About me
Hello…
Sometimes life just leaves us feeling stuck - caught up in thoughts, feelings or situations that feel hard to manage or make sense of. - 'If that's where you are right now' working with someone you trust could help you find a more solid foundation to start moving towards a life that feels more like you . . .
Does this sound familiar?
- Feeling stuck in your head - the mental and physical exhaustion of worry, fear, intrusive thoughts - often keeping you on constant alert.
- Feeling responsible for everyone else, bending boundaries and putting other’s needs before your own - trying to juggle work, home, relationships - whilst often running on empty.
- Experiencing self-critical, internal pressure to push through, perform, meet expectations - alongside a nagging feeling that 'something needs fixing or solving' - appearing strong, capable on the outside as internally you may feel fatigue, exhaustion or burnout.
- Grief or loss that feels unresolved, lonely - and hard to carry alone.
- Procrastination, a lack of momentum when you want to move forward - but can’t seem to stop the apprehension, internal resistance, avoidance.
- Sensing there's a better life out there for you but not knowing how to reach it - 'something just gets in the way' - and you’ve begun to lose trust in your own judgement.
- Recognising familiar patterns that no longer fit who or how you want to be - but now they are holding you back - and you feel unable to change them.
- In relationships you find yourself stuck in repeated cycles of conflict, reactivity, withdrawal, ambivalence - perhaps feeling unheard, taken for granted, or struggling to reconnect after hurt or betrayal - even where under the surface there is deep love, care for one another. . .
If any of this rings true - you're not alone. . .
I believe sometimes we all get stuck in old, familiar, conscious and unconscious patterns for valid reasons. - Once they may have helped us feel safe or protected us and they have carried on doing the same job - even if the job they did doesn’t serve us in the same way anymore.
Counselling and Therapy can be a way of gently understanding those patterns and finding new ways forward . . .
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INDIVIDUAL COUNSELLING:
Talking, being heard, understood and validated is often the first step towards exploring what's getting in the way of the life and relationships you want and towards gaining insight into what's preventing you from thriving. . . and you don't have to walk this journey alone. - Together, we'll create a space of mutual trust and respect to reconnect with yourself and find the self-acceptance, compassion and inner confidence to create healthier boundaries, healthier relationships and authentic, conscious, intentional choices.
" Whatever personal challenges you're facing - individually or within a relationship - I will step into your world with you and help you make sense of it - so you can find your own way forward at your own pace. . ."
It’s your journey so we can work in whatever way suits you best. . . Sometimes feeling heard and understood is enough to help you move forward on your journey. . . and sometimes you might want something more solution-focused, whether that's inner child work; identifying and changing thought patterns and behaviour; IMAGO relationship therapy working with the unconscious patterns behind how we relate; Psychosexual work or the faster-acting neuroscience-based approach of BWRT® (Brain Working Recursive Therapy).
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COUPLES & RELATIONSHIP COUNSELLING:
Sometimes in our relationships we can lose our way and find it difficult to communicate what is going on for us. - 'Underneath most frustrations are unmet needs' and when those needs feel unheard or invalidated, this can create even more difficulties and reactiveness within the relationship or away from it.
The aim is for us to create a supportive, safe space allowing you both to begin to build a better understanding of your relationship on a personal and intimate level, and a better understanding of each other’s feelings, perspectives and experiences.
Together we will get curious and without blame or shame, start to explore what is happening for both of you at the moment, navigate the more challenging spaces and difficult topics within your relationship, and work towards realistic, manageable goals to start healing the relationship as a whole - wherever you both decide to take that relationship.
" You won't always agree, and that's okay. . . Simply feeling heard and understood can be powerfully healing for the relationship and for each of you. . ."
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IMAGO RELATIONSHIP THERAPY (IRT):
" Ever felt an instant connection with someone - like you'd known them forever - your soulmate? "
Initially it may feel perfect but as that ‘honeymoon phase’ period fades you begin to notice more negative traits in your partners - and you may start to feel frustrated or triggered by their behaviour as past familiar feelings resurface.
The good news: relationship issues aren't necessarily a sign of failure but can be a natural opportunity to grow and heal old wounds.
The IMAGO model helps couples move from reacting self-protectively, often in a way leant in childhood - to relating with curiosity and understanding - breaking unhelpful cycles of pursuing/withdrawing and building real lasting conscious connection - co-creating a relationship that works for you. . .
The structure of IMAGO can can be a compassionate, respectful, healthy way to help with conflict, communication, trust and betrayal, emotional distancing and intimacy, parenting and money worries, mismatched needs, navigating life transitions, and separation.
If you'd like to find out more visit www.awakeninglove.today/associates-list
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BWRT® (BRAIN WORKING RECURSIVE THERAPY):
"Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response." - Viktor E. Frankl
BWRT® is a fast, solution-focused, collaborative approach rooted in neuroscience. It works in that natural split-second gap between something triggering you and how you react to it - giving you the power to choose new responses instead of the same old unhelpful patterns.
If you've already done the talking, gained the insight, had the "aha" moments - but still find yourself stuck in the same reactions - this is where BWRT® can be effective.
Here's roughly how it works: Your brain notices something, predicts what's about to happen from previous 'data', and reacts - often before you've had the chance to consciously choose a different response. - Sometimes you can stop yourself acting on that prediction, but the feeling or thought behind it has already been activated and can linger in the background, often waiting to be reactivated again.
This is where BWRT® steps in - Together, we identify the pattern you'd like to change, interrupt it at its source, and replace the old prediction with a new, healthier response - one that you create - using an impactful looping technique to naturally embed it (hence 'Brain Working Recursive Therapy').
