Sandrine Berho-Lavigne
Chester
(16)
Chester
(16)
Bonjour. Originally from France, I have worked in North Wales for over twenty years as a secondary school teacher, head of modern foreign languages and mentor for trainee teachers. Having gained vast knowledge and experience in supporting teenagers and young adults, I qualified as NLP life coach and holistic counsellor, specialised in the management of crisis, trauma and PTSD.
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16 customer reviews
Maria
Sandrine is amazing! She is so positive, smiley and encouraging. She has made learning very fun and not intimidating at all. I can be very hard on myself and a perfectionist but Sandrine has encouraged me so much. I love my sessions i just wish life would let me fit more of them in! xXx Sandrine is amazing! xXx More...
Reply from Sandrine Berho-Lavigne
Merci beaucoup Maria!
Sean
Sandrine is amazing in short and helped myself work through the aftermath of a toxic relationship for my partner, helping to empathise with her and also process my thoughts and emotions. Couldn't recommend Sandrine enough
Reply from Sandrine Berho-Lavigne
Thank you so much Sean!
Mari Griffiths
Enthusiastic and passionate, encouraging and full of energy - inspirational teacher and lovely person. Highly recommended. ❤️
Reply from Sandrine Berho-Lavigne
Diolch yn fawr iawn Mari!
Ceri Lewis
Sandrine was a colleague of mine where she taught French. She was very popular with the pupils and her results were excellent. A great French teacher - would highly recommend. More...
Reply from Sandrine Berho-Lavigne
Diolch o galon Ceri!
Sara
Sandrine is enthusiastic and professional, engaging and supportive in her teaching. She inspires confidence in her students.
Reply from Sandrine Berho-Lavigne
Thank you for these very kind words Sara!
Campbell Harrison
A kind and compassionate professional that has the highest of standards. Thoroughly trustworthy and highly recommend.
Reply from Sandrine Berho-Lavigne
Very touched coming from you. Thank you Campbell.
Saul
Sandrine was my French teacher for a year. She performed nothing short of a miracle in the form of convincing a group of 5-10 boys who had lost all interest in language to really give it a go and have fun during lessons.
Lessons were packed with French culture, jokes, laughter, and fun. They were not just reciting rules & grammar.
What resulted was a class that ended up achieving a higher grade than what was imagined in end-of-year exams - and also a real appreciation for both French Language and the culture.
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Reply from Sandrine Berho-Lavigne
Merci Saul! Fun times indeed! 😅 And such a joy to see the gentlemen these young boys have become! All the very best in your present and future ventures.
Maia
Sandrine is such a wonderful person! She is empathetic and kind, and provides a loving environment without any judgement in which nothing is off-limits to discuss. Her patience, ability to listen and her motivation to help and tailor her work to your individual needs, whatever they may be, are second to none. These innate skills and empathy are reflected in her outstanding qualifications and are supported by her relevant life experience. As someone who has witnessed all of her hard work, I am so proud of her and I am overjoyed that people are offered the opportunity to work with her. She brings kindness wherever she goes, and once she enters your life she is truly unforgettable. More...
Reply from Sandrine Berho-Lavigne
Thank you Maīa!!! For taking the time to write these very touching words of course but also and most of all for being you! It is so wonderful to watch you blossom and become such a kind, considerate, loving, funny etc. etc. young lady. Having you in my life is such a blessing! Merci merci merci ... ❤️
ceris
Sandrine Berho-Lavigne is such a warm ray of sunlight with great advice and coaching experience :) Highly recommend!
Reply from Sandrine Berho-Lavigne
So kind of you Ceris! Thank you! 🤗
Steph EW
Sandrine est unique! Fascinante, passionnée et passionnante, pleine de surprises, de force et de douceur, elle est à l'écoute de tout et ouverte à tout. D'une intelligence étourdissante et bourrée de talents, elle reste modeste et sans prétention. Faire partie de ses amis est un privilège que j'ai la chance d'avoir depuis plus de 24 ans. En plus de son métier d'enseignante et ses écrits si puissants, son parcours de vie personnel et professionnel lui ont permis de devenir ce coach formidable qui a aidé bien des personnes y compris un de mes proches. Merci d'être toi, Sandrine et continue comme ça !! More...
