About me
You might feel overwhelmed, disconnected, or stuck in patterns that don't make sense - in relationships, emotions, or how you cope day to day. Anxiety, panic, dissociation, emotional swings or self-destructive urges can leave you feeling broken or out of control. You're not. These responses are often signs of unresolved trauma, and with the right support, real and lasting healing is possible.
Many people come to therapy feeling stuck in patterns they don't fully understand. You might struggle in relationships - finding it hard to trust others, pulling away, or clinging tightly out of fear of being left out. You may feel safer staying in, avoiding people, or constantly scanning for danger. These responses can feel confusing or exhausting, but they make sense when we look at what you've lived through.
You might also be experiencing anxiety, panic attacks, emotional overwhelm, dissociation, memory gaps, zoning out, nightmares, flashbacks, or behaviours that feel hard to control. These are not signs that something is "wrong" with you - they are often your mind and body trying to cope, protect you, or heal from past experiences.
I work in a trauma-informed way, which means we don't rush to remove coping behaviours bfore understanding their purpose. Whether this shows up as self-criticism, risky behaviour, self-harm urges, or emotional shutdown, we take time to understand that these responses are doing for you - and what they are protecting you from. Understanding is the foundation for real, lasting change.
Therapy can feel daunting. Change can feel frightening, especially when your current ways of coping are familiar, even if they're painful. But staying the same can also come at a cost - to your relationships, your confidence, your sense of self, and your future. Therapy is a space to explore who you are beyond survival, and what life could look like when trauma no longer runs the show.
I work collaboratively and respectfully, helping you move towards safety, stability and clarity.
Together, we can work to:
- feel safer in your body and in relationships
- stabilise emotions and daily life
- understand why you respond the way you do
- heal past wounds and unresolved trauma
- build healthy boundaries and self-worth
- develop practical coping tools
- strengthen identity and resilience
- move forward with confidence and choice
My work is grounded in modern trauma understanding, neuroscience and evidence-based approaches. I offer a warm, non-judgemental space where you don't have to explain or justify your experiences - they are already valid.
What to Expect
Reaching out for therapy takes courage. Our first session is a full assessment lasting 50 minutes, giving you space to talk about what's been bringing you to therapy. I'll explain how I work, answer your questions, and ensure you feel comfortable and informed.
We'll explore your current difficulties, relevant history, and what you hope to gain from therapy. This session also gives you the opportunity to see whether I feel like the right therapist for you. If you choose to continue, sessions are usually weekly, though this is always discussed and remains your choice.
There is no set number of sessions - therapy moves at a pace that feels right for you.
Therapeutic Approaches
I work integratively, drawing on a range of trauma-focused approaches, including:
- IFS Level 1, 2 and 3
- EMDR
- Brainspotting
- Flash Technique
- The Rewind Technique
This allows us to work with both the emotional and physical impact of trauma, supporting deep and lasting change while remaining gentle and contained.
AREAS I CAN HELP WITH
I specialise in supporting adults affected by trauma, including sexual abuse, emotional abuse, domestic violence, PTSD, CPTSD, dissociation, BPD, postnatal depression, OCD, and self-harm.
I also work with anxiety (including health and social anxiety), panic attacks, depression, anger, eating difficulties, relationship issues, family difficulties, low self-esteem, stress and identity concerns.
I have experience working with adoptive parents and am an accredited provider for South Gloucestershire Council and B&NES.
EXPERIENCE
I have volunteered for Rape Crisis for three years, supporting individuals who experienced rape, sexual abuse, domestic violence and childhood sexual abuse. I have also volunteered with Cruse Bereavement Care, completing their accredited training programme.
If you are considering therapy and wondering whther this could help you, you're very welcome to get in touch. You don't have to have everything figured out - we can start where you are.
Training, qualifications & experience
- ADHD Clinical Services Provider
- Gaslighting-Helping clients rebuild from Narcissistic Emotional Abuse
- Trauma Treatment Certification Training
- Internal Family Systems Level 1, 2 and 3
- Brainspotting Level 1 and 2
- Bodyspotting
- Flash Technique
- EMDR
- Rewind Technique
- Advanced Psychotherapy Diploma
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- Counselling Children and Adolescents Diploma
- AQA Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
- AQA Advanced Certificate in Counselling
- AQA Certificate in Counselling
- Advanced PTSD Practitioner Management Diploma
- Eating Disorder Diploma Level 4
- Understanding and working with Dissociation Foundation course, ESTD-UK
- Working Therapeutically with Complex Traumatic Dissociation Post Foundation Course, ESTD-UK
- Certificate of Proficiency
- ASIST Suicide Intervention workshop
- Safe Talk suicide alertness training
- MHFA Mental Health First Aid course
- Sexual Violence and Abuse Training
- Good lives and Intervention Planning with Young People and Sexual Harm
- Enabling Complex Young People with Harmful Behavior to Engage in intervention
- Learning about Sex Offenders Awareness Raising
- Understanding the Perspectives of Sexual Abuse Survivors
- Child Trafficking
- Child Development and Vulnerability of Babies
- Difficult, Dangerous and Disturbing Behavior
- Domestic Abuse and Impact on the Child Level 1, 2 and 3
- Domestic Abuse Level 3
- Neglect and Impact on the Child Level 1
- Child Protection and Substance Misuse
- Silk or Gold; Female Genital Mutilation
- Safeguarding Adolescents and Understanding Risky Behavior
- Inner Child Workshop
- How to support Children and Young People where Bullying is a Factor
- Understanding the MARAC process
- Child Psychology level 3
- Child Protection Foundation Level 3
- Accreditation Cruse Bereavement Care
- Understanding and working with self harm and self injury in children and young people
- Working with Men
- Trauma, Dissociation and Recovery. Healing the Brain
- Child Sexual Abuse: Hope for Healing
- Working with Relational Trauma: Dealing with Disorganized Attachment
- Working with Nightmares and Dreams
- Making Trauma Therapy Safer: Babette Rothschild
- Dissociation and Dissociative Identity Disorder. The Fundamentals
- Working with Dissociative Disorders in Clinical Practice
- Working with Children: Helping Children Cope with Trauma
- Integration of Mind, Brain and Body in the Treatment of Trauma: Bessel Van Der Kolk
- Dealing with Distress: Working with Self-harm and Suicide
- Enhanced DBS
- Accredited Provider for Parents who have Adopted (South Gloucestershire)
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.
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
Photos & videos
Fees
£80.00 per session
Additional information
Each session lasts 50 minutes.
Please give as much notice as possible for cancellations. If less than 48 hours are given a full fee is charged.
When I work
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I offer short or long term therapy, which ever suits your needs and requirements.
I am available to accept new clients for face to face sessions.
Further information
LOCATION
I understand that coming for counselling can be daunting especially when you are feeling vulnerable or low so I would like to take this opportunity to explain a few things and hopefully ease some anxieties you may have.
Grey Matters is located in Ashby near Scunthorpe, in a very easily reached location. It is situated on local bus routes and there is a bus stop across the road. There is also ample parking for cars around the building.
There is a waiting room for your convenience. If you have an appointment you are welcome to come in and take a seat.
When it is your appointment time I will greet you and welcome you into the counselling room where you will be offered a glass of water.
The room is safe, cozy and warm.
FINALLY
I am passionate and highly motivated in providing a high-quality service to my clients and to contribute to meeting the needs of mental health problems and issues.
Thank you for visiting my profile page. If you would like to know more visit my website; www.greymatterscentre.co.uk
Please get in touch; I shall look forward to hearing from you.
