About me
Thank you for visiting my profile and if you're feeling anxious, low or confused and not sure how to move forward, deciding to have counselling is a really positive step.
I offer a supportive and confidential space, where problems and upsetting situations can be discussed and explored; to gain understanding, relieve stress and work through and release painful emotions. We all encounter difficulties in life and sometimes need support and some personal time, away from our normal routine, even if family, friends or work colleagues are trying to help. Life is hard and unpredictable, so, anyone can find themselves in really difficult and painful circumstances. Counselling is an opportunity to work through and resolve these, often complex situations, to gain clarity and healing, so that you can live the life you have, to its full potential.
I am a Registered and Accredited member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy and I have been a Counsellor for over twenty five years. In that time, I have gained a great deal of valuable experience, working with a wide variety of clients with issues such as anxiety, panic and depression; bereavement, loss and the grief process; neurodiversity and highly sensitives , relationship problems, all types of bullying and abuse, coercion and control, work-related stress and family issues.
Training, qualifications & experience
COUNSELLING QUALIFICATIONS
Diploma in Counselling (Person Centred)
Post-graduate Diploma in Counselling
Post-graduate Diploma in Counselling Studies
CRUSE training in Bereavement Counselling
Certificate in Person-Centred Expressive Therapy
Certificate in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction
Certificate in Mindfulness Based Pain Management
Diploma in Counselling Supervision
In addition to these qualifications, I regularly attend specialist training courses, workshops, retreats and conferences, as part of my continuing personal and professional development.
Prior to becoming a Counsellor I was a lecturer and later taught counselling on a part-time basis. Since qualifying as a Counsellor, I have run my private practice and also worked in a variety of settings, including NHS, industry and the Voluntary Sector. My practice is based on the outskirts of Standish, near the M6, where I see my private clients, as well as staff who work for the NHS and in Education.
I am a Registered and Accredited member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy and adhere to their code of conduct and ethics.
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.
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred). Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision. Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training. All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
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
Chronic pain and pain management
Fees
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
Initial consultation free - there is no obligation to continue if you do not feel comfortable or have second thoughts about counselling.
When I work
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early morning | |||||||
| Morning | |||||||
| Early afternoon | |||||||
| Late afternoon | |||||||
| Evening |
I work Monday to Friday, daytime and evenings and if required can offer some weekend appointments
Further information
I also work with clients, who may not have one specific issue as such, but are searching for new directions in their life, or want greater personal or career development and a deeper sense of purpose in their lives. It could be a low-level depressive feeling, a mid-life search for new growth, a spiritual search, philosophical questioning, or simply a wish to feel happier and fulfilled, more of the time.
HIGHLY SENSITIVE PEOPLE HSPs This term is for approximately 20% of the population. Those who feel things deeply, can pick up on subtle signals, atmospheres, non verbal clues. If you have been called ‘soft’ or ‘too sensitive’ there is a very good chance you are an HSP . As such you may need to retreat from the world into your own space regularly and find large crowds, brightly lit and noisy places over-stimulating or overwhelming. Self care is crucial for an HSP and as an HSP myself I can confirm that we have many skills, such as empathy and an ability to connect deeply with others, to be moved by beauty in a way others may not experience. However, we live in a world which doesn’t usually run in a way to support us and counselling often provides the time and space to realise what is really going on, how to take care of yourself and thrive, instead of feeling guilty about being different.
HEALTH AND PAIN MANAGEMENT ISSUES - serious, terminal or chronic illness, fatigue and pain. Using a personally tailored combination of mindfulness based pain management techniques, hypnotherapy and counselling, great improvements can be made to levels of pain experienced, which can impact so positively on life and general wellbeing.
MINDFULNESS
Mindfulness is a natural and simple type of meditation or self-awareness practice, and has been found extremely effective in managing and reducing anxious or depressive states and is easy to learn.
So many people today have such busy lifestyles, often juggling family/career needs, and they find themselves running on empty and living on automatic pilot. They take little or no time for themselves and gradually, anxious or negative thinking habits can take over. This impacts every aspect of life, from how they feel about themselves, to their relationships, career, health and home life. Mindfulness as a part of counselling, offers an opportunity to remove and manage negative and repetitive thoughts which undermine and create obstacles to a happier life. Mindfulness offers a range of simple relaxation techniques which can be easily incorporated into any lifestyle.
CONFIDENCE building, self-esteem and developing assertiveness skills
PTSD - Physical, mental and emotional trauma from accidents or other traumatic events
CARING for loved ones can be extremely challenging and, I feel strongly that all carers should have access to a wide range of support services, including counselling.
