About me
I come from a background of over 30 years working in Social Care, the NHS and youth/community organisations across diverse communities. As a qualified counsellor since 2008 I remain passionate about working therapeutically with people.
Maybe you are struggling with difficult feelings due to issues in your past or present, or you have a sense that you would like to make changes in your life. My way of working is to provide you with a safe, supportive therapeutic relationship from which we can explore ways forward at your pace.
Are you going through significant life transitions or challenges? For example bereavement, or any kind of loss, change in health/ability, sexual/gender identity, redundancy, relationship breakdown, menopause, and retirement. Any of these may leave you with feelings of confusion, depression, anxiety amongst other emotions. In counselling I can help you explore such feelings and find your own way with them.
BEREAVEMENT COUNSELLING Grief can take many forms, affecting people quite differently and at varying times. For some the feelings can be quite overwhelming, and often outside pressures to 'get back to normal' can add to this. There is no 'right' or 'wrong' way or time to grieve, and counselling can help you explore the range of emotions you may be experiencing.
NATURE THERAPY From my love of spending time in nature, I've become increasingly aware of how relating with a natural landscape can help us to access our inner, emotional landscape in a more natural, reflective way. This has led me to do some training in taking therapy outside (September 2018). Walking, and connecting with nature, can provide you with powerful insights into whatever you may be struggling with emotionally.
MINDFULNESS/ MEDITATION. I have been practising mindfulness and meditation since undertaking a short course in 2011, and have run group sessions including mindful walks in nature. I can help you develop a practice that suits you. Many clients find it helps to reduce and manage stress/anxiety and depression.
CREATIVE/EXPRESSIVE ways of working may be incorporated, such as using natural objects, colours, drawing, which can help you express feelings that may not be clear, or difficult to find the right words.
For further information about the way I work, and whether this might be helpful for you, please don't hesitate to contact me.
I can offer short, medium and long term counselling and work flexibly to suit your needs. I have availability Monday to Friday 10 am to 7 pm.
Working from home, I am based near Heaton Park tram station.
Training, qualifications & experience
I hold a Masters Degree in Social Work (1985)
Certificate in Counselling (2004)
Diploma in Counselling (2008)
Certificate in Creative Supervision (2014)
Mindfulness training: 8 week course and residential weekend (2011)
Ongoing Professional Development: Includes short courses in a wide range of areas e.g. Bereavement and Loss; Self-Harm; HIV issues; Working with Interpreters; Safeguarding for adults and children. . . Outdoor therapy - working theraputically with, and in nature.
I completed a Certificate in Creative Supervision which includes using Psycho-drama and other Expressive ways of working (October 2014)
In addition I have experience running workshops in Mindfulness, Women's Health Issues and Stress Management and as group facilitator for people living with HIV.
I am a member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy and as such adhere to their Code of Ethics.
I am also a member of Manchester British Association of Person Centred Psychotherapy.
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
My standard fee is £40 per 1 hour session, and concessionary rates are available.