About me
Hello, I'm glad you found me. I'd really like to help you to the best of my ability.
If you're hesitating to get in touch I do understand. It took courage for me to take that step when I contacted my own first counsellor, but I'm so glad I did. She helped me navigate a dark, confusing period in my life.
I'm a warm, friendly and experienced counsellor in my 60s who's had my share of life's ups and downs. I worked in factories, offices, hotels, adventure playgrounds, universities and local government before training as a counsellor in my early 50s. Having grown up in the industrial Midlands, I now love walking the South Downs and along the beach to stretch my legs and get a breath of fresh air.
What's going on for you?
It seems you're having a tough time right now. Talking things through with me might help relieve some of the pressure and give you time and space to clear away some of the fog.
Maybe you're feeling anxious, depressed, disconnected from the rest of the world, alone and scared? Perhaps you feel stuck, overwhelmed or confused, unsure how to figure out the way ahead. You might even think others would be better off without you.
Together we can pause, take a breath and take stock. We can share the job of clarifying what's troubling you, how it's affecting your ability to live your life and what options you have for moving forward.
How I work
My belief is that most of us know, deep down, what we'd like to change. The hard part comes when our needs are at odds with the needs, wants or expectations of others - and that can be partners, family, friends, work colleagues, neighbours or wider society. It might be that you feel you have to pretend to be someone you're not, or hide part of who you are for fear that others won't accept you. In order to cope, you might find yourself turning to habits and behaviours that don't really help in the long term.
I will offer you my full attention each time we meet and listen with great care to what you say (and sometimes don't say). As you become more relaxed and feel able to explore things at your own pace, together we can unravel tangled thoughts and feelings and help you feel more comfortable in your own skin.
Where I work
I work mostly from my home office in Southwick, West Sussex or, if more convenient for you, from The Wilbury Clinic in Hove. Online sessions via Zoom are also available if you prefer.
If you would like an initial phone or Zoom conversation before meeting me please get in touch by phone, text or email.
Training, qualifications & experience
FdSc in Person-Centred Counselling. Additional training in working with anger, loss, suicidal thoughts, bereavement, trauma, relationship difficulties.
Before setting up my private practice I had a 10 year relationship with the low cost counselling charity ‘As You Are’ based in Southwick, West Sussex. Here I worked with individual clients and facilitated therapeutic and psycho-educational groups on the themes of anger and self-esteem. From time to time I deliver workshops for counsellors on understanding and working with anger.
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 per session
Additional information
£60 per 50 minute session (£20 for an initial consultation). Lower cost sessions sometimes available according to ability to pay.
When I work
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- I work face-to-face or online, mainly based in Southwick, although in-person sessions in Hove are also possible.
Further information
I trained as a counsellor after first being a client myself and finding it a very helpful and supportive experience. If you've never had counselling before I do understand it can take courage to take that first step to make contact. Be assured I am here to help, not judge.
