About me
I work with people who feel they've lost themselves in the midst of life's changes and challenges. I help people to re-learn who they are, and what matters to them now, and to cultivate self-kindess. Together we build a toolkit for the future.
Many of us go through seasons of life in which wedon't recognise ourselves due to the challenges and changes of life. It might show itself in a lack of motivation, struggling to do things which we used to find easy, a loss of confidence and self-esteem, critical, unhelpful self-talk. It could be due to a traumatic event or a stage of life, such as children leaving home, perimenopause or retirement. It could be due to health challenges, loss or the impact of stress. At these times, it can be helpful to find a space to talk. A space which isn't about the needs of others. It's just about you, how you might re-discover yourself and what matters to you.
I work with people of all faiths and none. Some Christians particularly value the opportunity to incorporate their Christian faith within their counselling process, and this is a service I am happy to provide. Faith is only brought into the counselling process if the client wishes.
How I can help
I draw on compassion and gentle curiosity. I help people to re-learn who they are now, to see themselves more clearly. I will work with clients to cultivate a greater sense of self-kindness, which can often make a significant difference. The only person we can't escape from is ourselves, so it is really important that our relationship with ourselves is rooted in compassion. We work together to build a toolkit for the future.
My approach
I use an integrative framework which allows me to draw from lots of different modalities and interventions, depending on the needs of the client. My approach is tailored to best suit the person I am working with and the challenges they are experiencing.
Trauma
Many of the people I work with have experienced highly painful or traumatic events. I help people understand the impact of these experiences to the brain and the body and to develop ways to stabilise and to start to feel safe in their body. This includes managing triggers. I provide space to process trauma safely and gently. I have particular experience in the areas of Gender-Based Violence, such as rape or sexual violence and health related trauma, such as a cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Menopause
For many women, perimenopausal symptoms can introduce significant challenges to an already stretching life. Even seemingly insigificant things such as word finding problems can leave women with a loss of confidence and self esteem. I provide a space for women to explore their experiences, to feel heard and validated and to consider ways to relate to and manage this season of life.
Training, qualifications & experience
- More than 12 years post qualifying experience
- 5 years NHS experience, including Senior Counsellor role
- Diploma in Christian Counselling
- Diploma in Supervision
- Diploma in working with Children and Young People
- Certified Cyber Therapist (qualification in working online and telephone)
- Certified Clinical Cyber Supervisor (working online and telephone)
- Menopause Awareness Diploma
- Grief and Bereavement Counselling Diploma
- Creative Arts Therapy Certificate
- Weaving the web Rape Crisis training (counselling remotely for survivors of sexual violence)
- Ongoing Continuing Professional Development
I have worked as a Counsellor in various charitable settings and for the past five years in the NHS, latterly as a Senior Counsellor. These various settings have allowed me to build significant experience, skills and knowledge to draw from as I work with clients.
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.
The Association of Christians in Counselling and Linked Professions (ACC) is a Christian professional membership organisation for those involved in counselling/psychotherapy and linked professions, i.e. pastoral care, coaching and spiritual direction, in the UK. The organisation is made up of various different membership categories, including Counsellor and Accredited, and requires all members working as counsellors to undertake Continuous Professional Development on a regular basis.
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 per session
When I work
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Further information
You can access counselling with ease from your own home. I provide counselling by video meeting (using Google meet) or by telephone. Sessions run for 50 minutes from the agreed start time.
I offer a free 20 minute telephone consultation. This is an opportunity for us to see if working together would be beneficial. Beyond the consultation, in the first 50 minute session we'll gather information to clarify your situation and goals and plan best ways forward. Beyond that appointment, we can agree session by session what would be helpful to focus on and explore.
