About me
Hello - I am a qualified, professional counsellor with experience of working with a range of issues including anxiety, depression, bereavement, and relationship problems. I can offer both short and longer term counselling, in person and online.
During ten years as a practising counsellor I have worked with the NHS as part of the Talking Therapies programme, with St Christopher's Hospice, as part of the One Therapy agency, and in private practice.
I am fully insured and have a current enhanced DBS certificate. I am also a registered counsellor with Bupa.
I am available to work with counselling trainees.
These are some often-asked questions about therapy and the kind of therapy that I can provide. If you have any other questions then please don't hesitate to contact me.
What is counselling?
Counselling, or therapy, is a way of understanding, working through, and ultimately resolving emotional and behavioural difficulties. The special qualities of the therapeutic relationship - safe, confidential, open, and honest - help this to happen.
What types of therapy do you offer?
I am trained in person-centred and psychodynamic counselling. Person-centred counselling is a form of talking therapy, which gives you the space to talk openly and freely about your concerns in a safe, non-judgemental setting, to bring about the change that you want in your life. Psychodynamic counselling can involve thinking about the way our emotions, actions, and relationships are shaped in ways that we are not fully aware of. Working psychodynamically can involve exploring experiences from the past and the meaning of dreams. I also use some techniques from cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) when they are appropriate.
What if something goes wrong?
Sometimes it does! And usually this is OK. Effective counselling does not necessarily run smoothly, and can be challenging. I believe that an important part of my role is to keep open a dialogue about how the work is progressing, and to check that you feel that the work is helping. It is fundamental to my way of working that clients come to me because they want to and because they feel it is helping. While we have a working agreement, if you feel that counselling is not helping then there is no obligation to continue.
What is the BACP and what does "accredited" mean?
The BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) is a professional association for members of the counselling professions. As a member I am committed to working in accordance with the BACP's ethical framework, which ensures that at all times I am working in your best interest. My accreditation with the BACP recognises that I have achieved a high standard of knowledge, experience, and development. For more information go to https://www.bacp.co.uk/
Will counselling make me feel better?
In my experience, most people who engage with counselling in a spirit of openness will feel its benefit - sometimes after only a few sessions, sometimes after more. However, this is not to say that engaging in counselling is easy. It is not unusual to feel worse before you start to feel better. This is normal, and can be an indication that the therapeutic process is working. During our work we monitor the progress that we are making, so that we can get a sense of how we are doing.
How do I get in touch?
You can email me through the Counselling Directory web site. I will reply within twenty four hours to arrange a telephone conversation, lasting around twenty minutes. This is a chance for you to get to know me little and for me to get an understanding of what you are looking for from counselling, and whether I would be able to help. If you decide that you want to try counselling with me, we would arrange an introductory session, in person or online.
Training, qualifications & experience
I have experience working with clients through the NHS IAPTS (improving access to psychological therapies) programme.
I have a CPCAB level four diploma in therapeutic counselling.
I am an accredited member of the BACP.
I have over three years experience working as a counsellor with St Christopher's Hospice.
I edited Janus Solutions' publication The Resonance Factor: Challenging the Myth of Addiction
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
£35.00 - £70.00
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
£35 - 70 per sessions.
Lower rates available for students and unemployed.
When I work
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Monday-Friday. Some of these times are online only.
