About me
How counselling can help.
Talking to someone about anything that is troubling you in a safe, confidential space, with someone who is not going to pre-judge you, can be life-changing. People struggle with their mental health for many different reasons, and you are doing the right thing by seeking professional help.
Counselling can help you to unload and unravel what is going on in your mind and make sense of your situation. It can help you to address negative self-talk, improve your self-esteem and overcome anxiety. Counselling can lead you to understand yourself more fully and to learn to love and accept the person that you are, despite any trauma or adverse life events that have happened to you. Counselling can help you navigate challenging life events such as relationship breakdown, loss, and workplace stress.
Most importantly, counselling is a place where you can feel seen, heard, believed and accepted..
What to Expect in Your First Session.
The first session is free and will be online via Zoom or WhatsApp if you prefer, and it will be a little different from subsequent sessions. We will explore your reasons for seeking help, and you will be able to ask me questions about my approach to therapy and how I work. It will give us the chance to decide if we are a good fit. If all goes well, I will then send you a counselling agreement which we will both sign. This covers topics such as confidentiality, structure and timing of sessions and payment. This free session usually lasts 20-30 minutes.
My approach to therapy (4UTherapy)
Being client-centred means that I offer accommodations to personal differences or needs. I welcome neurodivergent clients (ADHD, Autistic, Dyspraxic, and Dyslexic) and am knowledgeable and experienced in this area. I also welcome clients from all cultures and consider myself to be culturally curious, having lived in ten countries across three continents. I am an LGBTQi+ ally.
I aim to provide a safe space for you to
- Unload your concerns, troubling thoughts, dilemmas and worries
- Unlock some of the causes of patterns of thinking and behaving which have protected you so far
- Unlearn responses that may have lost their usefulness whilst learning to understand, love and accept who you are
- Unleash your potential
I am here for you for as short or as long a counselling journey as you want and need. My approach is both humanistic and eclectic. What this means is that our sessions will be based on your needs and preferences in a non-judgmental way (person-centred approach). I also utilise elements of cognitive therapy, transactional analysis, and acceptance and commitment therapy where appropriate. Additionally, I offer mindfulness-based stress reduction and grounding techniques when clients are experiencing an emotional crisis.
I have extensive experience working online. and currently use the Zoom platform for counselling and supervision, which states it is GDPR compliant. Face-to-face counselling or supervision in Prestatyn, North Wales, is available on request and may require a surcharge for room hire.
Training, qualifications & experience
I have an MSc in Counselling and two postgraduate Psychology diplomas, alongside an Education degree and a Certificate in Clinical Supervision, including online and telephone working. Additionally, I hold a qualification in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. I am currently a member of the BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy) and have previously gained Membership of the British Psychological Society (MBPsS) with a graduate basis for chartered membership (GBC).
I started off my counselling career as a Childline counsellor and supervisor, where I worked for 5 years. This complemented my knowledge and experience of working with teenagers as a Secondary School teacher for over 20 years, both in a teaching and pastoral capacity. Subsequently, I worked as a student counsellor at a University, and I continue to work part-time as a sessional counsellor in a clinical setting, for the NHS alongside my private practice, which I started 3 years ago. I have also previously worked as an employment specialist and training consultant for people with mental health issues.
I am experienced in working with a wide variety of adult clients with varying mental health issues and needs in both clinical and non-clinical settings. Life is tough, and I am here to support you as you navigate whatever it is that you are experiencing right now.
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
I work with clients who have either had or are seeking a diagnosis of Autism or ADHD and support them on their journey of self-understanding, compassion and acceptance.
I also specialise in working with Adult Third Culture Kids (people who have been born and or brought up in cultures outside of their passport country).
Therapies offered
Fees
£35.00 - £75.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Variation in fees depends on the length of the session and whether you are seeking counselling or supervision. I offer concessions for low-income individuals (those on Universal Credit) and students (this price difference is reflected in the range of fees). Fees are payable by bank transfer on or before the session. A full breakdown of fees is outlined in the contracts.
When I work
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My availability fluctuates, and different time slots become available throughout the year. Please get in touch with me for my current availability.
Further information
I particularly welcome neurodivergent clients and have extensive experience in working with people from a variety of cultural and religious backgrounds. Although now based in North Wales, I have lived in ten countries across three continents. I champion equality, diversity and inclusion and am a LGBTQi+ ally.
