About me
A very warm welcome to my page.
Much of my counselling work has been supporting people through end of life, loss and grief. If that is what bought you here, my heart goes out to you and I’m glad you’re looking for support.
You might feel alone as others can struggle to know what to do or say - misunderstood or pressured to ‘move on’ while grieving someone important to you. Perhaps your bereavement doesn't feel straightforward, as relationships are often complicated, and how you feel about someone in life can naturally affect how you feel about them in grief.
You may be facing a loss unrelated to bereavement, a relationship breakdown, lower self confidence, changes to your health etc. Any loss can be unsettling and I'm here to support you to find your way again.
I also offer counselling for challenges related to neurodivergence (diagnosed or suspected), I have both lived and professional experience. If you're navigating academia or life more generally, I'm here to help.
You might be finding it hard to explain exactly how you’re feeling or unsure what you’re looking for. Many arrive worried that they won’t know what to say, only to be surprised how quickly the hour goes by.
It’s likely you’re here because all is not well and my role is to help you with that – I don’t expect you to have all (or any) of the answers.
My aim is that our sessions will be helpful and hopeful conversations, where I can offer prompts, exercises or resources when wanted and/or needed. There is no one size fits all and I will strive to find an approach that fits you. You have the accelerator and the brake - I am your willing co-driver.
I believe therapy works best when you feel able to connect with your counsellor - this is why I offer an initial call without charge or any expectation for you to continue, so you can get a better idea of who I am and my way of working.
Please reach out by email and we can go from there - you may wish to include some of your availability so I can arrange a call for a time that best suits you. I appreciate this can be a daunting step so I will be as reassuring as possible and there is no pressure on you at any stage.
Training, qualifications & experience
18 years of experience:
I set up and started practicing as a private counsellor in 2023 alongside working as an online bereavement counsellor for a national hospice charity and supporting students with autism and ADHD in higher education.
Prior to this I've been employed as a children and young adults counsellor for a local bereavement charity, psychological wellbeing practitioner for a regional mental health service, crisis worker for an alternative to hospital admission residence and crisis call operator for a mental health night-line.
I've facilitated a number of Psychoeducation/Wellbeing Groups (for those struggling with depression, anxiety or chronic, long term health conditions) and co-facilitated a six week Person Centred Art Therapy group for clients in addiction recovery.
BA Honours Degree in Humanistic Counselling Practice (awarded by The University of Nottingham in 2013).
Humanistic modality, defined by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy as "...focuses on the individual as a whole... encourages people to think about their feelings and take responsibility for their thoughts and actions... emphasis is on self-development and achieving your highest potential..."
Fully Accredited and Registered Member (67283) of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
Further professional certification in:
- Autism and ADHD in Higher Education: Recognising and Addressing the Barriers through Non-Medical Helper (NMH) Mentoring and Study Skills Strategies (awarded by Optimum Elearning)
- Mental Health First Aid Training (awarded by MHFA England)
- OCST 4 Online Counselling Audio and Webcam (with Credit) (awarded by 0CST)
- Grief Therapy as Meaning Reconstruction (awarded by Portland Institute for Loss and Transition with Robert Neimeyer)
- Therapeutic Use of Person Centred Creative Arts (awarded by Association for Person Centred Creative Arts)
- Motivational Interviewing (awarded by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust)
- Awareness in Bereavement Care (awarded by Cruse Bereavement)
- Introduction to Person Centred Play Therapy Skills (awarded by Place2Be)
I prioritise continuing professional and personal development - reguarly attending workshops/courses both online and in-person, including, but not limited to:
Single-Session Therapy
Last Aid Training (End of Life Support)
Compassion Fatigue Training
The Range of Response to Loss and Adult Attitude to Grief Scale
A Therapists Guide to the 5 Dimensions of Working with Trauma
Safeguarding Training
Facilitating Groups
Client Empowerment
Deliberate Self Harm
Animal Assisted Therapy
Sex/Sexuality and Gender
Introduction to Solution Focused/Time Limited Therapy
A Child's Grief
Life After Being a Carer
Aspects of Research into Suicide
Suicide Awareness Training
Workshop on Aspects of Loss
An Introduction to Creative Approaches in Therapy using Drums
Use of Energy within the Therapeutic Relationship
A Conversation with an Empty Chair – Introduction to Psychodrama
Wellbeing Retreats
Women's Circles
Cacao Ceremonies
Grief Ceremonies
Sound Baths
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.
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
£60.00 per session
When I work
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Further information
I named my business 'OnWard', both as a play on words (see my name) and to represent forward momentum
"Sometimes when you lose your way, you find yourself." Mandy Hale
