About me
I am an experienced counsellor, psychotherapist, supervisor and couples therapist. I have been providing therapy for nearly 30 years and supervision for over 20 years. Over the years I have worked with people who have brought a range of issues such as anxiety, depression, stress, work related issues, panic attacks, addictions, bereavement, family issues, low confidence, feelings of a lack of self esteem, low confidence and those who have suffered trauma and emotional abuse.
I offer a space where you can explore who you truly are- your uniqueness, your contradictions, your depth - and what it means for you to be human in a world that has become increasingly complex.
We live in a culture that often expects us to fit in, to conform and move through life in neat linear ways. When our lived experience doesn't follow that trajectory it can leave us feeling as though we don't fit, as though we are some how getting life wrong.
I don't see therapy as a linear process, because life isn't linear. It's layered, messy, surprising and at times disorientating. Drawing on nearly 30 years of experience of working with clients across a wide range of issues, I support you in making sense of your experience - not by forcing it into a pre-existing framework, but by exploring it with curiosity and care.
Together we create space for reflection, for questioning assumptions and for reconnecting with your inner wisdom.
What a session might look like
A session with me is not formulaic or prescriptive. We begin with whatever feels more present for you that day. Sometimes that may be a specific difficulty or decision; at other times it may be a more subtle sense of dissatisfaction or questioning. I may gently reflect patterns I notice, ask questions that deepen understanding, or invite you to slow down and stay with emotional experience rather than move past it too quickly. There is space for thinking, feeling, uncertainty, silence and discovery.
At the heart of my work is the therapeutic relationship - a warm, honest and collaborative exploration where depth is welcomed, challenge is offered and you are met with respect and genuine curiosity.
Couples Work
Couples therapy shares some of the same foundations as my individual work but the focus widens to include the relationship.
In couples work, we pay attention not only to what's happening between you and your partner but also to how each of you meets yourself within the relationship. Alongside exploring patterns of communication, conflict or disconnect, we gently look at the parts of you that may struggle with vulnerability, closeness, autonomy and trust.
Often the difficulties couples experience arise from deeply rooted patterns - ways of protecting, defending, adapting or withdrawing that may limit intimacy.
A central aim of our work together is to increase understanding of yourself, of your partner and the patterns of interaction that shape your relationship. When these patterns become visible things can shift. Blame may soften and reactivity can give way to reflection - new possibilities emerge.
Couples therapy is not about deciding who is right. It is about deepening awareness, strengthening connection and supporting a more conscious and resilient relationship which can lead to renewed intimacy, clearer boundaries and impact decisions about your future.
Couples therapy can support repair in a time of crisis and also nurture long term relational growth.
I work in a dedicated private office separate from my home in the beautiful village of Cark-in-Cartmel where there are opportunities to take a walk in the country side and enjoy the natural surroundings.
I also work online.
Training, qualifications & experience
I completed training in counselling with Cumbria Alcohol and Drug Advisory Service in 1997.
In 2004 I completed a 4 year Psycotherapy training with the Cumbria School of Transactional Analysis. I am committed to continuous personal development and continue to update my training by regulary attending training and workshops.
I am a qualified Alexander Technique teacher and have a strong interest in how our psychological issues impact on the body.
I am qualified as an NLP Master Practitioner and Coach.
I have a Certificate in Supervsion from Leeds Psychotherpy Training Institute
I have also received training in Couples Counselling, Self Harming, Motivational Interviewing, Body Psychotherapy, CBT, Working with Problem Gamblers.
I completed 2 years training with a Body Psychotherapy training Group run by the Northern College of Psychotherapy.
I have a Diploma in Wild Therapy and I am open to working outside with clients as well as in the traditional therapy room.
I have a Diploma in Relational Mindfulness from the Karuna Institute and like to incorporate present moment awareness into my work with clients.
I have an Advanced Diploma in Embodied Relational Therapy. Please see www.ertworks.co.uk if you wish to know more about this.
In addition to my private practice I have also supervised counsellors since 2005. I was a supervisor for Cumbria Alcohol and Drug Advisory Service (CADAS) from 2005 - 2020. I have also provided supervision for staff who work for a variety of organisations and I have provided supervision and training for staff teams.
I also worked for a local charity providing counselling for people who have been in abusive relationships.
As part of my committment to providing the best service I can for my clients I attend regular supervision and continue to develop my skills by attending training.
Prior to training as a psychotherapist I taught in Further Education and at a Secondary School. I have a BA (Hons) degree in Education and a Cert Ed. I have also worked in the Voluntary sector and have been involved with and managed various charities.
I am a registered member BACP and abide by their codes and ethics.
Member organisations
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
Photos & videos
Fees
£60.00 - £90.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
A one hour therapy session for an individual is £60
Sessions for couples or two individual people together are £90 for 75 minutes.
When I work
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Further information
I work from home in a private office separate from the house to ensure your confidentiality. My office is in Cark-in-Cartmel which is easily accessible by train. I also work on line.
I have trained in and studied in various forms of therapy. My original training was in Transactional Analysis (TA). TA has a richness and depth which encompasses all the benefits of the behavioural and humanistic therapies and is suitable for short term work and and long term in depth psychotherapy. Sometimes I may draw on and teach theories to support clients in self understanding.
I also draw on my learning from body psychotherapy, mindfulness, relational therapy and working in the outdoors.
Eric Berne, the founder of TA believed that people can rise above their circumstances, past history and self-destructive drives and impulses to find the spirit within.
"Therapy supports us to be human in a world that is constantly trying to tidy us up"- Helen Garnett
