About me
Thank you for taking the time to read my profile. I am a Supervisory Psychotherapist and retired Mental Health Nurse with over 40 years of experience, including service in both the NHS and the military. I offer individual and couples counselling via face-to-face sessions, telephone, Skype, and walk-and-talk therapy.
I have a particular interest in working with trauma, including PTSD and abuse, as well as depression, anxiety, self-harm, and relationship difficulties. My approach is warm, grounded and collaborative, and I primarily work with adults aged 18 and over. In some cases, I also see young people aged 14 and above, depending on their individual circumstances and whether I feel I am the right therapist to support their needs. I also work with adult couples.
Many of my clients will remember Jack, my much-loved therapy dog. Following his passing, I now have a puppy called Coco who is following in his pawprints and gradually becoming familiar with the therapy environment. With your consent, she may be present during sessions as she grows and settles into practice life. Please feel free to let me know in advance if you would prefer sessions without her present, and I would be happy to accommodate.
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, many clients were anxious about online and telephone therapy. We explored these concerns together, and many clients came to value the flexibility and accessibility of remote sessions. As a result of this feedback — and my own long-standing belief in the benefits of time spent outdoors — I introduced walk-and-talk therapy in July 2020. This continues to be a popular option with many clients.
I also offer comprehensive mental health and wellbeing assessments, risk assessments, and suitability assessments for therapy. These may be useful for personal insight, onward referrals, or as part of occupational health or benefit assessments. Fees for assessments are based on the nature and complexity of what’s required — please feel free to contact me to discuss this further.
Urgent appointments within two working days and home visits within a 10-mile radius may be available, depending on individual needs. These services are offered for an additional fee.
If you’d like to discuss whether working together feels right for you, I’d be happy to hear from you.
Training, qualifications & experience
- State Enrolled Mental Health Nurse – Lorna Delve School of Nursing (1983)
- CertHE in Counselling – Salisbury College of Higher Education (1990)
- DipHE in Psychotherapy – Salisbury College of Higher Education (1997)
- CertHE in Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) – Sheffield Hallam University (2016)
- Additional training in:
- Therapeutic Group Work – University of York
- Family Systems Therapy – Northumbria University
I have over 40 years’ experience working in mental health, including roles in military healthcare and across a wide range of NHS services. My early clinical work included forensic inpatient care and adolescent mental health, before going on to lead therapy teams and offer clinical supervision in primary care and community settings.
Since 2017, I have run my own private psychotherapy practice, supporting adults and couples with a range of complex emotional and psychological difficulties, including trauma, PTSD, sexual abuse, depression, anxiety, and relational distress. I draw on an integrative approach, including CAT-informed work, and continue to receive regular clinical supervision to support safe and ethical practice.
My career has been shaped by a long-standing commitment to compassionate care, risk awareness, and working holistically with clients from all backgrounds.
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
In addition to my broader areas of expertise, I have a special interest in working with veterans who may be experiencing trauma, PTSD, or the psychological impact of military service. My own background in the armed forces gives me a deep understanding of military culture and the unique challenges faced during and after service, which informs my compassionate and trauma-informed approach. I am happy to discuss concessionary rates for veterans.
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£55.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Face-to-Face, Online & Telephone (Individual)
- Standard 60 minute session £55
- Extended 90 minute session £80
- Urgent/Crisis Initial Appointment within 2 working days (subject to availability)
- 60 minute session £65
- 90 minute session £95
- Home visits will incur an additional fee depending on location
Walk-and-Talk Therapy
- 60 minute session (approximately) £65
Couples Therapy
- Initial assessment £85
- Subsequent sessions £80
Block Bookings (paid in advance)
- 6 or more sessions (of any type) - 5% discount
Sessions must be used a minimum of fortnightly
Cancellations with less than 48 hours notice will incur a cancellation fee
When I work
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Further information
I work with individuals aged 14 and over, and with all adult couples. Sessions are available face-to-face, by telephone, via Skype, or outdoors through walk-and-talk therapy, depending on what suits your needs best.
Urgent appointments may be available within 48 hours — please contact me with the word URGENT in your message. Home visits can be arranged within a 10-mile radius, following an individual telephone assessment and risk discussion.
I am a registered member of the BACP and adhere to their Code of Ethics. I am fully insured, hold an up-to-date DBS certificate (working with adults), and receive regular clinical supervision. I am also committed to ongoing professional development to maintain safe, ethical, and informed practice.
My therapy room is on the ground floor, with a small step at the entrance and a compact ground-floor toilet. The space is quiet, calming, and distraction-free, with adjustable lighting. Clients are welcome to bring a registered support animal (please inform me in advance), or a trusted person to their sessions if it helps them feel more comfortable.
There is free on-street parking outside, and a bus stop just two minutes’ walk away with regular transport links to and from Newcastle and surrounding areas.
You may be asked to complete a brief online registration form prior to your first session to help ensure I have the information needed to support you safely and effectively.
