About me
Sessions available in-person (central Bath), online and by phone.
However stuck, anxious or confused you may feel, I know that within you is a source of guidance that knows exactly what is right for you and how to move forward. My role is to help you find that wise inner guide.
As a person-centred counsellor, I understand that we live in a culture that teaches us not to trust ourselves. To disregard our feelings, desires and distress and focus on external markers of acceptability and success. At the very least, this will eventually suck all the fun and energy out of life.
At worst, it means facing struggles and pain in isolation – often with a harsh inner critic telling us we’re getting it all wrong and have no right to feel bad or to need help.
The person-centred approach gives you back to yourself. It connects you with an inner source of healing and guidance which will help you move through the world with greater certainty, purpose, pleasure and connection.
Because it centres your unique experience – not any psychological theory or “expertise” – it is especially useful for people whose lived experience has been marginalised and discounted in dominant cultural narratives.
I am actively working to make my practice more inclusive and accessible. I affirm gender, sexuality and relationship diversity. We can discuss any accessibility needs when you make an enquiry.
Research shows that finding a counsellor with whom you can build a relationship of confidence and trust is more vital to the effectiveness of counselling than anything else.
My role is to provide you with the environment of calm, understanding and acceptance that makes it safe to explore what’s troubling for you and to try out different perspectives. I’ll suggest some creative ways of thinking about yourself and your situation and I may offer some ideas about the human condition which can help make sense of things that have been puzzling you.
Different ways you can work with me:
I offer regular counselling, usually weekly, as well as a very effective single-session counselling model. You can work with me in person at my counselling room in central Bath (UK), online or by phone. Contact me to find out more or arrange an appointment.
Ongoing counselling - £60-£70 per hour
We can arrange an initial no-obligation session which will give you a taste of what it’s like to work with me. We’ll explore how we might work towards your goals and decide what would be an appropriate package of sessions.
Fixed-term counselling packages are usually available fairly flexibly (including evenings and weekends at the higher rate). I also offer a limited number of open-ended counselling places on weekday daytimes.
ONEplus counselling package - £95
This innovative approach is designed to make a meaningful difference in your life through a single highly-focused one-hour counselling session. The package includes a pre-session reflection sheet and a follow-up phone call. It's a complete service and most people who choose it don't need further counselling (but more is available if you want it).
I’m certified to deliver ONEplus counselling by Windy Dryden, Emeritus Professor of Psychotherapeutic Studies at Goldsmiths College, who has pioneered this model in the UK.
See the "Further Information" section to find out how ONEplus counselling works and whether it is right for you and your issue.
Training, qualifications & experience
My primary training (FdSc, Distinction) and orientation is in the Person-Centred Approach. This means I offer a safe and accepting therapeutic relationship which honours all your thoughts and feelings (even the ones you'd rather not have) as having a constructive purpose.
My BA (Hons) is in Integrative Counselling. So I can draw on other therapeutic models as they seem useful, particularly the solution-focused approach (clarifying a better future to work towards, rather than just dwelling on what's painful now). I bring a compassionate perspective to the self-criticism and inner conflict many clients live with.
I am currently undertaking a two-year certification training in Embodied Relational therapy (due to qualify in May 2027), which takes a decolonising perspective on our relationship with natural systems (including our own bodies) and on the experience and knowledge of marginalised people.
GSRD trained, I welcome clients of all genders and sexualities including kink and BDSM; and with all relationship styles including ENM, poly and D/s.
My experience includes counselling at both residential and non-residential addiction treatment centres, and with an agency specialising in recovery from childhood trauma, abuse and neglect. I have supported people who feel overwhelmed by anxiety, anger, grief, depression, low self-worth, isolation and traumatic memories to find a better emotional balance; like and understand themselves more; and feel stronger, more resourced and hopeful about the future.
I have also counselled young people aged 18 to 25, who can find a focus on the value of their inner experiencing a refreshing contrast to the "oughts" and "shoulds" that particularly plague that age group.
And, as a qualified mediator, I have a longstanding interest in supporting people to communicate more effectively and to manage anger and conflict constructively, in relationships, families, and at work.
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Twelve-step friendly practitioner. I work with codependency, assertiveness and effective communication.
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£60.00 - £95.00
Additional information
I offer one-hour sessions (rather than the standard 50 minutes). for ongoong counselling (open-ended or fixed-term) I do charge for the initial session, but if you don't find it helpful I'll refund the fee.
Open-ended weekly counselling: £60 per hour (weekday daytimes only).
Fixed-term counselling: £60-£70 per hour (usually weekly, evening and weekend appointments available).
ONEplus counselling: £95 per package, including preparation, one-hour session and follow-up call. (evening and weekend appointments available)
Further information
ONEplus Counselling
This innovative approach is designed to make a meaningful difference in your life through a single highly-focused one-hour counselling session.
Together we’ll identify what is blocking you from making a change or resolving a difficulty; then we’ll create a simple plan to get you unstuck.
How it works
When you make an enquiry, I will send you a reflection sheet to complete and return before the session. This helps us focus attention on what really matters. (And you may find that this exercise itself moves your thinking forward.)
After that, you can book the ONEplus session, and I’ll confirm our appointment when I’ve received your fee.
Then we will have a carefully structured 60-minute session to explore your issue and identify the next steps which will make the biggest difference. Together, we’ll create a simple action plan for you to take away. I’ll signpost you to relevant resources if appropriate, and we will book in a review phone call.
In the review call we can reflect on how things are going and tweak the action plan if that’s helpful. Then you’ll decide what happens next:
- that you’ve got what you needed and want no further help
- that you’d like to book another ONEplus session with me
- that you’ll see how things go and may make another appointment later
- that you’d benefit from a different kind of help – I may suggest some options
Is ONEplus counselling right for you and your issue?
You can use this model to help with most issues you would bring to conventional counselling – the difference is in how we approach it. Once we’ve identified the key factors, the aim is to get you unstuck by focusing on the future, uncovering your inner certainties and leveraging your strengths.
Some people are ready to take a significant step as soon as they clarify what that should be. For others, the value of the session is to get the measure of what’s blocking them from making helpful changes, and deciding what to do about that.
If you feel you need a deeper analysis of your history and personality, or consistent ongoing support, ONEplus counselling is probably not for you (that said, it can help you decide what further support you do need).
Next steps
Contact me, and I’ll send you a link to the pre-session reflection sheet and respond to any queries you may have. After that, we can book an appointment if you wish to go ahead.
