This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Welcome…
…and thank you for visiting my space. It’s a brave thing to do, to reach out for help, and a big decision to take, to find someone who you can develop a trusting, open relationship with. I hope these words will help you pick the right person for you.
Why counselling?
Let’s face it, life can be really tough sometimes…
Maybe you feel like no is really listening, or feel alone, even when family and friends are around
Maybe you look like you’re successful on the outside, but on the inside feel like something is missing
Maybe you feel overwhelmed or find yourself repeating unhelpful patterns from the past
Maybe you suffer from anxiety or depression or have lost something, or someone, who was precious to you
Maybe you’re angry, lost or confused, and feel things will never change; or want things to change but don’t know how to make it happen
Maybe you feel disconnected from a sense of meaning - so what is life all about…?
What I can offer you
I can help you explore – offering a safe, warm, non judgemental space, so you can take the time to find out what is really going on. Together we can explore your behaviour, thoughts and feelings and what you want from life so you have the chance to develop more awareness, connection, pleasure and enjoyment – moving from merely surviving to thriving!
The counselling room can be exciting, rewarding, challenging, illuminating, inspirational and life changing. Sometimes it can be tough going, but you are never alone as together we face and work through your difficulties and challenges. I can give you the chance to be heard, seen and respected, perhaps for the first time. In that space you can develop a deeper awareness of yourself, your patterns and your wishes and desires for the future, as well as a deeper appreciation for who you are.
We can look at what you want to achieve or change and what stops you. Some of the things you might explore are:
- the things and people which have impacted you,
- their effects on you today
- how you might want things to be in the future
- How to develop self understanding, acceptance and care
You may bring specific issues, or a sense of not really knowing what is bothering you.
As well as traditional face to face therapy I also offer:
Walking talking therapy
If the idea of sitting for an hour doesn’t appeal then I also offer Walking Talking therapy, where you can explore what is going on for you in the open air and on the move.
On line and telephone counselling
This can work really well if you feel you may struggle to take the time out of a busy schedule to travel to a counselling appointment. Sessions can be scheduled to fit in with you, and mean you can access support when you need it. There are no travel costs and you can work from the comfort of your own home or safe space.
Training, qualifications & experience
I am a humanistic relational counsellor, with a Level Four Diploma in Integrative Counselling and a member of the BACP, working in accordance with its ethics and towards accreditation. I am also a certified online and telephone counsellor.
I weave together three different therapeutic ways of working – Gestalt, Transactional Analysis and Person Centred - which provide a safe and supportive relationship to explore whatever you want to bring . I also draw on skills gained in Hypnotherapy (foundation certificate) and NLP (Master Practitioner), as well as body-based work (Tai Chi), end of life work, and mindfulness and spiritual practice to support you and help meet your unique needs
As a counsellor I work with a range of clients, including at a hospice and for a general counselling charity. Together we have explored: anxiety; depression; grief and loss; health; stress; abuse; trauma; transitions and life-changes; low self-esteem; identity; academic and work challenges; relationships; family problems; and spirituality.
As a Hypnotherapist and NLP Practitioner I have also supported clients with a range of issues, such as self-esteem and sleep problems, and working to break habits such as smoking,
I began working as a journalist with a deep interest in communications 30 years ago. This led to qualifying as a Hypnotherapist and NLP Practitioner in the 1990s. I also took training in energy and healing modalities, and end of life work.
I am a member of the BACP, working towards accreditation, and abiding by its ethical framework, including full supervision.
Qualifications:
Counselling skills level 2
Counselling studies level 3
Diploma in Integrative Therapeutic Counselling level 4
Hypnotherapy – Foundation Certificate
NLP – Master Practitioner
Tai Chi (TMW) trainer
Certified On-line and Telephone Counsellor (80 hours)
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.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Fees
£30.00 - £50.00
Free initial in-person, telephone or online session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
My fees are £48 per session, (each session lasts 50 minutes)
I offer concessions for student counsellors and those on a low income (£30-£35)
Payment is by bank transfer
When I work
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Wednesday and Thursday evenings and Thursday afternoons are on line or face to face at Croft Lodge in Brackley, other times are on line.
Further information
Location and Availability
I work on line and face to face in Brackley town centre at the Wellbeing Centre in Croft Lodge.
I am available Tuesday to Thursday daytimes, and Wednesday and Thursday evenings.
Our first meeting...
... it’s normal to be nervous – after all, it’s a brave decision to sit in front of someone you don’t know and ask for help or talk about details of your life. I have immense respect for anyone who takes that first step. We’ll take some time initially sharing information and deciding whether we want to work together. If I feel I can’t help I can refer you on to someone who can. We’ll then look at planning an initial number of sessions with reviews built in.
You’ll also have a written record of what we’ve agreed to take away with you.
I love listening to people’s stories. Every human being is unique. Every story is filled with personal perspective and meaning, and it is a privilege to be entrusted with them. You are a unique and incredible human being who can bring pain, confusion and despair to the room as well as growing self confidence and self-understanding as you face some difficult feelings. I love to see people start to realise that change is possible, how their own patterns have been keeping difficulties in place, and that they can influence more than they realise. As they explore, value and rewrite these stories, the courage and self worth clients develop as a result of the work is a privilege to witness.
