About me
I am an experienced psychodynamic counsellor/psychotherapist with over 1500 hours practice. I am predominantly interested in what brings you to counselling at this present time, but also curious about your past. Psychodynamic thinking helps us to become aware of important influences often outside of our conscious awareness. I work on the knowledge that everyone has a past that will affect our struggle with the present. While the reasons people come to therapy is often about present day struggles, it can be helpful to focus on the relationships which have shaped us.
Putting words to things on our minds can be very scary. Facing the feelings we have buried - sometimes for years, takes courage. I work on the assumption that clients need time to develop trust in me, before they will be able to share their vulnerability. They need to know I can handle their story, their pain and their shame. I work on a safety first approach, where I do not assume I am that person everyone will open up to. We all have our own preconceptions, bias and barriers to trust - it’s important this doesn’t impede the work.
Following a thorough safety check, we will begin our work together, exploring and co-reflecting - at your pace.
I love using creative approaches to enhance people’s therapeutic experience. Our playful side can often be overlooked during our busy lives, and it is surprising how insightful and useful this work can be, if we are open to it.
I am also a huge believer in nature to ground us. For those who find the intimacy of the therapy room too much, we can take the work outside.
Training, qualifications & experience
- Diploma in Human Relations and Counselling
- Post Qualifying Diploma in counselling children and young people
- Outdoor Therapy Certificate
- Registered with Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)
- Registered member of BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy)
- Diploma in Family Mediation
- BA Community Education
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
Therapies offered
Fees
£45.00 per session
Further information
I don't have a premise, but for local clients on the Isle of Lewis I can access a discrete room, when requested. Life in a small community demands close attention to discretion - this is priority.
I am also happy to work outdoors, having recently completed my Outdoor Therapy training.
