About me
I am a Person Centred Counsellor and Supervisor with 16 years experience. I have had my own practice for the past 10 years. With regards to counselling, I have both private clients and work for a number of national EAPs (counselling agencies) who contract with companies and refer employees to me. I work with both long term clients and short term (up to 8 /10 sessions). I believe that the person centred model, built on the personal relationship, in which I offer the Core Conditions of Empathy, Unconditional Acceptance, and Transparency, enables a client to access their feelings, find their own solutions and develop their potential as a human being. I will also use cognitive based strategies where necessary,as part of therapy, but always in negotiation with the client. I also believe in the integration of mind and body in terms of the therapeutic process,especially with trauma.
I have experience in working with issues such as depression,anxiety.low self esteem. abuse, trauma, relationships, work stress, and bereavement. I also work with couples.
As a supervisor I work with both qualified counsellors and counselling trainees from university and college courses.
I am available during the day and evenings at my home address in Preston, and during the day only at a room in Lytham St Annes. I am happy to discuss any aspect of my work. including a free 30 min introductory chat, in person.
Training, qualifications & experience
Diploma in Person Centred Counselling 1998
Cert in Counselling Supervision 2001
Cert in Expressive Arts Therapy 2002
Diploma Counselling Supervision 2005
Training & Self Development
Experiential Focusing - Univ Strathcyde 2007
Anger, Rage & Relationship (Sue Parker Hall) 2007
Somatic Trauma Therapy (95 hours) - (Babette Rothschild) 2009-2010
Other workshops 'Intimacy and the Person Centred Approach'
'Unconditional Positive Regard '' '' '' '' '
'Spirituality'' '' '' ''' (11 week module)
'Working with Couples'
'Anger and Shame'
'Why Love matters (Sue Guehardt)'
'Mindfulness in Relationship'
'Disassociation & Trauma'
Counselling Experience
GP's Practice 1997/1998
UCLAN -Student counsellor 1999 -2004
Private Practice 2004 - Present inc clients from several national EAPs (up to 8 sessions)
Bridgewater Medical centre Leigh (Priory Hospital contract seeing NHS clients) 2008/09
Teaching Experience
I have taught on Introduction and Level 2 Counselling Courses, and held a couple of workshops.
Supervisory Experience
Qualified since 2001. I supervise both qualified and trainee counsellors
Also supervised psychologists at Wymott Prison Leyland 2006 -2008
Member organisations

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
BACP is one of the UK’s largest professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy. Therapists registered with the Association fall into a number of different membership categories such as Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP and Registered Member MBACP (Accred), each standing for different levels of training and experience. MBACP (Accred) and MBACP (Snr Accred) members have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by the Association.
Registered members can be found on the BACP Register, which was the first register to achieve Accredited Voluntary Register status issued by the Professional Standards Authority. Individual Members will have completed an appropriate counselling and/or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but will not appear on the BACP Register until they've progressed to Registered Member MBACP status.
All members are bound by a Code of Ethics & Practice and a Complaints Procedure. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Accredited register membership

Accredited Register Scheme
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
*Counselling Fee /hour £35. Supervision Fee (Qualified Counsellors) - £40/hour
Subject to individual personal financial circumstances (inc Trainee counsellors/supervisees) the above rates can be reduced.
Further information
In recent years I have been especially interested in trauma, both one off incidents and multiple ie developmental trauma. The training I have has enabled me to understand more of the integration of mind and body in the healing process of trauma therapy. Working with somatic (bodily) experiencing in various presenting client issues can be an essential part of the therapy.The work of Peter Levine and Babette Rothschild have been important in this respect.
I also have specific interest in depression,anxiety and relationship issues inc couples
At present I am awaiting the result of my Accreditation application with BACP
I work weekdays and evenings at home in Preston and weekdays in Lytham st Annes.
Parking is available across the road at my house and at Lytham St Annes
I am happy to discuss any aspect of my work by phone or in person and will give an introductory session of 30 mins free of charge