About me
Integrative Therapeutic Counselling
Whether your concerns feel mild, overwhelming, specific or vague, I offer a down to earth, confidential listening space in a discreet location in Westbury-on-Trym. I work as an integrative therapeutic counsellor with adults and young people, which means I will work short or long term, drawing on different therapeutic approaches according to how relevant they may be with each individual person. The modalities I draw upon are Person-Centred, Psychodynamic and Gestalt - I welcome any questions about these ways of working.
Central to my work is a belief that we have a natural tendency towards growth and healing, and that the answers to leading a fulfilled life lie within us - it's just a matter of finding them. I will support you in your individual search by working at your pace and respecting your unique challenges within an open, non judgmental and warm therapeutic relationship.
A Creative Approach
I have a background in education and the arts and, if it appeals to you, can incorporate creative ways of working for you to express, symbolise and explore your experience. Sometimes the simple term 'creative' can induce shame in a person, so, whilst we might explore the shame itself, working creatively will always be suggested tentatively on my part, and never with the assumption or expectation that you would wish to follow the suggestion through. Central to the work will be my respect for your preferred pace and way of working.
Creative options may involve the use of art or writing materials, or sand tray work with small objects (such as figurines, model animals, shells and stones); Other creative ways of working could include role-play, or experimentation with posture, words and voice. All of these interventions can help bypass the limitations of relying upon narrative alone; For the same reason, we may also work creatively with the body, tuning in to bodily sensations or to any more abstract 'felt sense' you may have in the moment.
Therapy structure
After an introductory session, where you can ask any questions and share some of what it is you wish to bring, and where we can get a feel for how it might be to work together, I would suggest embarking with a block of six, weekly sessions to allow time for a therapeutic relationship to develop. We can then review how the therapy is going for you, and consider how and where you might like to take it from here.
Ways to use and benefit from therapy
People I have worked with have used, and benefited from, therapy in different ways: some have booked a block of sessions to work through a particular issue; Others have used the space for a longer process of disentangling - attending to their history and relationships, either gently or with scrutiny, and furthering their understanding of why things are as they are; Some clients have arrived simply 'not feeling themselves', and have identified, through an organic process of exploration, the core of their unrest. Whatever it is you seek support with, we can work together to deepen our understanding of your experience and identify the choices you have to improve your wellbeing. This in turn can pave the way to a more fulfilled life.
For more information
I am currently focussing solely on private therapy work, after also working as a school counsellor and as a lecturer on the Certificate and MA courses in Counselling and Psychotherapy at UWE. This means I am in the process of updating my website, so please email me if you'd like to ask any questions or arrange an introductory session. Thank you.
Training, qualifications & experience
Qualifications BA Hons Fine Art, PGCE, DPS Counselling
Training includes BACP accredited Post Graduate in Professional Studies Diploma in Counselling (2011); TA 101, Working with Young People, Rewind Trauma Therapy (ongoing), Working Creatively in Therapy, Sandplay Therapy, Neurodiversity Awareness for Therapists (ongoing).
Experience I have a history of good working relationships with people in various settings: I have worked with children, teenagers, students, community groups, corporate managers, people in addiciton recovery and people in prison.
My therapy work has included working in both state and private schools, in university student support, and in NHS and private occupational health settings. I also have several years' experience working as a university lecturer: teaching psychotherapy theory to students on the Psychology undergraduate programme, being Core Tutor/Lecturer on the Person-Centred and Gestalt Certificate in Counselling Skills course, and Creative Writing Therapy Tutor and Supervisor to therapists in training on the MA programme in Counselling and Psychotherapy.
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Mid life issues
Therapies offered
Fees
£60.00 per session
Additional information
£60 per 50 minute session.
When I work
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Tuesday online
Wednesday online
Thursday in person and/or online
Friday in person and/or online
Further information
The therapy room is located in a small quiet building that hosts both office workers and therapists. The location is set back from Canford Lane which is on various bus routes. Parking is available in two nearby car parks and on local residential streets.
Please note I am in the process of updating my website, so please feel free to email with any questions/enquiries.
Thank you.
