About Me

Hello, I am Heather Shepherd

I am the counsellor behind Create Space Counselling, providing general counselling support and specialising in bereavement and loss including miscarriage, fertility loss, and baby loss.

My work is rooted in compassion, sensitivity, and the belief that everyone deserves a safe space to explore their emotions and grief.

Why I do this work

My own experiences of bereavement, early miscarriages and failed IVF have shaped the heart of my work. I know the heartbreak that loss of this nature can bring — the deep sadness, the bewilderment, the guilt, the anger, the isolation, and the weight that each loss carries. These emotions can feel overwhelming and impossible to put into words.

At the time, I didn’t have a space where I could explore my losses or make sense of what I was going through. I carried so much of it internally.

Through my own counselling, I have come to understand both how daunting it can feel to take that first step into therapy, and how transformative it can be to find a safe, confidential space where you can speak openly without judgement. That experience shaped the foundation of my work.

My commitment now is to offer others what I once needed — a gentle, compassionate, grounded space where your grief is honoured and your feelings are validated and met with care. I’m here to support you as you navigate your own journey toward emotional wellbeing, in a way that feels right for you.

Counselling is deeply personal and unique to each individual. Your story, your pace, and your experience will always guide our work together.

My Training

At Create Space Counselling, I am committed to ongoing professional development and ethical practice. My aim is to offer a safe, nurturing environment where you feel supported, understood, and empowered to explore your experiences.

I hold a BSc (Hons) in Counselling & Psychotherapy: Professional Practice, alongside further specialist training in the Postgraduate Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills, and additional course in Person‑Centred Expressive Arts Therapy. These approaches allow me to work creatively and sensitively with the emotional impact of grief and loss.

I am an Accredited Registrant of The National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS) and work in accordance with their ethical principles and professional guidelines.

I am also a member of the British Infertility Counselling Association (BICA), having completed their CPCAB‑accredited Foundation Course in Fertility Counselling. This training supports my work with clients navigating fertility challenges, treatment, and loss.

To deepen my understanding of miscarriage, baby loss, and bereavement, I have completed the following specialist courses:

PETALS – The Baby Loss Counselling Charity
-Support Parents Following Baby Loss (Stage 1)

-Supporting Parents Following Baby Loss (Stage 2)

Miscarriage Association
-Caring for Women Experiencing Pregnancy Loss

Cruse Bereavement Support
-Working with Loss and Bereavement for Therapists and Counsellors

Open University
-Trauma‑Informed Counselling

These trainings, combined with my therapeutic experience, allow me to offer a compassionate, informed, and grounded space for anyone affected by bereavement, loss, miscarriage or baby loss.

NCPS - Code of Ethics

My Values

At Create Space Counselling, I am guided by:

Compassion - meeting you with warmth and understanding
Presence - being fully with you in your experience
Respect - honouring your story, your pace and your boundaries
Sensitivity - recognising the depth and complexity of your emotions
Authenticity - offering a real, human connection

Working together to create a space to heal

If you feel this may be the right space for you, you are welcome to explore the FAQs or get in touch to arrange an introductory call.

Frequently Asked Questions