About me
"Good therapy is life changing."
I believe we all have the innate right to feel comfortable with who we are, and our place in the world. Over twenty five years ago I didn't, which led me to do my own personal therapeutic work. I would describe the process as ultimately transforming and the change was literally from the 'inside out'! Since then I have been driven to equip myself with the knowledge and skills to help others discover their own sense of freedom. I embarked on an intensive experiential Counselling course soon after the start of my own personal work, that took a number of years to complete. From that solid platform I have interwoven first hand experience of working therapeutically with adults, young people and children whilst learning new skills along the way to match the variation of personal needs presented to me.
I would therefore describe myself as an integrative counsellor, drawing on and interweaving many learnt theories to utilise as a comprehensive 'tool kit' within the therapeutic sessions. Both Carl Rogers 'Person Centred Approach' and Fritz Perls 'Gestalt Therapy' have been a constant influence on my work since I first began training. The 'Person centered approach' focuses on prioritizing the clients needs, preferences, and goals in all aspects of their experience. It emphasizes collaboration, respect and empowerment. Gestalt therapy in essence emphasizes the whole person, rather than parts of a person, and focuses on the present rather than the past. It is very much a holistic approach.
Later when I trained to become a Play Therapist, I learnt the significance of not only understanding, but also applying the knowledge of attachment theory to all my client work to not only enhance our working relationship but more importantly my clients own personal relationships. So often issues are created in relationship and therefore it follows that they can be, and are healed in relationship too. My most significant training since then was to become an EMDR Therapist. I have been offering this more specialised trauma based therapy to individual adults, young people, and children, to help target the disturbing life events that are currently impacting on the quality of life in the present day, and where some talking therapies can create an adverse affect. Surprisingly , the content of the trauma is often not as disturbing as where the event is actually stored, in short term memory, frozen in time and ready to be 'highjacked' by one or more of the senses, bringing disturbing fragments of the trauma into the present moment at any time of day. The therapy focuses as a priority on safety and what the individual comfortably can manage, ensuring that it is paced by them through out. The processing itself integrates the fragmented parts, which once done, naturally shifts in its more complete form to long term memory where the event can remain free from the vivid immediacy of strong emotions and sensations, and instead more a 'memory' with a felt sense of distance in time and space like other past memories. In some cases the client does not need to remember or even talk about the trauma to get relief from it using this form of therapy. Although EMDR is recognized for its success for PTSD and trauma, it has also been found to be effective for a broader range of conditions, including phobias, OCD, anxiety, and depression.
I offer a free half an hour no obligation chat to discuss further your needs. I have been told that I am a naturally warm and empathic person who truly listens in an open and accepting way. From our very first interaction I will be dedicated to best meet your needs using my skills and experience. You have got nothing to lose, and everything to gain, from getting in touch.
'Out beyond ideas of wrong doing and right doing, there is a field. I'll meet you there.' Rumi
Training, qualifications & experience
- Advanced Certificate in Therapeutic Counselling (TC02)
- Advanced Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (TC03) - 2004
- Began MA in Play and Child Psychotherapy - 2011
- Accredited Play Therapist (PTUK) - 2014
- Certified Supervisor (PTUK) - 2014
- Senior Status Certified Supervisor - 2017
- Heart to Heart Practitioner Training (to work with parents/children) - 2018
- Professional Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy - 2019
- BACP - Counsellor - Accredited status -2020
- EMDR Therapist - 2022
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.
Play Therapy UK is the largest organisation governing therapeutic play and play therapy in the United Kingdom. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
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.
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
£60.00 - £75.00
