About me
Life can be a difficult journey to navigate especially in the stressful world we live in today, and if you are feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or at a crossroads counselling may help you move forwards in the direction of better possibilities.
Having previously had counselling myself I understand how powerful it can be in helping you to understand yourself with more clarity and improve your mental wellbeing, enabling you to navigate the challenges you face and make transformative life changes.
I can accompany you on this leg of your journey to;
- Explore your feelings in a safe and supportive environment
- Gain deeper insight into the issues you may be facing
- Find healthier ways of coping with the symptoms you are experiencing from your current concerns
- Manage life transitions including bereavement/loss and living with a long-term health condition or life limiting illness
- Assist in changing the way you think and behave to improve your relationship with yourself and others
- To recognise and understand the impact of trauma and work towards healing
Training, qualifications & experience
I have 26 years experience working as a nurse in a wide variety of settings within the NHS. I have always felt passionately about the importance of treating patients holistically, which led me to complete my training as a counsellor. A key focus of my practice is working with and aligning the mind and body addressing a broad range of issues that may be impacting you in the long and short term.
I have been qualified as a Registered BACP Person-Centred Integrative Counsellor since 2020 with previous experience working for Cancer Services at Dorset County Hospital counselling both patients and relatives affected by cancer including bereavement. I have also worked for the Sexual Trauma and Recovery Service (STARS Dorset) counselling clients affected by sexual assault, domestic abuse and childhood sexual abuse.
I am focused primarily on developing a counselling relationship based on trust; working together to create a solid foundation to build from. I am trained in multiple counselling models and have completed specialist training in trauma-informed counselling, bereavement, transactional analysis and compassion-focused therapy.
I will work alongside you to explore your presenting concerns, adapting my approach depending on your needs and learning style. I like to work creatively being a visual thinker myself and will often use metaphor and imagery to offer an alternative perspective and to bring our work to life.
My areas of specialist interest include;
- Long-term health conditions and life-limiting illnesses including gastrointestinal disorders and cancer.
- Bereavement and Loss
- Trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) including sexual trauma, childhood sexual abuse and domestic abuse
- Counselling the elderly
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
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£60.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
I offer an initial free 20-minute telephone call to have an informal chat to assess the reason you are seeking support and to see if we are a good fit moving forward. It's important to choose to work with a counsellor who you think meets your needs and feel comfortable with.
Counselling appointments are 50 minutes long and cost £60 per session with concessionary rates available for student counsellors. Invoices will be sent to be paid 48-hours before your appointment via BACS transfer. Alternative arrangements can be considered if you do not have access to this method of payment.
Further information
I work in accordance with the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Ethical Framework and have supervision each month to explore the ethical elements of my work and to ensure I am working in the best interests of my clients. All clients are discussed in complete confidence.
My working days are Monday and Tuesday from my counselling office in Dorchester. I offer face to face and online, and short or long term counselling dependent on your needs.
