About me
At different times in our lives we may decide to meet with a counsellor to explore issues such as life changes, relationship issues, anxiety, social anxiety, depression, loss, illness, bereavement, trauma, abusive relationships or family or work related issues.
Sometimes we can feel stuck or overwhelmed by life and have tried everything to manage on our own.
Speaking with a counsellor in a private and non-judgemental space helps us to process and explore our thoughts and feelings and help make sense of experiences that may be confusing or troubling.
Having a space in which to speak freely and to reflect on our experiences as well as the opportunity to learn how to attune more deeply to our felt experience in the here and now can be a powerful catalyst for change.
Each of us have feelings and experiences that are unique and that can be shared and understood more fully with a counsellor. Choosing to start counselling and finding the right counsellor can feel daunting.
It is important that you have an opportunity at the first meeting to see whether we feel comfortable to continue.
If so, with discussion I can help you to decide what is best for you in terms of the number of sessions and what the focus of sessions will be, if that is required.
As a fully qualified counsellor and a Registered Member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), I bring my 15 years experience as a Counsellor including 4 years working in NHS Psychological Services Sittingbourne, and NHS Newham and Tower Hamlets, London.
I have worked for many years in charity organisations to offer short term or open ended counselling to adults over the age of 16.
I also bring my 30 years experience as a body therapy practitioner to my counselling practice. This means that I can also offer an integrated approach which includes awareness of the body otherwise known as embodied relational therapy or somatic therapy, including skills such as what is now commonly known as 'mindfulness practice' ( actually an essential part of compassion based Buddhist practices), Focusing skills and other body oriented practices that can help resolve trauma and other issues. I am also a trained and experienced authentic movement practitioner.
I am aware of the physical and psychological experiences that can result from stress, trauma, depression, anxiety, unexplored emotions and illness. Underpinning all my work is a belief that each of us has an inherent healing resources that can for example, help us to process painful or unresolved experiences without feeling overwhelmed. I can help facilitate the process of resolution and integration which ultimately can lead to feelings of being well and of being confidently more able to deal with life's issues.
It is possible to harness our internal resource of inherent wellness to assist our progress through life with a sense of ease. We each have our own internal and external resources that can be cultivated.
All my work adheres to the code of ethics of the BACP. This means that clients can expect a confidential setting that has professional integrity, that is non-judgemental and respectful and in which it is possible to explore anything that may be troubling or that needs talking about.
Each one of us has feelings and experiences that are unique and that can be shared and understood more fully with an empathic and sensitively attuned, experienced counsellor.
I was funded in 2015 by the NHS to train in Counselling for Depression. This is a NICE approved therapy and is an NHS High Intensity Intervention for moderate to severe depression. This approach involves a collaborative exploration of the client's experiences, thoughts and feelings that are linked to, or that may underly depression. Rather than focusing on symptoms, the whole experience of the client is explored from their own perspective. This approach can focus on feelings that may also be sensed in the body and that can be helped to find expression and acknowledgement.
Following a Fine Art degree and many year teaching Art in community groups I trained as a Shiatsu practitioner more than 30 years ago and a Biodynamic Craniosacral therapist 20 years ago. I have had extensive experience of working with children with profound and multiple special needs and disabilities, and with adults including NHS work for the Immune Development Trust as a Healing - Shiatsu Practitioner and Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapist.
Training, qualifications & experience
- Registered Member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
- Four years experience as a counsellor within charitable organisations and the NHS as part of: Sittingbourne NHS Primary Care Psychological Therapies Unit (KMPT), NHS and MIND in Newham Talking Therapies, MIND Tower Hamlets, GP Surgeries, The Waymark Trust.
- Diploma In Integrative Conselling, Interpsyche Centre for Counselling and Psychotherapy Studies (BACP Acredited) as part of Kent and Medway NHS Social Care and Partnership Trust (2012) (Distinction)
- Certificate in Counselling, University of Kent (2009)
- Counselling for Depression, Metanoia (2015) NHS funded NICE approved
- Working with Interpreters, NHS Newham Talking Therapies (2013)
- Meeting the Challenges of Dissociation CPD, Bowlby Centre (2014)
- Complex Trauma and Attchment Bonds CPD, Bowlby Centre (2012)
- 20 years experience as a Healing- Shiatsu Practitioner and teacher (BSS, 1996), (HSEC, 2000) and Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapist (Karuna, 2001) working in the NHS, Immune development Trust with the NHS, Charities and in Private practice.
- Certificated Authentic Movement Practitioner (2021)
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
Support during life threatening or other illness, surgery and treatment
Impact of Mental Health diagnosis
Fertility issues
Childlessness
Menopause
Disability Issues
Transgender Issues
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£50.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
After the initial session, all subsequent sessions last for 60 minutes, usually on a weekly basis at the same time.
Fees and meeting times are subject to agreement in the first session, as is the number of sessions. This fee is £50 per session (open to review and subject to circumstances).
When I work
Weekday by arrangement.
Further information
Sessions cost £50 for one hour.
I have a sliding scale available depending on your circumstances which we can discuss in our first meeting.
I am currently working online or face to face by arrangement.
