About me
Well done for being open to embracing therapy and change – it takes courage.
I'm now welcoming new & returning clients. Please get in touch to arrange a FREE 30-minute initial conversation.
I've been running my Private Practise in Caversham, Reading in person and online, successfully for seven years and have fourteen years of experience in Psychology and Mental Health.
As a therapist I'm considerate of bringing warmth, respect and my genuine self into the therapeutic relationship, and I want our work together to feel human rather than clinical. I'm conscious of the importance of building trust, so that you can begin to feel safe to speak openly and be yourself.
For me, being a therapist is more than simply a job. I genuinely care about the work I do and feel passionate about supporting people to develop greater understanding of themselves, strengthen their resilience and relationships, and improve their mental health and wellbeing as a whole.
I believe in looking at each person holistically – getting to know you as a whole person, understanding where you are now, the unique experiences that have shaped you, and how your past may still be influencing how you feel, relate and live today.
I am a qualified Therapeutic Counsellor and Clinical Hypnotherapist based in Caversham, Reading. My main approach is integrative counselling, drawing on person-centred and psychodynamic therapy. This allows us to explore and understand how your past may have shaped you, while also focusing on what you are experiencing and what you may want to change in your life now.
We can also look deeply at your experiences and relationships, developing greater awareness of patterns that may be influencing the way you relate to yourself and others today. We can also work very much in the present, noticing what is happening for you now and giving you space to explore and process your thoughts and feelings.
Where helpful, we may explore thoughts, feelings, beliefs or patterns that sit outside your immediate awareness, and consider how experiences from your past may continue to influence you in the present. Through greater understanding, we can work towards alleviating their impact, creating new ways of relating to yourself and others, and reconnecting with a more authentic sense of who you are.
At the heart of my approach is the belief that you are the expert in what you have experienced through your own life. I bring my therapeutic knowledge, insight and skills, but I meet you with your own experiences, understanding and individuality. Therapy is something we do together.
I am trained in Clinical Hypnotherapy and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT). Hypnotherapy is very effective to help connect with your internal thoughts and feelings more readily and to feel more in control to move past ingrained patterns of thinking. It can offer support for you to think about something in a different way. To experience something more positively, with more ease and let go of what's not serving you.
I am also trained as a Children & Young Person's Counsellor (11+). I'm mindful of building trust and demonstrating my own genuineness with young people. I and have a range of techniques and exercises we can do together. These help facilitate young people to be comfortable to open up and share their inner world, process their feelings and explore how they can become more empowered.
Training, qualifications & experience
Qualifications
Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling -
Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body (CPCAB)
Integrative training in Person-Centred and Psychodynamic Counselling
Certificate of Proficiency -
British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
BSc (Hons) Psychology – First Class -
Accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS)
Diploma in Hypnotherapy -
The Royal Berkshire College of Clinical Hypnosis
Certificate of Proficiency in Emotional Freedom Therapy -
The Royal Berkshire College of Clinical Hypnosis
Experience
Private Practice -
I have been running my own successful private practise for years, providing Therapeutic Counselling and Clinical Hypnotherapy, to clients with a range of experiences and presenting concerns.
Counselling Adults and Young People - ARC Counselling Agency, Wokingham.
Counselling Adults and Young People who have experienced Sexual Abuse - Trust House, Reading.
Senior Support Worker - Optalis, Wokingham.
Psychology Support - Reading Community Mental Health Team / Compass Opportunities.
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
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£65.00 per session
Free initial telephone session
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
I currently have availability on a Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.
I offer 50-minute sessions Face to face & Online for £65.
A free 30-minute telephone call, an introduction so that you can consider whether you would like to pursue therapy with me & provides time to look at how we might work together.
When I work
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Further information
Counselling Length
Often we start therapy together and see what feels right for you as we go.
I recommend weekly sessions for the most effective progress, I do also offer fortnightly sessions. While a regular slot is helpful for in depth work and with scheduling, I also offer ad hoc sessions.
The length of counselling work can be discussed on an individual basis and can be reviewed to be the most beneficial to you.
