About me
I am an integrative psychotherapist and counsellor, based in the Carlisle area of Cumbria. I offer online as well as face to face appointments, so distance is not a barrier. My tool box includes Transactional Analysis (TA), Acceptance and Commitment therapy (ACT) Internal Family Systems (IFS). Enabling you to grow beyond the relational, emotional, and mental health challenges you face. I am trained in the treatment of complex trauma drawing on the most up to date neuroscience. I believe in the power and resilience of the human spirit to overcome current challenges, past traumas and disappointments and move forward and to live fulfilled and abundant lives. I live and work in Carlisle, Cumbria, and offer an person and online service. I am an approved therapist for AXA and AVIVA insurance.
Having a safe space to talk and understand yourself so that you can gain self-knowledge is part of the therapeutic process. I offer an hospitable space to enable you to explore what is troubling you inside and causing difficulty in your life, and together work collaboratively towards new possibilities and ways of being, that feel congruent and authentic to you.
Life is difficult, we all struggle at times and we can all get stuck in unhelpful patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving that no longer serve us. You may want to change but don't know how or fear it, yet you do not want to stay where you are. Therapy opens up opportunities to find the authentic person inside of you. Who wouldn't want that?
I would be the right person for you to work with if:
- you are suffering from stress, anxiety, depression, bereavement, low self-esteem, have experienced a recent or past trauma, are struggling with relationships, feel lost, find it hard to regulate your feelings or you just want to take time out to develop yourself.
- things in the past keep interfering with your life satisfaction in the present
- you are now an adult and recognise that you grew up in an emotional desert and it effects you now
- You want, to grow in self-knowledge, find self-acceptance in order to make changes and be your best possible self.
- You struggle to make and maintain healthy relationships
- you are recovering from trauma in childhood or recent events
- you struggle to have a firm sense of your own self-identity
- you are experiencing a crisis of faith and/or spirituality
- you just want things to be different but you don't know how to get there
- you struggle to regulate your emotional reactions
- you get caught up in anxiety and depressive moods
- you are experiencing life stress and are seeking better balance
- you are living with cancer
- you have an abiding sense of shame about yourself
If you would like to work with me, you can contact me by email. I will offer you an initial detailed assessment session to clarify your needs and reasons for seeking therapy from which we can both decide if we want to work together.
If you have health insurance I am an approved health provider with AXA and AVIVA
AVIVA AXA
Training, qualifications & experience
My journey towards being a psychotherapist started when I delved into the world of emotions and completed a post-grad in emotional education through Derby University. I was using coaching skills at the time to support young peoples development, but sometimes progress was blocked by emotional reasoning. This led me to further psychotherapy training with the Berne Institute. I completed my training in Transactional Analysis (TA) with the Northern Guild For Counselling and Psychotherapy, in Newcastle. I have since furthered my qualifications by training with Janina Fisher (a world expert in the treatment of trauma) gaining a certificate in the treatment of complex trauma. I also trained in a third wave CBT approach to stress, anxiety and depression called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with Dr. Russ Harris, which incorporates mindfulness and values to guide committed action. I have an ongoing passion for learning in neuroscience, trauma and the role Spiritual practice can play in sustaining living with hope through adversity and suffering and finding inner wholeness, acceptance and peace. I work with the internal family systems (IFS) model to promote self leadership and the regulation of 'parts' of the personality..
I have gained much experience over 20 years in the field of emotional intelligence, personal and professional development coaching, psychotherapeutic working in the educational and voluntary sectors.
I have a broad toolbox of knowledge, theories and experience to inform my work, but most of all I like to work with the persons heart and mind that is in front of me, to get to know you and to understand how you have come to be the person that you are today. I work collaboratively with you to build insight and understanding into your life experience (past and present) and to find practical and wise solutions to presenting problems and issues by exploring your inner world of thoughts and feelings, values and principles so that you can take committed action to live a rich, full and meaningful life. I see my role as a facilitator and guide to those self-discoveries that enable you to make positive changes within and without.
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 UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) is a leading professional body for the education, training and regulation of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors. Its register is accredited by the government's Professional Standards Authority.
As part of its commitment to protect the public, it works to improve access to psychotherapy, to support and disseminate research, to improve standards and to respond effectively to complaints against its members.
UKCP standards cover the range of different psychotherapies. Registration is obtained by training or accrediting with one of its member organisations, or by holding a European Certificate in Psychotherapy. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
The Association of Christians in Counselling and Linked Professions (ACC) is a Christian professional membership organisation for those involved in counselling/psychotherapy and linked professions, i.e. pastoral care, coaching and spiritual direction, in the UK. The organisation is made up of various different membership categories, including Counsellor and Accredited, and requires all members working as counsellors to undertake Continuous Professional Development on a regular basis.
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.
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
I am also available to work with people who feel that they are recovering from spiritual abuse in faith based settings.
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£70.00 - £90.00
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
My fees for private clients are £70
If you are insured by AXA or AVIVA I work to their recommended fee schedule which is different to my private practice fee.
When I work
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Further information
I am a fully accredited clinical member of the UKCP, which is humanistic in outlook.
I am also a senior registered counsellor and member of the Association for Christian Counsellors (ACC). So if faith is an important dimension of your life and you would like to work with someone who understands your worldview, I do.
I have found the psychological journey and the spiritual journey are different sides of the same coin and can inform one another as you seek personal change and transformation.
If you have health insurance with AXA I am an approved health provider
