About

During times of distress speaking with a counsellor can be grounding, allowing the mind to maintain clarity.

Howlite Therapy offers a calm and compassionate space for people to pause, reflect, and reconnect with themselves.

Whether you are navigating anxiety, trauma, grief, depression, or a period of change, counselling can be a grounding process, one that supports clarity, resilience, and self-understanding.

What’s in the name?

“Many practices carry the name of their founder, but I wanted my practice to reflect its purpose and energy. Howlite is a calming gemstone said to encourage patience, open communication, and emotional awareness. It symbolises the essence of my practice: creating a steady, nurturing environment where you can safely express what’s been held inside and begin to rebuild from within.”

- Lorraine Ballintine BA (Hons), Dip. Couns, MBACP (Accred)

Experience, Qualifications & Training

I bring over twenty years of experience supporting people through change, first in education, and now in private practice. My background in mentoring and educational pastoral care taught me how powerful it can be to have someone truly listen, to feel seen, accepted, and understood. Those early experiences continue to shape the way I work today: with warmth, patience, and curiosity. I’ve witnessed how self-belief grows when we are met with empathy and curiosity rather than judgement, and this continues to shape my practice today.

Creativity also plays an important role in my work. Alongside traditional talking therapy, I often draw upon creative and narrative approaches, using journaling, reflective writing, imagery, or storytelling as ways to deepen self-understanding. I see creativity as a natural language of healing; it helps people make sense of their experiences and find new ways to express what words alone cannot capture.

My work as a counsellor and facilitator is supported by a strong commitment to ongoing professional development and reflective practice. I engage in regular supervision, attend CPD training, and stay informed about current research in mental health and wellbeing. This ensures that my approach remains grounded, ethical, and responsive to the diverse needs of the people I work with.

Alongside private practice, I work with arts, heritage, and community projects that explore wellbeing, identity, and belonging. These collaborations continue to inspire my practice and remind me that healing often happens through connection, with ourselves, with others, and with the stories we carry.

  • Level 5 Therapeutic Counselling Diploma

  • Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Skills

  • Level 2 Award in Counselling Concepts

  • B.A. Honours in the History of Art & Design with Communication Media Practice

  • Anxiety UK therapist training

  • Level 3 Safeguarding Children & Young People training

  • Mediation Awareness training

  • Conflict Intervention and Building Good Relations training

  • Art Therapy Foundation training

  • Anxiety UK approved therapist

  • Enhanced DBS

  • Fully indemnity insured

  • BACP registered member

  • BAATN member

  • Mental Health First Aid training

  • BetterHelp therapist

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”

— Harriet Tubman