Client voices
"As soon as I stepped through the door, Hayley made me feel at ease. She guided me through each step, and helped me not to be overwhelmed with life. Her kindness and patience has truly helped me become a better version of me."
- Female 34
"From my very first session I was welcomed warmly and professionally. I immediately felt in a safe and supportive space. Hayley truly helped me through some of my darkest days and I wouldn't be where I am without her."
- Male 21
"There are times last year that I truly don't know what I would have done without my sessions with Hayley. She puts genuine care and empathy into her work and absolutely always made me feel both at ease and like I was truly being heard."
- Female 44
"Hayley was kind and supportive, leading me through many difficult problems in my life at a time when I had many unanswered questions. She is extremely sympathetic. I gained clarity from the whole experience."
- Female 59
OUR PHILOSOPHY
Where personal growth meets collective purpose
Haylin Associates was founded on the belief that meaningful change - whether within a single person or across an entire organisation - requires the same foundation: genuine human connection, deep listening, and the courage to see clearly.
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We offer two complementary practices under one roof. Hayley Vaughan Smith is a qualified, MNCS-accredited person-centred Therapeutic Counsellor, based at The Ridge Practice in the beautiful village of Bledlow Ridge, Buckinghamshire, offering face-to-face, online, and eco therapy sessions in the Chiltern countryside. Kevin Vaughan-Smith brings 25+ years of senior consulting and facilitation experience to organisations seeking collective clarity and aligned action.
Two practices, one purpose
WHAT WE OFFER
COUNSELLING - HAYLEY
FACILITATION - KEVIN & ANYA
Team Facilitation
Expertly guided sessions that help teams align on goals, resolve tensions, and unlock their collective potential through structured dialogue.
Trust Building
Improving business development, team performance and implementing corporate strategy through focalising mutual trust.
Leadership Workshops
Tailored workshops designed to develop leadership capacity, foster psychological safety, and build cultures of genuine collaboration.
Individual Counselling
A safe, confidential and non-judgemental space to talk at your own pace. Exploring thoughts & feelings, working through anxiety & depression, grief, relationships, and more. Face to face or online.
Eco-Therapy - Walk & Talk
Immersing ourselves in nature to improve mental and emotional well-being. Walk and talk sessions along the beautiful Chiltern ridge, where movement and natural surroundings can help open conversation in a relaxed, uninhibited way.
Young Adults (18+)
Counselling for young adults navigating early adulthood, identity, life transitions, all forms of relationships, and the complex emotional landscape of living in the modern world.
Meet the people behind the practice
Hayley Vaughan-Smith
QUALIFIED THERAPEUTIC COUNSELLOR
Hayley is a qualified, person-centred Therapeutic Counsellor based at The Ridge Practice in Bledlow Ridge, Buckinghamshire. With 14 years supporting individuals and families in the private mental health sector, she offers a safe, non-judgemental space for clients navigating life's most difficult moments. She also offers Eco Therapy — walk and talk sessions in the Chiltern countryside.
"Environment and external factors can influence how we feel - that was central to how I designed this space."
Kevin Vaughan-Smith
COACH · CONSULTANT · FACILITATOR · KEYNOTE
Kevin brings 25+ years at the highest levels of business. After 11 years as Managing Director of Franklin Covey Europe, and 5 years as an Associate Partner at EY, Kevin continued consulting with some of the largest professional services and commercial organisations across the UK, helping them create sustainable behavioural change, and results that made a difference.
Co-author of Choose Trust (Economist Books), Kevin helps organisations improve trust internally and externally, and build cultures of genuine collaboration, alignment, and sustainable performance.
"Collaboration beats competition - Every time."
YOUR GUIDES
Anya Vaughan-Smith
FACILITATOR COORDINATOR
Anya brings a strong background in customer experience and workplace engagement, specialising in diversity and inclusion, communication, and team collaboration. An exceptional facilitator, she supports organisations in building inclusive, aligned, and high-performing teams.
Passionate about creating environments where people feel heard and valued, Anya combines energy, empathy, and practical insight to help teams connect, collaborate, and thrive.
Choose Trust -
Kevin Vaughan-Smith & Stuart Maister
How and why building trusting relationships at work gives you a competitive edge. Co-authored by Kevin, this Economist Books title distils decades of practice into a practical guide for leaders who want to move from conversation to real, lasting change.