About me
A bit about me
Before becoming a therapist, I spent many years as a GP, focusing on palliative care, dementia, and older adults. Working within this field made allowed me to understand how closely our physical, emotional, social, and spiritual sides are connected, and, how failure to address the entirety of people, can only ever be of partial use.
When I moved to the UK from South Africa, it seemed the most natural path for me to take to begin a new career in the world of counselling and therapy. Now, as a therapist, I am able to integrate my 35 years of experience of working within the caring professions to offer my clients a counselling experience enriched by the different roles I have played in my life.
My Practice
I am trained as a person-centred pluralistic therapist. The basis of this is 2 fold. Firstly, a belief in the ability of each person to find the answers they need when they are in a trusting environment, without judgement or expectation. There is no interpretation, there may be challenge and exploration, but always within the parameters of what feels safe.
Secondly, that there is no one size fits all, each of us is unique and will experience events influenced by what has made us who we are at that point in time. For therapy to be a success, collaboration is central. While I bring my expertise and experience, you bring your expertise on your life. This means we find a way to offer what you need at any point in time, and if I am unable to do that, then me being able to say so.
In addition I am trained in a trauma informed approach, prioritising safety and your sense of autonomy and control at all times.
Grief and Loss
While grief is often immediately associated with the death of a loved one, loss comes in many forms:
· Bereavement- the loss of those we love, whether it be expected, unexpected, natural or through trauma. Certain losses are what can be less recognised by society, such as miscarriage or loss through suicide.
· Loss in the major transitions of life, retirement, menopause, parenthood, relocation and more.
· Aging itself brings a multitude of losses, each a new challenge to how we live.
· Dementia, chronic illness and pain may alter both your body and sense of identity.
· A cancer diagnosis, no matter the stage, may feel like the ground beneath you has shifted forever and is unfamiliar and untrustworthy. For many, the after-treatment stage, the push to be positive and grateful can be the hardest, wondering what 'well' means and if they will ever feel that again.
· People who find themselves becoming carers, often experience a profound shift in identity and role, losing a core relationship and finding themselves in another unasked for one. Whether through dementia, neurodegenerative conditions, or chronic or life-threatening illness, there is ongoing loss and a constantly changing reality.
· Anxiety and depression can rob you of the life you expected.
Training, qualifications & experience
Qualifications & experience
- BSc (Hons) Person-Centred Pluralistic Counselling Advanced Practitioner
- Professional Certificate in Facilitating Online and Phone Therapy
- Master’s Dissertation ( MPhil Palliative Care, University of Cape Town): Perception of family members of palliative care for dementia patients
- Decades of experience as a General Practitioner, with a focus on palliative care and geriatrics
- Worked at Metanoia Counselling and Psychotherapy Service
- Current: Counsellor at Harlington Hospice (Psychological and Emotional Support team)
- Registered member of the BACP (British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists)
- Mind Body Breakthrough- trauma certification
- Palliative Care Conference 2025: Poster presentation
I work with adults facing a wide range of difficulties, including:
- Grief and bereavement, including through suicide
- The impact of life-changing or life-limiting illnesses including chronic or life limiting illnesses and cancer, dementia or chronic pain.
- Health anxiety
- End-of-life care,
- The emotional impact of aging, challenges facing older clients.
- Support for carers and families.
- Medical professional burnout
- Life transitions and adjustments - menopause, retirement, parenting, work stresses
- Relocation and immigration, cultural disconnection
At times words may be out of reach or just to hard to express and using creative and symbolic therapies may offer an alternate way to access these words and emotions. I offer sand tray therapy and other creative methods as part of our work together.
I am available for in-person, online and phone sessions, making therapy accessible to suit your needs. I try, when possible, to offer flexibility. House calls are available on discussion.
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
- Ageing
- Cognitive decline
- Chronic illness
- Carers
- Medical trauma
- End of life care
- Health professionals burnout
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£75.00 - £75.01
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Face to Face: 75
Online: 75
Telephone: 75
Concessionary fees available for those on low income in consultation with therapist.
Home visits are possible in consultation with therapist
I offer a free 20 minute phone or video call for us to decide whether we are comfortable working together.
When I work
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Further information
Areas I work with
I support adults (18+) experiencing:
- Bereavement through loss of a loved one
- Life changing illness including cancer
- Ageing, or dementia
- Anxiety, depression, or low mood
- Major life transitions such as retirement, menopause, relationship endings, or financial shifts
- The emotional impact of caregiving
- Relocation and immigration
When talking is not enough I offer creative therapies: Sand Tray, Drawing, Writing/journaling
