About me
It can take courage to make the decision to seek counselling. Then there is the task of finding a suitable counsellor!
I have over 15 years experience of working with both adults and adolescents.
I provide a warm, empathic, friendly and non-judgmental environment where you can talk in complete confidence.
I work with the philosophy that we all have the ability to grow and heal; with an inner capacity to know what is best for ourselves. At times this feels impossible; we can feel overwhelmed with negative thoughts, leaving us ‘stuck’ and lost. Life can feel complicated and it feels like we cannot see a way forward.
Counselling provides the time to make sense of your life and events that may have shaped and influenced you. We can work towards positive changes in our lives; increasing self esteem, self worth, improving our relationships, becoming happier and feeling more optimistic.
You choose what to bring and work with. I can offer help with a wide spectrum of presenting issues which may include depression, anxiety, low self esteem, addiction, bereavement or separation, to name a few.
Alongside my work with adults, I have had extensive experience of working with young adults and adolescents; part of my role is working as a Lead Counsellor at a local secondary school.
I am a fully qualified and experienced Counsellor and have worked in diverse situations for many years. My training is at postgraduate level in Integrative Counselling. This means I bring flexibility to my work, drawing from a range of therapeutic approaches.
In addition to practising Counselling, I have also tutored Student Counsellors at two local colleges.
I offer both short and long term counselling. The number of sessions depends on your needs and requirements. This can be discussed in more depth when we first meet.
Testimonials:
Previous clients have said:
‘I feel so much more positive about life and a lot less anxious. I can look forward without being burdened by past events. Thank you so much for listening to me over the months’ (G,West Sussex)
‘Thank you for your fabulous support. It feels like you really understood what was going on for me – that meant a lot’ (l, East Sussex)
'I feel so much better now and doing well at school. I am even getting on better with my mum!' (M, age 15, West Sussex)
Training, qualifications & experience
- Advanced Diploma in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy (Postgraduate level)
This qualification combines a variety of theoretical bases including those of Freud and Rogers with very practical, hands-on counselling skills. The course cannot be passed without a period of time working as a Counsellor; but before being allowed to counsel, the course supervisors closely examine the candidate's suitability. I was drawn more naturally to the humanistic elements of psychotherapy and particularly to the work of Rogers. In addition, I understood and appreciated the works of Bowlby on Separation, Attachment and Loss. It was powerful learning to find how much of our later life is affected by our early years, and how help in understanding this can undo some of the less desired outcomes. The main strength of the course though was that it imbued in its students the importance of the relationship between Counsellor and client in bringing about change.
- Transactional Analysis TA 101
- Level II Certificate in Counselling Skills
Since qualifying, I have worked in a variety of counselling environments. These include:
'Addaction': specific training to work with drug and alcohol addiction, and related issues. Addaction is a charity that works to help improve the lives of people who are constrained by addiction to drugs and alcohol. Counselling plays an important role in working with the underlying issues without which the outcomes of addiction are more likely to recur. I gained an invaluable amount of experience working with Addaction.
'Your Space': West Sussex County Council: working with adolescents in schools,(DBS clearance held). I have specialised in working with young adults. Issues such as exam-anxiety, family breakdown, anger, depression, bereavement, bullying, low self-esteem, relationship issues, rejection and separation can be addressed and in so doing help their potential to be realised.
'As You Are Counselling Centre': working with a variety of presenting issues such as depression, anxiety, bereavement, stress, relationship problems, childhood trauma and abuse to name a few.
I am currently working as a Lead Counsellor in a local secondary school. Principally, my work is with students aged 11 - 16 years old. I also run group work to help with anxiety and the stresses of exams.
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
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
Concessions offered for
Additional information
- FREE INITIAL 20 MINUTE PHONE CONSULTATION
- £60 per 50 minute session
When I work
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Please call me to discuss times I have available. If I don't answer, it is likely I am in a session, please leave a message and I will get back to you.
Further information
As a member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), I adhere to their policies on ethics and best practice.
Before we start to work together, we discuss what you wish to achieve and how you would like me to help. I also explain about confidentiality and data protection.
I undertake supervision in line with BACP guidelines. This ensures that I can continue to work objectively and bring new insight to our sessions. It does not undermine our agreement on confidentiality.
My counselling room is in Steyning, with beautiful views and which has plenty of easy parking nearby. There are buses from Brighton via Shoreham, Henfield, Storrington and Worthing, which stop close by.
