About me
If you are struggling with any type of relationship problem then help is just an email away.
Are you finding it hard to like yourself? At all? Do you self-criticise sometimes? You might even berate yourself if you make a mistake. Have you noticed that you talk to yourself harshly or punish yourself for not doing the right thing (in your eyes)?
If any of these thoughts & behaviours resonate with you, then your relationship with yourself may need some clarity and above all, some changes in perspective. It could be messages you received as a child resulting in a damaged self concept. This shows itself in low self-worth, poor self image with all the difficulties that brings. Lack of confidence, difficulties reaching your potential and problems with personal & professional boundaries are just some examples.
My main approach in sessions with you is compassion focussed and always person centred.
Whether the issue lies with your perception of yourself or with a relationship, my approach will also be attachment style informed.
If you are finding you are anxious or having panic attacks then I use Polyvagal work involving grounding & mindfulness which help to establish a calmer state.
Therapy is rarely a quick fix; it is a process involving you becoming aware of your history, your triggers, patterns of thinking, feeling and your responses. I aim to bring learning to your sessions but in a gentle way.
I will always bring curiosity and acceptance to your sessions and challenge you in a respectful way, as this encourages self-awareness.
For all the reasons above, this is why I see clients who may have had childhood issues for example:-
- childhood emotional neglect (CEN)
- adverse childhood events (otherwise known as ACE's), eg death or loss of a parent
- CPTSD (complex post traumatic disorder)
- Anxious/Avoidant attachment
I have a great deal of experience and knowledge about how these show up in adulthood and cause us to have anxiety, low self-esteem, perfectionism, people pleasing, difficulties controlling emotions and poor boundary- setting especially.
You may currently have a difficult relationship with a parent or parents, and this may have resulted in conflict, distress, even estrangement.
You may struggle with your relationship with your siblings, work colleagues, friends and intimate partners.
I can also help if your intimate relationship has hit a bump in the road. You could be feeling dissatisfied with an aspect of your relationship or you may even be questioning if it is worth staying in your relationship.
You can explore these upsetting feelings and confusion you may be experiencing in therapy. You do not have bring your partner.
All relationships can go through rocky patches, even when they are generally good.
For example, if we haven't learned how to have an argument with our partner (or rupture) and how to work through it then we have to learn how to repair with our partner rather than shutting down or walking away.
Relationships are an integral part of life, but sometimes they become a source of unhappiness rather than them enhancing our lives.
It may be that things are so bad between that you can't imagine feeling better about your relationship. Couples therapy can be used as an opportunity to explore what's going wrong and, with help, see any patterns you may have fallen into and gain some clarity.
In couples therapy, I see any couple (straight or lgbtq+) where communication has become difficult, where there is stonewalling, arguing or you don't feel like you are making any progress.
I also see couples who are struggling because they have different neurotypes eg one partner is neurotypical and one has ADHD, Autism or AUDHD. I have lived experience of this mix and the unique challenges it can bring.
With resourcefulness and improved communication these challenges can very often be worked through.
There may have been a loss of trust in your relationship due to one of you having an affair perhaps or other type of betrayal. There maybe a large issue you don't seem to be able to move past eg moving house where no-one is compromising or backing down!
If you have found yourself back together as a couple after years of parenting, you may wonder what happened to the closeness you once had.
Whatever it is that you wish to explore about your relationship, I have a great deal of counselling experience (13 years plus), and a lot more years of lived experience.
How to get in touch
Use the Contact form to send me an email. I will reply as soon as possible (usually within one working day).
My charges
I have a scale of charges starting from £40 to £50 for individuals, £75 to £85 for couples.
Training, qualifications & experience
- 13 years experience
- BSc Psychology (Hons)
- Diploma (Level 4) in Therapeutic Counselling
I have attended numerous trainings especially around Trauma, loss and attachment.
A selection of the trainings & workshops attended (most recent first):
- Neurodivergence in Relationships
- Transactional Analysis 101
- Compassion Focused Therapy
- Working with metaphor
- Working Therapeutically with CPTSD
- Creative Counselling
- Introduction to CPTSD
- Somatic Resourcing Part 1 & 2
- Timelines from a Trauma Perspective
- Couples Counselling: Communication and Difference
- Working Creatively with Loss
- Working creatively with Shame
- Socratic Questioning
- Transferring Therapy Online
- Solution Focused Therapy
- Samaritans Suicide training
- Self Harm Training
- Basic Life Support
- Equality, Adult Safeguarding, Confidentiality and data protection
Experience gained
I have 13 years experience of counselling adults aged 18-80 years of age in private practice, GP practice, a city centre counselling service, bereavement services and a cancer care service.
I have lived experience of the following:
- Autism/ADHD
- Anticipatory Grief
- Brain Injury
- Life-limiting illness
- Adverse Childhood Experiences
- Chronic illness
- Ambiguous loss (non-death loss of a loved one).
- Working in the NHS
- Loss of a loved one to cancer
- Loss of a loved one to dementia
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.
The National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society This Not For Profit association of counsellors and psychotherapists aim to support the counselling profession, members and training organisations. In 2013 the NCS register was accredited by the Professional Standards Authority under the Accredited Voluntary Register Scheme. 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.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
- Grief & Loss
- Ambiguous Loss
- Anticipatory Grief
- Harassment at work
- Bullying
- Chronic illness
- Cassandra Syndrome
- Carer's support
Therapies offered
Fees
£40.00 - £85.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
My normal fee for individuals is £50 per session. I have a small number of lower rate slots where the fee is £40.
Couples therapy starts at £75 per hour. A session lasting 1.5 hours is £85.
Payment Methods Accepted
BACS, SUM UP Card reader, cash.
When I work
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Further information
LGBTQ Ally, Face to face, online and telephone sessions for individuals. Couples therapy is face to face only.
Quiet, confidential counselling room within easy reach of Hyde, Stockport, Marple, Bredbury.
