Counselling PracticE
Meet Our Associate Therapists
At The Hill Counselling Practice in Padiham, we believe that the relationship you have with your therapist is key to you getting the most out of your sessions.
You might click straight away, take your time or find you don't click at all - that's ok!
You'll find that all of our therapists offer a no-obligation consultation as a way of exploring what it is that brings you to therapy, whether therapy can help and to establish a sense of whether you'll ‘click’.
Why Choose Us?
Counselling & Psychotherapy is an unregulated profession meaning that there may be therapists working as counsellors after only completing a short course.
At The Hill Counselling Practice we guarantee our associate therapists are:
- Fully qualified
- Registered with a membership body
- Registered with the ICO
- Insured
We verify those details so you don’t have to!
All of our therapists work with a wide range of mental health issues; if you are living with anxiety, depression, relational difficulties, low self-esteem and more, our associates have the skill, expertise and empathy to help. You’ll find a little about their areas of interest and specialisms in their profiles below.
John Dawson
- Director | Counsellor | Psychotherapist | Clinical Supervisor
- PGDip’, MBACP (Snr. Accred)
John is a Director of The Hill Counselling Practice and has over 20 years’ experience as a therapist.
He has past experience working in addiction and IAPT services, and in private practice works with individuals seeking focused, meaningful therapy. Alongside therapist and wife Zoe Dawson, John also offers a bespoke couples therapy programme.
John is an Integral Eye Movement Therapy (IEMT) practitioner. He is a gentle and patient therapist, known for his empathy and relational approach.
Areas of interest:
Addiction and recovery
Couples therapy and relationship patterns
Emotional wellbeing and personal change
Michelle Morley
- Director | Counsellor | Psychotherapist
- BA (HONS), PGDip’, MBACP
Michelle is an Integrative Psychotherapist and Director of The Hill Counselling Practice.
She works from a psychodynamic perspective with adults who want focused, meaningful therapy, paying close attention to how past experiences, relationships, and environment shape present-day thoughts, emotions, and patterns.
Her work is trauma-informed and grounded in both professional training and lived experience, including living with a disability, informing a relational approach to change.
Areas of interest:
Bereavement, grief and loss (including lived experience)
Trauma and its impact on identity and relationships
Emotional patterns that feel “stuck” or repetitive
Zoe Dawson
- Director | Counsellor | Psychotherapist | Clinical Supervisor
- MA, BA (Hons) (First Class), DProf, MBACP (Snr. Accred)
Dr Zoe Dawson is the co-founder and Director of The Hill Counselling Practice.
She works with individuals aged 16 and over, supporting clients with bereavement, grief and loss, trauma, relationship difficulties, and major life transitions. Her clinical training spans over eighteen years and includes trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT) and Integral Eye Movement Therapy (IEMT).
Her practice is grounded in a down-to-earth, collaborative and client-led approach. She is a warm, friendly and compassionate clinician who works relationally to support meaningful change.
Alongside her husband and colleague John Dawson, Zoe offers a different kind of relationship therapy, helping couples address ongoing problems, improve communication, and find a way forward.
Areas of interest:
Bereavement, grief and loss
Trauma and its impact on relationships
Relationship difficulties and major life transitions
Abby Hennessey
- Psychotherapeutic Counsellor
- BA, MSc, PgDip
Abby is an Integrative Psychotherapeutic Counsellor with a specialism in Transactional Analysis.
She offers a unique nature-based approach to therapy, providing outdoor sessions in Burnley, Padiham, and Hebden Bridge, alongside indoor and online counselling. With a professional background spanning statutory social work, research, and public sector consultancy, Abby brings a grounded, compassionate presence to her practice.
Her work is rooted in a deep respect for the connection between body, mind, soul, spirit, and the wider ecological world. She has a particular interest in embodied, somatic, and creative therapeutic methods, supporting individuals to reconnect with themselves, explore what makes them feel most alive, and cultivate a sense of vitality and growth through a holistic, nature-informed process.
Areas of interest:
Nature-based and outdoor therapy
Embodied, somatic and creative therapeutic methods
Holistic growth, vitality and reconnection
Amy Leeds
- Counsellor
- FdA
- MBACP
Amy is an Integrative Counsellor who places individuals at the core of their counselling sessions.
She integrates different approaches into her work, allowing her to support a diverse range of people and issues. Her personal experience with Autism and ADHD has been the catalyst for her work with neurodivergent young people and adults.
Amy leads with empathy and is committed to building a safe environment where individuals can express their emotions, explore their authentic selves, and feel understood. She describes herself as a perpetual student, passionately pursuing further education and opportunities for personal development.
Areas of interest:
Neurodivergence, including Autism and ADHD
Supporting young people and adults
Emotional expression, identity and authentic self-exploration
Aniece Eddleston
- Counsellor | Psychotherapist
- BA (Hons),PGDip', MBACP
Aniece is a bilingual therapist, offering counselling in English and French.