Reassuringly, we don't necessarily need to dig into the past for months or years - we can often work simply with the pattern as it shows up today.
BWRT® can help with a wide range of difficulties including: Anxiety. Stress. Panic attacks. Trauma. Low self-esteem and Confidence. Relationship and Intimacy issues. Anger. Addiction. Intrusive thoughts. Unresolved Grief and Loss. Phobias and Fears. Unwanted Habits. Health Anxiety and Chronic Pain…
If you'd like to find out more visit bwrt-professionals.com.
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A little about me . . .
I'm an integrative therapeutic counsellor based in South-East Essex and online.
I'm a member of the BACP, a certified IMAGO Relationship Therapist, an Advanced BWRT Practitioner, and am Psychosexually and Trauma trained.
“ I believe you matter. - That you are worth self-care and self-compassion. . . and that you deserve to thrive. - You may not feel you have the time or resources for this right now - but when you choose to, I am here and looking forward to working with you. . .”
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NEXT STEP:
If you would like to take the opportunity to work with me, you can use the contact details above to message me or ask questions via email or text and I will contact you back.
We can then arrange an initial assessment session - where we can start to get a feeling for the work and each other, discuss what you may like to get from these sessions, where you feel you are at the moment, and start make sense of what is going on for you. - After this if you are happy to go ahead we can arrange ongoing sessions. . .
Being aware that finding space for yourself may be difficult, I offer some evenings and weekends : )
Training, qualifications & experience
TRAINING & QUALIFICATIONS:
I am qualified integrative Counsellor with a Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling and a registered member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP). I hold full public liability insurance and a Certificate of Proficiency from the BACP.
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I am also a psychosexually trained, trauma trained certified IMAGO relationship therapist - and a Level 1 and Level 2 BWRT® (Brain Working Recursive Therapy) Advanced Practitioner.
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I am committed to continuing professional development and some of the additional certifications, workshops and training I have attended are:
- Foundation Certificate in The Application of Polyvagal Theory in Counselling & Psychotherapy.
- Professional Certificate in Psychosexual Therapy CICS( Contemporary Institute of Clinical Sexology).
- Certificate CBT.
- Single Session Therapy.
- Inner Child approaches.
- Inner Critic approaches.
- Working with Chronic Pain.
- Working with Health Anxiety.
- Psychology of Trauma and Abuse.
- Trauma-focused dialogue for professionals.
- Breathwork for Anxiety and Trauma.
- Person-Centred Perspective on Trauma Workshop
- Parts Work with Complex Trauma.
- Changing the lens when working with trauma.
- Post Traumatic Strength Self Regulation Techniques.
- A Therapists Guide To The 5 Dimensions Of Working With Trauma Workshop.
- The Invisible Thread Trauma's Role In Parent-Child Dynamics Workshop.
- How to Map a Couple’s Relationship Using TA.
- Working with couples online.
- Initiating sex talk in therapy.
- Healing Together How Trauma Affects Couple Dynamics.
- The Echo Of Trauma In Love How Distress Affects Your Sex Life Workshop.
- Projections & Transference Unravel Emotional Echoes In Couple Relationship.
- Beyond The Affair Restoring Trust And Rebuilding Relationships.
- When Love Meets Money: Guiding Couples Through Financial Conversations.
- Considering Separation Tools For Therapists Facing Couples In Crisis.
- The 'Third Voice' in the Room.
- Conscious Uncoupling.
- Working with couples online.
- Toolbox for Working with Neurodiverse Clients in Couples Counselling.
- Defusing Depression.
- Mindfulness and Compassion Orientated Integrative Therapy.
- Guilt, Intimacy and shame work.
- Bereavement, Loss and Grief.
- Effective Anger Management Tools.
- Menopause.
- Smashing limits.
- BroadBand for the Brain.
- Substance misuse awareness.
- From Tension To Connection Overcoming Client-Therapist Rupture Workshop
- Working Effectively Online in Zoom for Counsellors & Psychotherapists.
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EXPERIENCE & BACKGROUND:
Previously to private practice I have been in roles as a recovery support worker, a volunteer with a charity offering counselling for carers, and a volunteer counsellor in supported accommodation for vulnerable adults in recovery . Previously to qualification, I volunteered with a national helpline, offering support and understanding via telephone, text and email.
Before training to be a counsellor, I worked in the creative industry and as such have a good understanding and overview of how high pressure environments can affect mental health, wellbeing and relationships.
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
Fees
£60.00 - £90.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
20 minute initial telephone contact: Free
Initial session (assessment): £60 for 50min for individuals. - £90 for 90min for couples.
Individual counselling: £60 for 50min face to face counselling or online.
Couples / relationship counselling: £90 for 90min face to face counselling or online. I work in a way where relationship/couples counselling sessions are longer than individual counselling sessions at 90mins, this really allows for both partners to have space to deepen the work and understanding for themselves and each other within each session.
BWRT®: £60 for 50min face to face therapy or online - Initial sessions and some individual BWRT® sessions may require 90min at £90 - Some sessions may require a longer period. The price and time scale for these sessions will always be discussed in advance.
Payment methods are via bank transfer or cash - Full payments are required 24hrs before sessions.
Concessions offered pending current availability.
When I work
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Further information
My main rooms are located in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, and are easily accessed by car and train.
Being aware that finding space for yourself may be difficult, I offer some evenings and weekends as well as daytime appointments. Please message me via email, text or telephone with any queries that you may have or to book an appointment. I usually respond to queries within 48 hours.
