About me
Life is rarely neat or tidy, and sometimes we need a space where we can be fully ourselves — messy bits and all. I work with people navigating anxiety, depression, grief, addiction, abuse, family and relationship difficulties. I have extensive experience working with individuals making sense of neurodivergence as they find a way to balance the emotional impact of later in life diagnoses. I understand in this regard that therapy is not a “one size fits all solution” as individuals making sense of their mechanics can often attempt to push themselves towards chronic burnout to mask these difficulties.
I worked in the community sector for thirteen years with individuals impacted by depression, suicidal ideation and loss. I have a keen interest in addictions and understanding the cycles and underlying causes and have additional professional development in this area. I will work with you without judgement. I will address shame in a healthy way, balancing compassion with accountability.
In sessions, I bring a down-to-earth honesty: I’ll challenge you when you need it, sit with you in the heavy stuff, and occasionally, if the moment fits, I’ll bring a bit of dark humor to keep us human. I know it’s not all about being “fine”; it’s about being real, even when things are tough.
I’m integrative in my approach, blending tools from different schools of therapy- and because I get how exhausting life can be when you’re juggling so much, I’ll always meet you with respect and zero judgment.
I won’t sit in silence and nod at you. I’m engaged, thoughtful and collaborative. I’ll challenge you when it’s helpful — but always with care and respect. I do not know you better than you know yourself but I want to help you get to where you want to be. In this regard, it is my feeling that sometimes acceptance is equally as relevant as any perception of necessary change. I believe relationship is the crucial foundation of meaningful therapy, and that doesn’t happen with a nodding dog saying “how does that make you feel?”
Taking the first step towards counselling can feel daunting, but you don’t have to have everything figured out before reaching out. If you’re thinking about starting therapy, I’d be happy to hear from you. It’s important that you feel comfortable with the counsellor you choose, so our initial conversation is an opportunity for us both to decide whether we’re a good fit to work together.
Training, qualifications & experience
- FdSc in Integrative Counselling Practice
- Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training
- Level 5 Certificate in Addictions Counselling
- BA (Hons English)
- Level 4 Higher Certificate in Philosophy
- Mental Health First Aid
- Evidence Based Suicide Bereavement Training with PABBS Postvention Assisting Those Bereaved by Suicide
- LGBTQI+
- Neurodiversity Affirming Practice Training
- Protection of Children & Vulnerable Adults
- Family support, debt relief and benefit awareness training.
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
Photos & videos
Fees
£50.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
I believe that counselling should be available to everyone who needs it. Please speak to me if finances are a concern. Although fees are set in accordance with expenses of remaining insured and regulated in safe practice, we can discuss all options including discounted rates and community supports.
When I work
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Further information
I work from a second floor office in Beresford Business Centre. There is on site parking and the premises is easily accessible and a short walk from Coleraine town centre.
