of possibility and spaciousness to our work together, helping you or your child to regain your sense of enthusiasm and vitality in a gentle way. Due to my work with children, I have a unique perspective on human life and the healing process. I know how innately creative, wise and resourceful each one of us is.

My counselling experience includes four years at Hazlegrove Prep School, a small village school near Salisbury, a primary school in Basingstoke and with online clients over the pandemic.

As a counsellor by training all of my offerings are ethical in nature and delivered thoughtfully and reflectively.

Qualifications and experience

Diploma in Child Counselling (Institute for Arts in Therapy and Education) 2019
Diploma in Emotional Health and Wellbeing (Institute for Arts in Therapy and Education) 2013
Relax Kids training 2012
Certificate in Emotional Literacy (Institute for Arts in Therapy and Education) 2010
Certified Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic-Programming (ABNLP) 2009
Reading Recovery In-service course for Teachers 2009
PGCE Primary (Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education) 1998

I have attended recent training on the following topics; Facilitating Therapeutic Groups, Neurodiversity Conference (BACP), Importance of Relationship (Dan Hughes), Grief, Loss and Bereavement (Karen Treisman), Gender and Sexual Identity (Neil Young), Trauma Super Conference, Cultivating an Inclusive and Culturally Sensitive Practice (Synergetic Play Therapy Institute).

A little more about me

One of my favourite books is ‘Where the Wild Things are’ by Maurice Sendak (yes, it’s a children’s book!). I love the part where the private boat sails ‘in and out of weeks and almost over a year’. My journey ‘in and out’ of things has taken me to many places. From an inner city primary school in London to a rainforest in Ecuador. From bookshops (in pre-internet days!) to meditation centres. From teaching relaxation to children to dancing in the kitchen. From designing yoghurt pot sculptures in my classroom through to the first day of my arts counselling training where I found deep insights through a lump of yellow playdough.