Welcome
Hello and welcome to Therapy North West. We support the wellbeing of adults and young people in a number of different ways.
We specialise in IFS therapy and offer introductory and Full IFS training, Retreats, Therapies, supervision and consultation.
Who are we?
Dr Zandra Bamford (BSc, MSc, DClinPsy) is the founder of Therapy North West. Zandra is registered with the Health Care Professionals Council.
Zandra is a highly respected trainer, clinician and speaker. She has worked within secondary care mental health services in the NHS for over 20 years, most recently as a Lead Consultant Clinical Psychologist for secondary care and having worked clinically within crisis, inpatient and community services, within research in an alcohol misuse service and has been facilitating group spaces in these settings for over 20 years.
Zandra is an Approved IFS Clinical Consultant & Certified Therapist and has a special interest in complex trauma, its impact on the autonomic nervous system, community healing spaces and the non-pathologising of distress.
Zandra has a degree in Psychology (1997) Masters in substance and alcohol misuse (2000), Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (2005) and has completed multiple training courses post doctoral training in CFT (Compassion Focused Therapy), Cognitive Analytical Therapy (CAT informed working), EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), IFS (Internal Family Systems) level 1 , 2 & 3 (Trauma & Neuroscience level 2, Intimacy for the Inside Out level 2, Shame, anxiety and depression level 2 with Dick Schwartz), DBT skills training, voice dialogue, ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), Non-violent communication, Somatic Psychology, Mindfulness and Complex Trauma.
Additional IFS training to levels 1, 2 & 3 Zandra has completed:
Working with shame, IFS & anxiety & depression, IFS ancestral medicine, Guides and unattached burdens, IFS & chronic pain, Self led therapist, The gifts of our exiles, IFS informed group work, legacy burdens, warmly welcoming protectors, IFS personal growth programme, IFS & OCD, Somatic IFS and many more.
Zandra utilises this training and experience to offer a highly individualised experience in therapy, trainings and retreats with a focus on body, mind and spirit.
Therapy NorthWest is particularly passionate about Internal Family Systems Therapy because of its deeply non pathologising stance, ability to create safety for all parts of the self to be welcome and known, and not least it’s capacity for deep healing.
You can see the details of other IFS therapy providers and booking details on the Therapy page.
What can we help with – Therapy.
We provide psychological interventions and support to adults and young people looking to improve their wellbeing in daily life.
We believe that life can be challenging and hard; we have tricky brains to contend with and a number of different pressures and demands in life.
Individuals often have difficult upbringings which they did not choose and many people experience things during their life which can then lead to daily struggles.
We do not believe that these things make us ‘abnormal’ or ‘ill’, but that there are times when each of us require support and guidance to work through difficulties and what has happened to us.
Common difficulties include anxiety, experiences of abuse or trauma, dissociation, problems with sleep, alcohol, prescribed medication, other substances, mood, relationships, eating, anger or general self esteem.
You may wish to gain a greater understanding of how your difficulties arose and why they may be continuing, you may then wish to work through and heal from these difficulties with an experienced Clinical Psychologist within a safe space.
How do we work?
We draw on a number of different psychological models to help us to understand how difficulties have arisen and what contributes to maintaining them. This is because humans are (and life is!) very complex and as such we feel we need competence and skills in numerous approaches to provide the best fit to you.
For a greater depth of work Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy is recommended. This model is deeply respectful, humanising and all parts of you are welcome in the therapy space. Therapy NorthWest particularly specialises in the internal family systems approach because of its effectiveness and depth of healing in a way that is quite different to other therapies.
We will be interested in what you would like to change in your life and what may be currently preventing you from living the life that you would like to be living.
WHAT CAN WE HELP WITH – Workshops and training.
We specialise in IFS programmes and offer this to NHS staff teams, universities, individuals and teams in private practice. You can contact for bespoke programmes or workshops and see our full IFS trainings page for individual bookings currently available.
WHAT CAN WE HELP WITH – IFS CONSULTATION.
Zandra provides consultation to teams and individuals within the NHS and private practice. This can be pure IFS or integrated with other modalities she is trained and experienced in. Please contact for bespoke, ready formed groups or see the consultation page for individual bookings into current small groups on offer.
WHAT CAN WE HELP WITH – group THERAPEUTIC spaces and retreats
IFS exploration and growth groups are provided for both therapists and non therapists. Intensive healing and connecting retreats are offered three or four times a year. These are powerful Retreats, offering cohesive, connected and carefully crafted spaces to bring healing to your inner systems and allow for growth and flourishing in your life. Please see our retreats page.
Reviews and bookings can be found here
Clinical Psychology Services 