About me
I am an experienced Psychodynamic Psychotherapist registered with the British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC). Psychodynamic Psychotherapy is a longer term treatment which helps you to increase your awareness of your unconscious inner world and the impact this has on your past and current relationships. Psychodynamic Psychotherapy is an analytic and developmental model which aims for deep seated and lasting change in emotional stability and wellbeing and promotes deeper satisfaction and meaning in all aspects of interactional life.
Following a thirty year career in the NHS I now work in private practice as an Adult Psychotherapist in Cumbria. I am located near Bassenthwaite lake in the small village of Bothel. This is twelve miles from Keswick and eight miles from Cockermouth. I see patients face to face in my consulting room in Bothel and online nationally and internationally. Some people enjoy a hybrid of online with the occasional visit to see me.
I am a clinical member of The North of England Association for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (NEAPP) . I offer supervision to medical trainees and trainees in counselling. I teach analytic theory on NEAPP delivered courses, specifically in phases in childhood and adolescence and early adulthood.
I have worked for many years for Practitioner Health, an organisation offering therapy to medical practitioners. I have a wealth of experience in helping NHS workers and having worked in the NHS for over thirty years myself, I feel passionate about helping colleagues in the difficulties they face in their professional and personal life.
I also offer couples therapy online. Couples come to therapy seeking help with relational difficulties and may need help going forward with their relationship together or to find a way to uncouple amicably for the benefit of themselves and their children.
Training, qualifications & experience
I have over thirty years experience working in mental health in the NHS. Prior to qualifying as a Psychodynamic Psychotherapist I was a registered mental nurse (RMN) and I have experience working with all aspects of mental health including Anxiety, Depression, drug and alcohol addiction and Psychosis. I worked for many years in the Early Intervention in Psychosis service with young people experiencing first episode psychosis and I have extensive experience working with young people with distressing psychological difficulties.
I completed a Diploma in Psychotherapy with the Tavistock and Portman clinic in London then I went on to complete the qualifying course in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy with The North of England Association for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapists (NEAPP). I have also completed a Foundation course in Group Analysis.
I worked for many years in the Department for Psychological Therapies in Newcastle before moving to the Lake district to set up my private practice.
My particular areas of expertise and interest are working with adult survivors of childhood trauma, working with young people with developmental difficulties (self-harm, problems with body image, failure to progress through transitional periods), and adults with difficulties in emotional wellbeing and relationships.
I work with couples who wish to work through difficulties in their relationship so that they can either move forward or decide to uncouple.
I have many years experience working for Practitioner Health, an organisation offering therapy to NHS workers. Having worked in the NHS I understand the complexities and difficulties of working in an NHS environment.
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 British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) is a professional association, representing the profession of psychoanalytic psychotherapy.
The organisation is itself made up of fourteen member organisations and BPC accredits the trainings of its member organisations. An individual who qualifies from one of these trainings is then eligible for entry into the BPC's register.
BPC registrants are governed by a code of ethics, a policy of continuing professional development, a statement on confidentiality and a complaints procedure. The BPC is a Member Society of the European Federation for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy in the Public Sector (EFPP). 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
As I offer an analytical approach I work with any adult wishing to understand themselves in order to facilitate change. I advise anyone considering undergoing a Psychotherapy with me to research this as it is different to counselling and counselling psychotherapy. Information is offered on the BPC website and on the Internet.
Therapies offered
Fees
£70.00 per session
Further information
I believe that everyone deserves the right to good mental health and a satisfying emotional life regardless of their individual circumstances. During my long career in the nhs I developed a keen sense of the vital importance of mental wellbeing necessary for a fulfilling life.
