About me
You don’t have to face your challenges alone, I’m here to walk alongside you with warmth, understanding and support.
I am a fully qualified and experienced Therapeutic Counsellor, practising Person-Centred Therapy in Bolton and Bury.
Sometimes life can seem full of anxieties, problems and stress. You may feel low, lacking in self-esteem, depressed and unsure why you are feeling these emotions. At times like these it can feel that life is becoming unsatisfying, overwhelming or even debilitating. I understand the pressures of life, I can empathise with those feelings and I have the training, skills and disposition to work with you towards a brighter and easier future.
I recognise that the first step to making changes can sometimes be the hardest. Change can feel frightening and daunting; sometimes finding the time to change can seem yet another problem rather than the solution. If you are reading my profile and considering counselling you have taken that difficult first step to feeling more fulfilled, content and happy and I would like to help you continue on your journey.
What to expect from Person-Centred counselling:
You may be wondering what to expect from counselling and how it is different to talking with friends, family and colleagues. As a Person-Centred counsellor, I offer an unbiased, non-judgemental and confidential safe space in which you can talk freely. I will listen and work with you to explore and identify the issues that you wish to discuss. I will never give advice or tell you what to do; the ability to change will come from within you and from our working together with trust, mutual respect and honesty.
What to expect from our initial online or face to face session:
At our first counselling session you will have the opportunity to discuss the issues that have led you to seek counselling. Often knowing where to start can feel overwhelming however you will have the space and time to be able to talk freely about what is concerning you. At the end of our session we can decide together if I am the right person to support you.
Frequently asked questions:
Where do sessions take place?
I offer face-to-face sessions in Whitefield/Radcliffe in a comfortable, private setting with parking available. If you can’t come in person, online sessions are a flexible way to access support from anywhere in the UK.
How many session will I need?
This will be discussed in our first counselling session. How many session needed can vary however for there to be effective change, experience and research have found that generally six sessions are the minimum required.
Will my doctor be contacted?
I work within the BACP code of ethics and I will NOT consult your doctor unless I have concerns of significant immediate harm to yourself or others. I will not disclose without consulting with you first.
I am not sure if I could talk to you?
I offer a free twenty minute telephone session and this should help you decide whether you will feel comfortable and able to speak openly with me.
During our call we will have the opportunity to discuss a brief outline of what has led you to seek counselling, and establish a foundation from which to move forward.
NB: Please check your spam or junk folder if you don’t see a reply to your email enquiry, as emails can occasionally end up there.
How do I know counselling works?
As we work together we will have regular reviews to explore how you feel the process is going, this will give us both the opportunity to work towards achieving the right results that you hope for.
Training, qualifications & experience
I have undertaken six years training and gained the following qualifications:
- Professional Diploma Level 5 in Therapeutic Counselling
- Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Skills
- Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Concepts
Ongoing Professional Development: Includes short courses in a wide range of areas e.g. Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training; Working with Survivors of Sexual Abuse; Recognising and Responding to Abuse; Self Harm; Bereavement and Loss, Trauma Informed
In addition to my own life experiences I have gained a wealth of knowledge as a volunteer at Beacon Bolton Counselling Services where I have worked with a variety of people from all walks of life who have faced and lived through a diverse range of issues.
I am a full member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and I work according to their principles and ethics. For further information on the BACP Ethical Framework please copy and paste the following URL into your search engine: http://www.bacp.co.uk/ethical_framework
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
£55.00 per session
Additional information
I offer one-to-one counselling for adults and young adults (18+), both in person in Bolton and online across the UK.
Introductory 20 minute consultation - Free
Introductory consultation by phone or video, giving us a chance to discuss your needs and see if working together feels right. There's no obligation to continue with counselling after this initial conversation.
Face-to-face in person 50 minute session - £55
I offer face-to-face sessions in Whitefield / Radcliffe in a comfortable, private setting with parking available.
Face-to-face online 50 minute session - £45
Online counselling via video link gives you the flexibility to talk in a space that feels comfortable for you.
Payment information:
To keep the process simple and convenient, payment can be made via bank transfer or cash.
My fees will be reviewed periodically, but if you have started counselling with me, then your fee will not change for the duration of our work together.
NB: Please check your spam or junk folder if you don’t see a reply, as emails can occasionally end up there.
Further information
It is not always obvious why we experience low mood, a lack of fulfilment or depression. Sometimes what we think is causing the problem may not be the issue or the only factor.
Together we can work through whatever you decide to bring to counselling; nothing is too small, too insignificant or too great. It may be that the issues you bring cannot in themselves be fully resolved, however how you feel about them and yourself, the impact on your life and the way you think has the potential to bring change and this change can enable you to move forward with your life.
Some positive changes that my clients have benefited from include:
- Greater understanding and self-awareness
- Feeling 'back in control' of ones life
- An increased trust in oneself and a sense of calm
- Being able to let go of feelings of guilt and shame
- Decreased anxiety
- Giving oneself permission to be able to live more freely
