About me
Why Choose Me?
No one should have to live with experiences that lead to constant anxiety, depression and other symptoms of distress. It's not acceptable in 21st century Britain and it's not necessary, and after 23 years as a psychotherapist I can confidently state that my clients always finish their therapy by feeling better about themselves than they did at the beginning. They have an increased understanding of themselves and the origins of their distress in a way that enables both acceptance and change. My aim is to work in a way that means clients feel they want to come to their sessions, even when these are intense. Most importantly I prioritise Kindness as the most essential quality, together with transparency and honesty.
About Me
Throughout different careers working with people, in film, theatre, marketing and with horses, the underlying theme of how people interact with, and impact each other and me, (and my impact on them) has combined to lead me into Psychotherapy training. I love working with people, creating a relationship that supports them to change and grow in ways that are positive and powerful. Helping clients to understand the impact of their history, helping them find their way to a more compassionate view of themselves that is healing and soothing, and how they can have some choice in their responses, is intensely rewarding.
My therapeutic philosophy is intergrative, collaborative and client centred, using a range of established therapy models so that we can adapt each session to suit your individual needs. I believe there is unrealised potential for healing and growth in all of us and that our work together will foster the identification of goals, the ability to meet and overcome challenges and develop emotional resilience.
The Way I Work I use 3 core models of therapy which provide the foundation of how I work:
- Relational Therapy: Focuses on clients' personal relationships, past and present, and the relationship that develops with the therapist.
- Psychodynamic Therapy: Prioritises the impact of childhood relationships particularly those with parents, and the unconscious processing of past experiences and traumas
- Person-Centred Therapy: Promotes a compassionate, non judgemental, empathetic space where clients are encouraged to explore their feelings and experiences in their own way.
And my approach is informed by a number of other therapeutic theories and techniques, of which the most influential are:
- Attachment Theory: Which describes the relationship with parents/main carers and the potential consequences for current/adult relationships.
- Mindfulness Based Therapy: Enables clients to increase their awareness of their physical sensations, emotions and thoughts. It encourages acceptance of these together with the ability to be present in the moment when they choose. Mindfulness also teaches relaxation techniques to reduce the symptoms of stress and promote emotional regulation and resilience.
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): Helps clients identify and reframe negative thought patterns, develop coping skills and make meaningful behavioural changes.
My practice is grounded in the belief that therapy is a partnership to which we each contribute our unique experience and abilities. I want to meet each new client with openness and compassionate curiosity, begining with an initial assessment to understand your story, goals and specific needs.
Initial Assessment & Ongoing Sessions Our first meeting is for you to find out what it would be like to work with me, ask questions and ensure that you would be comfortable with me and in this setting. My aim is to get a brief outline of what is bringing you to therapy and gather some initial information about your history, symptoms, and hopes and expectations of therapy. The assessment also helps me ensure that I have the rights skills to work with you successfully and safely, and in a way that is aligned with your needs. Together we can start to evolve an individual plan, work towards an attainable outcome and hold periodic reviews of the process. Regular weekly sessions are held with a feeling of mutual respect, trust and openness, and tailored to suit you as much as possible. We will talk, but you can also choose to use writing, drawing, modelling or role-play to express yourself.
So, if you have had enough of the same thoughts going round and round, feeling confused, frustrated, stuck or in despair, I hope you will feel able to come and meet me, let me listen to you and hear what it has been like for you. Together we can take the first steps towards a happier, more settled and fulfilling life.
Training, qualifications & experience
- I am Registered and Accredited with the British Association of Counsellors & Psychotherapists as a psychotherapist/counsellor.
Qualifications
- Registered and Accredited.
- BA (Hons) Integrative Relational Counselling.
- Advanced Diploma in Integrative Counselling.
- Post-Graduate Certificate in Systemic Psychotherapy.
- Certificate in Counselling Psychology.
- Additional Training: Mindfulness. Hypnotherapy. EMDR.
CBT.
Experience:
I have over 22 years of experience and started working as a therapist in an inner city setting using the Systemic model of therapy. I have also worked within schools, in the NHS WellBeing service and at an NHS G.Ps surgery providing short term counselling. I currently work at Kingston University, and Kingston Women's Centre, as well as maintaining my private practice. My therapeutic philosophy is integrative, collaborative and client centred, using a range of established therapy models to adapt each session to suit your individual needs. I believe there is unrealised potential for healing and growth in all of us and that our work together will foster the development of goals, the ability to meet and overcome challenges and develop emotional resilience.
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
Areas of Expertise
Throughout my career I have had the privilege of supporting clients with a diverse range of challenges, some of which include:
- Anxiety and stress related disorders
- Depression and mood disorders
- Trauma and post traumatic stress
- Relationship and family issues
- Grief and loss
- Self-esteem and identity concerns
- Life transistions and adjustment difficulties
- Workplace stres and burnout
- LGBTQ+ affirmative support
- Personal growth and self actualisation
Therapies offered
Fees
£70.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Fees for individuals are currently £70.00
Fees for couples are currently £105.00 Initial Assessment sessions are free when therapy is continued for a minimum of 6 sessions.
Occasional discounts for those on benefits, a low income and full time students.
When I work
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Various
Further information
If you are experiencing anxiety and/or depression or any other difficult thoughts and feelings due to issues with current relationships or past experiences or trauma, then counselling/psychotherapy may offer a solution.
The intention of both counselling and therapy is to help to raise your awareness of your thoughts and feelings as well as your needs, and how you respond when relating to others. This increased awareness and knowledge of yourself can allow you greater choice in your responses and can also facilitate changes without having to force them.
The process of attending to all these responses: physical, mental and emotional, positive and negative, to the events in your life, large and small, now and in the past, enables us to explore the impact they had on you and which you may still be holding on to.
This work can also offer the possibility of compassionate healing for emotional wounds that may have been causing difficulties for many years.
I am happy to talk about what you might need and what I can offer either on the phone or via email and offer a free initial assessment to discuss this in more detail.