Reply from Sandrine Berho-Lavigne
Encore une fois que te répondre Steph? Comme toujours tes mots me vont droit au cœur et merci semble si peu! 💖
Ange
I wish this had more stars! Very highly recommended.
Absolutely wonderful counsellor and human being. Sandrine gives you a safe space and support to help through life's trials and tribulations.
She is patient and kind and will provide a quality service.
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Reply from Sandrine Berho-Lavigne
Thank you sooooooo much Ange! Lots and lots and lots of love.
Jan Johnson
I have known Sandrine Berho-Lavigne for many years ,when we taught at the same secondary school.She taught French and I taught Religion.
It was clear immediately that the children and young people were inspired by her teaching and also felt able to approach her with their personal problems.
She has tremendous empathy, and has helped me many times ,with both practical and emotional issues.
She listens and advises ,with sympathy but without judgement ,and I would wholeheartedly recommend her as a counsellor, therapist, and Life coach.
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Reply from Sandrine Berho-Lavigne
And I could say the exact same about you! Thank you so much Jan! Forever in my heart! 🤗
Tanvi Singh
Sandrine was an incredibly lovely teacher with an abundance of patience, understanding, and joy in what she does. She was able to make learning an effortless process because of this and, for me, was an excellent teacher whom I cannot recommend enough.
Reply from Sandrine Berho-Lavigne
Merci Tanvi! Such a pleasure to teach you! All the very best now and in future! 🤗
Emily Maxwell
I was in Sandrine's form group and French class for several years in secondary school, and enjoyed every second of it! Her classes were always filled with such passion and drive, which I adored and felt great inspiration from. I only have fond memories of classes and conversations with Sandrine, not only in academic terms, but pastoral too. She always showed so much compassion and genuine interest in each student's wellbeing. She really encouraged me in my work, creativity and self confidence, which I have tried to carry with me ever since. It was so warming to be taught by someone who so obviously cared about each of us individually whilst treating us as mature adults. I believe the best people leave the longest impressions and I will always remember the joy of being a part of her classes! Merci Sandrine! More...
Reply from Sandrine Berho-Lavigne
I am so touched Emily! Thank you so much! I keep very fond memories of these years and it gives me so much joy to watch you grow still. All the best in all your ventures, present and future. 🤗
Cassandra
Sandrine est top : à l’écoute, posée et très calme. Elle ne se focalise pas sur un aspect négatif de votre vie, mais elle essaie de comprendre et d’étudier tout le décor extérieur afin de mieux vous aider.
Ses précieux conseils m’ont été très utiles pour surmonter mon anxiété.
Je la recommande fortement 🥰
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Reply from Sandrine Berho-Lavigne
Merci pour ces mots Cassandra! Un réel bonheur cette rencontre. 🤗
Blanca Bennett
Sandrine was my french teacher and has now become a very good friend. She was professional, helpful and an amazing person. She helped me so much throughout my classes and she was an amazing support to us who were in her class. I can only praise her in everything she accomplishes. More...
Reply from Sandrine Berho-Lavigne
Ces mots me touchent profondément! Merci Blanca!
What do you love most about your job?
I love to watch people find resources they didn't know they had, overcome their difficulties and the smile on their face when they have achieved their goal(s). I love that we work as a team, learning about and from each other. I love that together we create a better present and pave the way for a brighter future.
What inspired you to start your own business?
In one word, freedom! Freedom to work in a way that suits the individual needs and resources of each person who turns to me for help. Freedom to share my time between the people I love both in France and the UK. Freedom to do what I enjoy most. Freedom to be myself.
Why should our clients choose you?
All my GCSE and Alevel students have taken pleasure in achieving one if not two grades above those predicted by their teachers, securing places in their preferred university, including Durham and Oxford.
The majority of my coaching clients have come to me after having had help from another professional, with no or unsatisfactory results. They find that, from the first session, the holistic and solution-focused approach makes a considerable difference. In some cases, one session has been enough to set the wheels of change in motion.
