About me
Seeking support often isn't easy, so welcome. Sometimes there is a concrete reason for considering counselling, but just as often, the decision may come from not much more than the nagging feeling that something just isn’t right. No matter what the reason for contacting me, you will be met with compassion and curiosity, and the space to explore your feelings and thoughts at your own pace.
I do not judge what you bring, and our working relationship is collaborative and confidential, within the boundaries of my ethical framework. I offer a discounted rate for a first session, so we can explore how it might be to work together. Counselling might last for only a few sessions, or might continue on a more long term basis. This too can be discussed during our first session together.
The work I do is underpinned by my training in the person centred, or humanistic, approach. This simply means I believe in the primacy of you within our relationship, and that you are the driving force behind the change you seek. But change is not always easy, and so you will be supported by me and our relationship to explore those difficult places in a safe and trusting environment.
Training, qualifications & experience
Since graduating with merit from the MA in Clinical Counselling at the University of Chester, I have continued to develop my practice, both as part of the West Cheshire Bereavement Service at the Hospice of the Good Shepherd in Chester, and privately.
I have worked with a wide range of clients, aged from 18 to 90+, and from a full spectrum of backgrounds and situations. Because of the work I do at the Hospice of the Good Shepherd and my previous work with Wrexham and Flintshire Cruse, I have particular experience of and interest in working with bereavement and loss. But people are as individual as the challenges they face, so I also have experience working with issues including childhood abuse, addiction, gender and sexuality, family dynamics, workplace and legal issues, stress, anxiety, depression and suicidal feelings, to name a few.
As part of my commitment to ethical practice, I am a Registered member of the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy), and work in accordance with their Ethical Framework. I am fully insured, and attend regular supervision. In addition, I undertake a minimum of 30 hours of further training, or CPD (Continued Professional Development) each year.
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Please contact me if you would like to discuss support for relationship issues, bereavement, grief, loss, family issues, feeling sad, gender issues, transgender issues, anger, depression, affairs, separation, anxiety, panic, divorce and more. My practice is CGT-informed (Complicated Grief Therapy); please contact me if you would like further information on this treatment and if it might be right for you.
Therapies offered
Fees
- Introductory first session – £30
- Individual session – £45
- Block of six individual sessions – £250
- Individual session for trainee counsellors – £40
- Block of six individual sessions for trainee counsellors – £220
Payment can be made in cash, or by bank transfer prior to or in the session.
Appointments are usually on a weekly basis, at least early on, to allow the relationship and work to become established. They will mostly be at the same day and time each week. If you feel you will require more than a couple of sessions, you may wish to purchase a block of six at a discounted rate. This can be done at any point within the work, so you have plenty of time to ease into the relationship and decide if this is for you.
Appointments are for 50 minutes, including any paperwork.
Further information
I am also a qualified supervisor to Advanced Certificate level, and can offer training/CPD in the arena of loss and bereavement. Please contact me for further details. I have delievered guest lectures as University of Chester, Glyndwr and Making Changes on starting placement and working in private practice, and am on the writing panel for BACP Good Practice in Action resources.