She has experience working with young people and adults in settings such as sixth form colleges and wellbeing centres. With a background in international management roles, Aniece brings an understanding of workplace demands, expectations, and the challenges of maintaining a healthy work/life balance.
Aniece is also a keen photographer, with a love of travel, architecture, and interior design. Her creative interests inform her eye for detail, individuality, and the unique features that shape people and places.
Areas of interest:
Working with young people and adults
Work/life balance and workplace pressures
Identity, creativity and personal exploration
James Marquis
- Psychology Coach | Consultant | Trainer
- BSc (Hons)
James is a Professional Psychology Coach and NLP Practitioner working in private practice.
He is also trained in delivering Integral Eye Movement Therapy (IEMT), supporting clients through focused, practical and reflective work. His approach brings together coaching, psychological insight and therapeutic techniques to help individuals explore patterns, build self-awareness and move towards meaningful change.
Outside of work, James can often be found up a mountain, in a forest, playing games, or around a table having meals and chats.
Areas of interest:
Psychology coaching and personal development
Integral Eye Movement Therapy (IEMT)
Self-awareness, change and emotional patterns
Jayne Murphy
- Counsellor
- BSc (Hons)
- MBACP
Jayne is a counsellor at The Hill Counselling Practice with experience working with young people and adults.
She has provided counselling in diverse settings, including secondary schools, a domestic abuse support service, and a family support organisation. In addition to her counselling work, Jayne has a background in business, having run a business for over 20 years.
This experience gives her valuable insight into workplace stress, leadership challenges, and career transitions, supporting professionals facing work-related concerns. Jayne is a compassionate, person-centred counsellor dedicated to creating a safe and confidential space where clients can explore their emotions, build resilience, and work towards positive change.
Areas of interest:
Working with young people and adults
Workplace stress, leadership and career transitions
Emotional resilience and positive change
Julie Haworth
- Psychotherapist | Counsellor
- PGCert (Education), MA (Integrative Psychotherapy)
- MBACP (reg.) NCPS (Accred)
Julie is an Integrative Psychotherapist specialising in helping individuals safely explore and resolve the consequences of psychological trauma.
Her clinical experience spans a range of settings, including the NHS, charitable, and voluntary sectors, working with adults, adolescents, and children. Her practice is rooted in Integrative Psychotherapy, supporting clients to bring awareness to and heal abandoned, rejected, or unconscious aspects of the self.
Julie’s approach recognises the complexity of human experience, drawing on a range of therapeutic approaches including psychodynamic therapy, person-centred therapy, family therapy, Gestalt therapy, body-oriented psychotherapies, psychoanalytic self psychology, and transactional analysis.
She provides a safe, compassionate space where clients can explore their experiences, reconnect with their inner resources, and move towards healing, self-understanding, and identity. Julie is also a trained Reiki healer, which informs her holistic perspective on wellbeing.
Areas of interest:
Psychological trauma, complex trauma and PTSD
Bereavement, grief and loss
Anxiety, depression, identity and self-confidence
Sarah Cooper
- Counsellor | Psychotherapist
- BA (Hons), PGCE, PGDip'
Sarah is a warm and friendly person-centred counsellor.
She offers compassionate support for a wide range of issues, including anxiety, stress, bereavement, identity, trauma, and the impact of abuse. She provides a safe, non-judgemental environment where clients can explore their feelings and experiences at their own pace.
Her calm and accepting approach focuses on helping clients build a deeper understanding of themselves, encouraging personal growth and healing. Working respectfully and intuitively with clients from all backgrounds, Sarah brings a grounded and steady presence, together with empathy and clear support, helping clients move towards lasting and meaningful change.
Areas of interest:
Anxiety, stress and emotional wellbeing
Bereavement, trauma and the impact of abuse
Identity, personal growth and healing
Suzanne Elster
- Counsellor
Suzanne is a person-centred counsellor who believes we all have the potential to lead a fulfilling and happy life.
She supports individuals who may be feeling stuck, hopeless, alone or confused following traumatic or difficult life experiences. As a qualified therapist, Suzanne offers a safe, supportive space where clients can begin to understand their needs, challenge negative patterns, and develop ways of coping that work better for them.
Her approach is rooted in kindness, empathy and a judgement-free way of working. She supports clients to gently unpick what is going on for them, build self-understanding, and find new ways to move forward.
Areas of interest:
Traumatic and difficult life experiences
Feeling stuck, overwhelmed or alone
Self-understanding, coping strategies and personal growth
Farzana Ifikhar
- Counsellor
Farzana is a person-centred therapist with solution-focused training.
Working primarily with female clients, Farzana provides support that recognises the importance of cultural, familial, and social contexts that can shape each person’s experience. Farzana works with you to create an environment where you feel seen, understood, and respected.
Areas of interest:
- Anxiety and persistent worry
- Depression and low mood
- Self-harm and emotional distress
- Intrusive or unwanted thoughts
- Stress and overwhelm
- Low self-esteem and identity concerns
- Relationship and family challenges
- Trauma-related experiences