About me
RELATIONSHIP COUNSELLING
I work with opposite and same sex couples, with sexuality and sexual difficulties, transgender, parenting, children, second families, affairs, domestic violence and abuse, anger management, the impact of life-stage transitions, communication difficulties, separation and divorce, illness and bereavement issues.
If the answer to any of the following questions is yes, then take that first tentative step and contact me.
Do you need to move on from a broken relationship?
Are you ready to look at past relationships to understand what goes wrong?
Are you ready to find love again?
Do you want help to find the right partner?
Divorce and relationship breakdown among mid-life couples are higher than ever before as they face the challenges of empty nest, job loss, problems with step-children, grand-children, adult children living at home, illness, ageing and care-giving responsibilities. Contact me now if you are struggling to cope with any of these life-stage transitions and you are ready to:
- recapture lost intimacy
- manage family relationships
- negotiate changing roles
- resolve past hurts
- adapt to changing circumstances
- make new choices
- seek fulfillment
Trauma support - I am experienced in working with the impact of trauma (MSc - Attachment, Trauma & Loss, EMDR practitioner) - child sexual abuse, rape, accidents, surgery, loss and bereavement, suicide, disaster survivors, crisis response, physical and psychological traumas, and secondary trauma often experienced by those who work in the trauma field.
Some of the signs and symptoms that might indicate that you may be struggling:
- High levels of anxiety or depression
- Poor sleep/nightmares
- Not being fully present
- You do not feel content and doubt your abilities
- You dislike and judge yourself harshly
- Setting goals and making plans but putting off taking any action
- Making promises but not keeping them
- Waiting for something to happen that will make all the difference
- Seeing few or no alternatives to your situation
- Allowing fear of failure, rejection or disappointment to keep you from taking risks
- Over tiredness, depression and low productivity
- Complaining constantly about your lot and feeling that all options are doomed to fail
- Starting diets, exercise or any self-improvement and giving up soon after you start or before you reach your goal
- Feeling helpless, hopeless, frustrated, angry, trapped or worthless
- Rejecting and resenting others who seem to have what you want
- Less than satisfying relationships
- Bad marriages
- Dead end jobs
- Unable to escape physical, emotional or sexual abuse
- Constant debt
I will help you to:
- explore the difficulties
- improve communications and build better relationships
- build and restore trust
- re-connect
- identify new options and create new strategies
- develop knowledge and skills
- make better decisions and plans so that you can move forward confidently
- bring about change and restore confidence and self-esteem
- listen if you just need to tell your story
Training, qualifications & experience
Qualifications & Training
- MSc Attachment, Trauma & Loss (Salford University)
- BSc Therapeutic Counselling (Leeds Met University)
- EMDR Level 3 Practitioner (EMDR Europe)
- EMDR Core CYP (Children and Young People)
- Postgraduate Certificate in Casework Supervision (UCLAN)
- University Advanced Diploma - Couple Counselling (Relate Institute, Hull University)
- Certificate of Proficiency (BACP)
- Advanced Diploma - Therapeutic Counselling & Group Dynamics (CPCAB)
- NLP Coaching Certificate (Manchester NLP College)
- FE Teachers' Certificate (City & Guilds 730)
- Training & Development Certificate (CIPD Level 4)
- Diploma in Management (UCLAN)
Experience
I am an experienced 1:1 counsellor (20,000+ hrs), Relate trained and qualified couple counsellor, EMDR trauma practitioner, coach, trainer and clinical supervisor.
I have provided counselling services and bespoke training for workplace stress to small, medium and large companies, medico-legal work for insurers, solicitors and social services that include the preparation of reports for court.
My clinical supervision experience includes working with individuals and groups - counsellors in training, newly qualified, experienced practitioners and casework supervisors. I have over 10 yrs as a supervisor for Cruse bereavement service and have been an Approved Supervisor for Barnardos.
Before qualifying as a therapist in 2003 I worked in the NHS supporting staff with organisational development, training, workplace issues and stress management. I have worked with children 8+ yrs, adolescents, adults, couples, groups and organisations in informal, community, residential care, voluntary, workplace and corporate settings. I have gained excellent communication and people skills in many roles – as trainer, coach, mentor, consultant, advisor, change agent, mediator, advocate and facilitator.
Additional Information
- Registered MBACP - British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy 41497
- EMDR Practitioner EMDR UK & Ireland RO159
- Fully insured - Howden's
- Registered with the ICO Z3184525
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
The National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society This Not For Profit association of counsellors and psychotherapists aim to support the counselling profession, members and training organisations. In 2013 the NCS register was accredited by the Professional Standards Authority under the Accredited Voluntary Register Scheme. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
On-line counselling available via Zoom
Anxiety and Panic Attacks
Parenting, Step-family Issues
Addictions - Internet, Sex, Pornography
Self-harming, Suicide Bereavement and Loss
Multi-Cultural Difference & Diversity Issues
Counselling Supervision - Individuals and Groups
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£60.00 - £120.00
Free initial telephone session
Additional information
Sessions are a full 60 minutes and I work on the basis of 'not one session more than is necessary’. Following an initial consultation to assess your needs, I am able to work flexibly either weekly or fortnightly to suit you and your individual circumstances:
Single Session Coaching - 1 session for a specific issue or problem as required and only if appropriate
Short-term brief therapy - typically 6-12 sessions
Long-term, open ended - typically 6-12 months plus
Sessions can be booked at different times and on different days to accommodate individual needs (there is more flexibility in the daytime than in the evenings).
Organisations, Groups, Medicolegal work, Insurance, Employer Assisted Programmes - contact me for outline contract, terms and conditions
Casework Supervision - for Individuals and Group please see the Supervisor profile link to the right of this page.
When I work
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Daytime, plus 3 late nights a week on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings til 9.00 pm
Saturday mornings 9.00 am - 1.00 pm
I am currently not available on Fridays or Sundays.
Further information
Areas of Special Interest
Health & Wellbeing at Work - I have a breadth of experience in working with workplace stress, anger management, harassment and bullying, coping with change and managing the work/life balance.