In those times when they needed to discuss a small issue or be reassured, all have found it helpful to be able to book mini sessions, more often than not at very short notice.
Life coaching
You feel it is time to change a particular aspect of your life, personal or professional, yet doubt you can make it happen on your own.
We all need help at some point. No need to struggle.
Together, we will define your goal(s), find the pace, motivation and resources best suited to your personality and environment.
How many sessions will be required will depend on various factors. One could be enough to put a plan in place, or one every week, fortnight, month. You will also be able to opt for mini sessions when a full one isn't necessary.
However long or short our collaboration, we will work as a team to ensure that you reach the target(s) set in a comfortable and enjoyable manner.
Counselling
I am a fully qualified counsellor with years if not decades of practice if I take into account my teaching career. Since I set up my counselling and coaching practice four years ago, I have accompanied many struggling with stress, anxiety, unhealthy habits, low moods, low self-esteem, relationships, abuse, bullying, PTSD etc. It is not unusual to question professionalism when the word "holistic" is placed in front of "counselling" as more often than not it is either not understood at all or associated in a pejorative manner with approaches considered as "New Age". As far as I am concerned, "holistic" means that I will take into consideration all the aspects of your difficulties for I believe that the physical, emotional and psychological are all closely linked. This is particularly evident in the treatment of PTSD and its wide range of symptoms. Therefore I will adapt my methods taking the three into account in order to give you better chances to find fast and long-lasting healing. Equally and for the same reasons, I will consider the spiritual aspect but only if you so wish and with a profound respect for your beliefs, not believing being in my eyes a belief in itself.
For more information, please do not hesitate to contact me, preferably using my email address or the contact link on my website www.sandrineberholavigne.com as Bark will charge me for responding to your request whether you hire me or not.
Adolescent counselling
Whether as a teacher, counsellor or coach, I have worked with teenagers and young adults for over twenty years. Having an 18 and 15 year old of my own, girl and boy, no need to say I have a very good understanding of the difficulties they commonly face and countless hours of supporting them.
Choosing a therapist for a young person you care for very much can be stressful in itself. This is why, with the young person's consent of course, I always allow an adult (parent or carer) to be present during the first session, leaving him/her free to leave when reassured that her/his loved one is in safe hands.
Taking into account the impact the current context has had on our children's health, the fact that demand is very high and services overwhelmed, I systematically apply a discount for adolescents and young adults in education, training, on low income or looking for work.
For more information, please do not hesitate to contact me, preferably using my email address or the contact link on my website www.sandrineberholavigne.com as Bark will charge me for responding to your request whether you hire me or not.
Spiritual counselling
Spirituality means something different to each and every one of us and is generally quite difficult to define. In my view, we might not all have a religion yet we all are spiritual beings.
When faced with difficulties and hardships, spirituality can be an invaluable tool, an anchor, a lifeline.
When confronted with pain, danger or death, our own or someone else's, questions of a spiritual nature might arise or experiences that are sometimes hard to explain.
Being able to discuss them is essential both for growth and healing yet many therapists feel uncomfortable as these aspects are not commonly detailed in textbooks.
I can assure you that there is nothing you can tell me that will surprise me. I have chosen to become a holistic counsellor so that I could offer those who turn to me the opportunity to be fully themselves, happy with all that they are.
Therefore, whether you are looking specifically for spiritual counselling or want us to include spirituality in our sessions, as always I will adapt to your individual needs.
French lessons
The current context has had a big impact on students. For that reason, I currently give priority to exam classes (GCSE and Alevel). I am happy to teach several students together as long as they are in the same year. I have mainly worked with WJEC specifications but can easily adapt to others. As for coaching and counselling, mini sessions are available which are always much appreciated, particularly before oral exams. I am also happy to provide general academic/personal support and this often happens naturally during lessons.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need more information or want to discuss individual requirements, preferably using my email address or the contact link on my website www.sandrineberholavigne.com as Bark will charge me for responding to your request whether you hire me or not.
