ACPP
Association of Core Process Psychotherapists

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Heather Darwall-Smith
07780605822
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Region
Oxfordshire

Address
Grove Lodge, High Street
Deddington
Oxfordshire
OX15 0SL

Heather Darwall-Smith

I trained originally in Core Process Psychotherapy, a contemplative approach that places awareness at the centre of healing. Core Process views the mind and body as one, and therapy becomes a space to reconnect with our inherent health, even when trauma, stress or difficulty have obscured it.

Much of my work focuses on sleep. Difficulties often arise from trauma, anxiety or neurodiversity, where the body remains hyper-alert when it most needs to rest. From a core process perspective, the aim is not simply to manage symptoms but to slow down enough to meet what is happening in the present moment. This supports integration and, over time, the possibility of restful sleep.

I have a particular interest in ADHD, which I understand as a disorder of regulation. As someone who is neurodiverse myself, I value both the challenges and the creativity of a differently wired nervous system. Core Process supports this by creating space to notice and work with fluctuations of attention, emotion and energy, rather than trying to suppress them.

My approach is relational and responsive. We may work cognitively, through thoughts and stories, or somatically, with sensations and feelings. I offer a safe and compassionate space to explore even the most hidden or painful experiences.

I am a UKCP-accredited psychotherapist and sleep specialist, and one of very few internationally whose practice is dedicated to sleep. I am the author of The Science of Sleep (DK, 2021) and How to Be Awake So You Can Sleep Through the Night (HarperCollins, 2025), and my work has been widely featured in the media. I work online with clients both in the UK and internationally, and my professional insurance is set up to cover this.

Specialisms

  • Sleep difficulties

  • Insomnia

  • Circadian rhythm disorders

  • ADHD and neurodiversity

  • Life transitions and pinch points where ADHD and sleep issues collide

  • Supporting people tapering off medication

  • Trauma and PTSD

  • Anxiety

  • Stress

  • Depression

  • Relationship issues

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