About me
I offer a safe, therapeutic relationship in which you can talk freely, and we can explore what is troubling you, maybe for the first time.
I am an experienced UKCP accredited Psychotherapist and EMDR Therapist. My approach integrates relational and body orientated models of psychotherapy with EMDR (when appropriate).
Each process of therapy is as unique as each client, and negotiations as to how we work are part of the dynamic of working together. Sessions always begin sitting face to face with time to talk and reflect (and for many clients this is how we continue to work).
I understand the complexity of the impact of trauma (abuse and neglect) in early life on relationship to self (and others) and I offer longer term psychotherapy (often combined with EMDR or body orientated approaches).
I offer shorter term EMDR work (approximately 8-12 sessions) where there has been a singular traumatic incident which has resulted in symptoms of post traumatic stress (or PTSD). Whether short term EMDR work is the way forward would be assessed during the initial consultation.
My work is informed by understanding and experience of psychodynamic and humanistic models of psychotherapy, and with the intersubjective aspects of the therapeutic relationship.
My original training in Body Psychotherapy supports my understanding of how emotional conflict can manifest in the body. We are embodied beings and feel emotions in our bodies.
It may be that sometimes words alone don't help you connect with feelings, or shift how you feel inside? Or you might experience distress through physical symptoms that are medically unexplained and hard to make sense of?
My approach incorporates working with body awareness, breath, movement, and with negotiation, physical holding. Body orientated work can be a way to deepen connection to what might be hidden, under the surface or wordless. At the same time working with the body can support a sense of safety, ground and containment.
I have a background in dance movement therapy (where I worked in mental health services) and continue to work with creative process in therapy, be that through movement, image or words.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy recommended by NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) for the treatment of PTSD. (Further info can be found on the website of EMDRUK)
In recent years I have been interested in the Internal Family Systems model (the work of Richard Schwartz) in bringing attention to and healing the tensions and conflicts between many 'parts' which can be 'mapped' and understood. Similarly I might draw upon Polyvagal theory (Deb Dana's work) in working with regulating our nervous system. Both of these models can be useful where people wish to work with a bit more direction.
I am experienced in helping people with
- anxiety
- depression
- stress
- chronic tension or pain
- chronic fatigue syndrome
- ME
- bereavement
- loss
- the impact of childhood trauma, abuse or neglect
- sexual abuse
- low self confidence
- shame
- relationship difficulties
- medically unexplained physical symptoms
Training, qualifications & experience
I have been working as a Psychotherapist since 2003. I have a background of working in mental health in the NHS within arts psychotherapies as a dance movement therapist, where I worked with people experiencing acute and ongoing mental health problems in both in-patient and community settings. My experience as a counsellor includes working at HELP Counselling Service.
Qualifications:-
- Diploma Psychotherapy, Chiron Centre, London W5 (www.body-psychotherapy.org.uk)
- Post-graduate Diploma Dance Movement Psychotherapy, Roehampton Institute (Surrey University)
- Certificate in The Bodymind Approach to working with Medically Unexplained Symptoms, Pathways2Wellbeing (Professor Helen Payne, University of Herts)
- EMDR training with EMDR works (emdrworks.org) EMDR Europe certificate.
I am CRB checked.
I am insured.
Accreditations:-
I am registered with and abide by the ethical guidelines of
UKCP (UK Council for Psychotherapy) www.psychotherapy.org.uk
I am a member of EMDR UK
I am a former Chair of the Ethics and Equal Opportunities Committee at CABP (an organisational member of UKCP).
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 UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) is a leading professional body for the education, training and regulation of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors. Its register is accredited by the government's Professional Standards Authority.
As part of its commitment to protect the public, it works to improve access to psychotherapy, to support and disseminate research, to improve standards and to respond effectively to complaints against its members.
UKCP standards cover the range of different psychotherapies. Registration is obtained by training or accrediting with one of its member organisations, or by holding a European Certificate in Psychotherapy. 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
Therapies offered
Fees
£60.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
My standard fee is £60 for sessions of an hour, including for the initial consultation.
I don't currently have a low cost space for ongoing psychotherapy but I will update when available.
When I work
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