About me
Are you looking to make significant changes in your life? Perhaps you have been thinking about therapy but are not sure where to start, or you feel that simply talking about your problems has not quite reached the root of what is holding you back.
My Approach: Thriving vs. Surviving - I believe that every individual has an innate capacity for growth and the ability to live a more fulfilling life. Often, what we label as “symptoms”, such as persistent anxiety, low mood, or feeling "stuck" are actually intelligent survival mechanisms developed in response to a world that did not fit us. Rather than just focusing on “what happened to you,” my approach explores how you responded. By understanding your nervous system’s unique way of protecting you, we can begin to move from a state of reactive survival to one of thriving.
The Depth of Psychotherapy: While counselling can offer valuable support for immediate life challenges, psychotherapy provides a deeper, more investigative journey into the self. My goal is to help you reach a place of authentic alignment, where you are living a life on your own terms, not one defined by the past, external expectations or unresolved trauma.
Working with the Body and the Mind: Because the body often holds what the mind finds difficult to process, I work with a trauma-informed lens. We explore how your nervous system manages stress through responses like:
Fight or Flight: Feeling constantly "on edge" or unable to relax.
Freeze: Feeling shut down, numb, or immobilised.
Fawn: Neglecting your own boundaries to keep others happy.
By looking at these survival responses with kindness, understanding, and curiosity rather than judgment, we can begin to shift how you feel from the inside out. Instead of just trying to "fix" your symptoms, we work together to understand why they are there. This allows us to move beyond just "getting through the day" and toward a sense of real peace. The intention is to help you build the inner strength you need so you can finally feel safe, settled, and truly comfortable in your own skin.
Training, qualifications & experience
I am a UKCP-accredited and BACP-registered Integrative Psychotherapist. My professional journey has been dedicated to understanding the "human" side of both personal and professional life, bridging the gap between deep psychological work and intentional living.
My Qualifications
- MSc in Counselling & Psychotherapy, University of Warwick.
- MSc in Coaching Psychology, University of East London.
- Certificate in Counselling Skills, University of the West of England.
- BA (Hons) Arabic & Islamic Studies, University of Exeter
Advanced Clinical Training (Trauma & Somatic Work): I am committed to staying at the forefront of contemporary trauma research to best support my clients. My recent training includes:
Transform Trauma Oxford Conference (2025): Completed 102 hours of certified advanced training focused on trauma, mental health, and well-being.
Releasing Trauma's Hold on the Hypervigilant Mind (2025): Advanced somatic intervention training with Dr. Janina Fisher to address physiological patterns of nervous system dysregulation.
Somatic Experiencing (SE) Foundations (2025): Specialised training in naturalistic approaches to healing post-traumatic stress, focusing on biological immunity to trauma and body-based self-regulation.
Professional Experience
My clinical background is diverse, allowing me to work effectively with the full spectrum of human experience:
Private Practice (Integrative Psychotherapy): I facilitate a relational space dedicated to exploring the deeper "why" behind feelings of emptiness, overwhelm, or disconnection. I work with the "whole person" to uncover how past experiences and relational patterns shape the present. This includes:
- Complex Life Transitions: Supporting individuals through the psychological weight of divorce, infidelity, bereavement, and major career changes.
- Neurodiversity: Working specifically with the unique experience of adult ADHD.
- Emotional & Physiological Distress: Addressing symptoms of abuse, addictions, chronic anxiety, depression, self-harm, and post-traumatic stress.
- Identity & Belonging: Exploring issues related to sexuality, cultural identity, self-esteem, and health-related challenges including the menopause.
Clinical Leadership: As a former Clinical Lead for a low-cost Counselling Charity, I managed clinical operations and strategy for a regional mental health charity.
Executive Leadership Coach: Since 2007, I have delivered high-impact coaching globally to organisations including the NHS, Google, Deloitte, Black Rock, Moderna and Deutsche Bank. My work addresses workplace dynamics such as team conflict, authentic leadership, imposter syndrome, professional integrity, and the human side of systemic challenges.
Crisis Support: I served as a crisis volunteer with SHOUT, providing immediate support to individuals in acute mental health crises.
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.
The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) is a leading professional body for the education, training and regulation of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors. Its register is accredited by the government's Professional Standards Authority.
As part of its commitment to protect the public, it works to improve access to psychotherapy, to support and disseminate research, to improve standards and to respond effectively to complaints against its members.
UKCP standards cover the range of different psychotherapies. Registration is obtained by training or accrediting with one of its member organisations, or by holding a European Certificate in Psychotherapy. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
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
£65.00 - £90.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
My standard fee for a 50-minute session ranges from £65 to £90, depending on your individual circumstances and the complexity of the work. I believe that therapy is a significant investment in your well-being, and I am happy to discuss where you fall within this scale during our initial consultation.
Concessionary Rates: I am committed to making psychotherapy accessible where possible. I offer a limited number of reduced-rate spaces for:
- Students
- Trainee counsellors/psychotherapists
- Those on a lower income or experiencing financial hardship
Please feel free to ask about the current availability of these concessionary spaces when you get in touch.
Introductory Call: I offer a brief 15–20 minute introductory call via Zoom or telephone free of charge. This allows us to discuss your needs and ensure we are a good fit before you commit to a full session.
Further information
How we start: Taking the first step toward therapy can feel daunting. Because of this, I offer a brief, no-obligation introductory call (15–20 minutes) via Zoom or telephone. This is a chance for us to discuss what you are looking for, for you to get a sense of how I work, and for us to see if we feel like a good fit for one another.
Practicalities: Session Format: I offer both in-person sessions in Cheltenham and online therapy globally via a secure platform. Telephone sessions are also available if preferred.
Frequency: We usually meet once a week at a consistent time. Each session lasts 50 minutes.
My Commitment to You: As a UKCP-accredited and BACP-registered practitioner, my work is underpinned by a commitment to the highest ethical standards. I provide a space that is not only confidential and professional but also deeply human. Whether you are navigating a specific life crisis, processing a difficult history, or simply feeling a sense of "stuckness" that you can't quite name, we will work together at a pace that feels safe for you.
Experience with Diverse Needs: Through my clinical and corporate background, I am experienced in working with the unique pressures of high-performance environments, the complexities of neurodiversity (specifically adult ADHD), and the physiological impacts of trauma. My goal is to help you move toward a place of authentic alignment, where you can lead your life with more ease and intention.
