About me
I am able to see children from 4 or 5yo to 12yo, teenagers and young adults from 13yo to 25yo, as well as individual adults, including older adults.
My approach is 'at depth' which is able to address all sorts of emotional/ psychological difficulties, including those which are more serious or recurring. (Which may not have been able to be helped by other kinds of therapy. eg. By CBT.)
I have more than 15 years of experience in my own practice.
I trained and initially worked overseas, including in a variety of community and health care settings, while developing my own independent practice.
I initially worked for a specialist provider of child and teenage psychotherapy, when I first returned to the UK, before then establishing my own practice. I continue with ongoing learning, while fulfilling the other requirements of my professional body.
In the current difficult economic circumstances, with long waiting lists for help with mental health difficulties, as at 20th November, I am currently willing to offer 4 low fee places for a child of 11yo or under and 2 places for a young person of 12yo - 19/ 20yo. (Please see the detail within 'fees.'
I am able to help children with a wide range of problems. The aim is not just to manage their behaviours, but to understand what it is that a child may be worried or upset about and to help with that. (Obviously, I have all the required clearances, including an extended DBS check.)
My approach for children is very natural, via play. Children express their difficulties via their play, as well as by how they are with me. My response to a child is informed by my training, clinical thinking and experience, but is very natural. The work helps your child on to a better developmental track, as well as helping them to feel and manage better.
A flexible approach is offered for teenagers, adapted to suit the needs of each young person. I offer them a confidential space, in which they can talk about whatever they want, as they choose. An indirect approach is usually the most helpful, as a young person is still establishing their identity and may not wish to talk directly about their difficulties.
I am quite experienced in work with children and teenagers who identify as transgender or who are fluid in their sexual/ gender orientation. My general aim is to support them, while exploring and helping them with any psychological difficulties.
I meet or am in touch regularly with parents as an essential part of the work with a child or a teenager. Sometimes a consultation with parents is all that is required. Alternatively, what might be called an 'extended consultation,' usually consisting of 5 or 6 appointments only, will be offered. This consists of my meeting with parent/s once or twice, then seeing a child or young person 3 times and then meeting back with parent/s. Understanding of the child's difficulties will then be communicated and ways to help will be suggested.
I am experienced in work with adults, both in general psychotherapy for a wide range of problems and for (psychoanalytic / psychodynamic ) therapeutic work with those who have longstanding and/or acute problems. (eg. These sorts of difficulties would include intense or recurring anxieties, significant depression, eating disorders, feeling 'stuck', problems in relationships at home or at work, patterns of self-harm, problems with managing anger or with an unstable sense of self or identity. )
Training, qualifications & experience
I originally trained in adult counselling, (Graduate Diploma in Counselling, 2010), but I have completed several more years of other specialist training and learning, including that which enables me to work with children and teenagers.
I have also undertaken significant further learning, which enables me to work 'at depth' with adults.
I also have experience in helping children with significant developmental problems and have usually seen good outcomes for these children, (eg. Autistic Spectrum children or those with pervasive developmental delays.)
I am generally able to help children and teenagers on to a better developmental track.
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
Therapies offered
Fees
£50.00 - £55.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
I usually charge £50 - £55 for an individual session.
An initial consultation for parents is £70 because a longer appointment of up to 1 hour plus 20 - 30 mins is offered.
A short initial phone call or online discussion will be offered at no charge.
In the current difficult economic circumstances, with long waiting lists for help with mental health difficulties, especially for children and teenagers, I am currently willing to offer 4 low fee places for a child of 11yo or under and 2 for a young person of 12yo - 19/ 20yo.
As at 20 November, these places are offered at £25 only, for each of 6 sessions. After that, fees may be negotiated, still within a modest range.
When I work
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I offer day time and after hours appointments, plus very occasional Saturday mornings.
Further information
I have quite a lot of experience in helping children with more significant developmental problems and have usually seen good outcomes for these children (eg. Autistic Spectrum children, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, those who have developmental delays or who have other special conditions).
I am generally able to help these children on to a better developmental track.
