About me
I offer two connected strands of support — one for parents and one for children and young people. Both aim to help families understand what may be happening beneath the surface of behaviour and to find steadier, more confident ways forward.
Support for Parents
I offer a calm, reflective space for you to think about your child, your relationship, and the emotional patterns that may be shaping difficult behaviour. Together we explore what might be happening underneath — overwhelm, anxiety, frustration, separation worries or big feelings that are hard to manage.
We make sense of these patterns, reduce the sense of “not knowing what to do”, and develop thoughtful, practical ways to respond. I’ll help you understand the theory behind behaviour so you have a clearer plan and strategies that feel grounded rather than reactive.
Therapy for Children and Young People
I offer play therapy and psychotherapy to help children express feelings safely, understand themselves, and work through experiences that may be too big or confusing to put into words. I have many years’ experience supporting highly anxious and traumatised children and teenagers.
My approach is gentle, containing and child‑centred. I want children to feel understood, heard and confident that they can learn to manage their behaviour and express feelings safely. Play, creativity and conversation help us explore themes such as fear, anger, loss, control, closeness or separation — and gradually make sense of them.
How I Work
I look beneath the surface of behaviour to understand what a child may be communicating. Psychodynamic thinking helps us consider how feelings, early experiences and important relationships shape the way a child manages worry, anger, sadness, change or conflict. Sometimes behaviour becomes the “voice” for feelings that are too overwhelming or hidden to express directly.
With parents, I offer space to notice repeated patterns, moments that feel particularly difficult, or ways old feelings can be stirred up in family life. This is not about blame. It is about understanding what is happening emotionally so you can respond with more steadiness, confidence and connection.
With children, I use play and creativity to help them express feelings safely. Over time, these feelings can be understood rather than simply managed. My aim is to help families feel more connected, less stuck, and better able to understand the meaning behind behaviour.
Balancing Parent Involvement and Child Privacy
I think carefully with parents about how therapy is held. Children and young people need a private, trusting space, while parents still need appropriate involvement and support. I keep this balance clear, respectful and helpful so everyone understands how the work will be shared.
Training, qualifications & experience
I’m a registered member of BACP, with a Masters in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and Counselling (three-year course), and post graduate qualifications in Therapeutic Play Practitioner (PTUK), Advanced Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Children’s Accelerated Trauma Therapy.
For twenty years I've worked with children in residential and fostering homes and have lots of experience supporting young people and staff teams.
I write and deliver my own training to suit the needs of caring organisations and often provide consultancy to staff working with looked after children.
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
£45.00 per session
Additional information
Sessions with children and young people £45.
Parent sessions are £55 (I recommend three sessions as a minimum).
Further information
I offer two distinct services, but they work together:
For parents: I offer time to think about your child, your relationship and what may be happening underneath difficult behaviour. Together, we can make sense of patterns, reduce overwhelm and find thoughtful ways forward. I’ll think with you about the theory behind behaviour so there’s a clear plan with strategies to use.
For children and young people: I offer play therapy and psychotherapy to help them express feelings, understand themselves and process experiences that may be difficult to put into words. I have years of experience of working with highly traumatised and anxious children and young people. For me, this means I’m careful to make sure children feel understood and heard; I want children to feel confident that they can learn to manage their behaviour and express feelings safely.
Together, these services help families reconnect with hope, understanding and emotional confidence.
