About me
I am an experienced counsellor working with adults and young people aged 16+ experiencing low mood, depression, anxiety, stress, trauma, or who are late-diagnosed or suspect they are neurodivergent (including ADHD and autism).
Our work will be engaging and collaborative with moments of humour and creativity - not just about listening. People experience me to be energetic, enthusiastic, warm, and real.
Research tells us that the therapeutic relationship is the most effective vehicle for change in counselling, so building a trusting, safe and accepting relationship with my clients is at the heart of my practice. I use what is happening in the counselling room, in your life and your unique personal history to help us better understand the issues you are experiencing and how best to support you.
No two people are the same. My approach to counselling is integrative, which means I draw from a variety of therapeutic approaches, tailored to your individual needs. I integrate psychodynamic, attachment theory and person-centred approaches. This means I can help you to discover unconscious processes and relational patterns which impact your wellbeing, grounded in acceptance, curiosity, integrity and empathy.
Sometimes it is hard to know how we are truly feeling, and even harder to find the words to express it. Perhaps it might be too painful or frightening to say the words out loud. At your discretion, and at your pace, I can offer some creative approaches to exploring what is going on for you without relying on words alone. This does not require being a creative or artistic person.
Who and what I work with
If you are going through something, feel lost, want to understand or confront your past, or rediscover your authentic identity beneath the layers of expectation life has a habit of burying us under, I am ready to help you step in the direction of the healing you deserve.
Additionally, I am passionate about supporting people who are navigating a late diagnosis of neurodivergence, or who are considering if they might be neurodivergent for the first time. A combination of my lived and clinical experience means that I understand that a late self or official diagnosis can evoke an array of emotions.
Perhaps you feel bereft from lost years of not fully understanding yourself. Anger in response to missed opportunities to receive support. Discomfort in the face of a label. Relief that you have discovered why you might have found aspects of life challenging or have felt different. Exhaustion from a life of unknowingly masking. Shame from judgement. Confusion about how this impacts your identity.
I am committed to understanding and accepting your unique experience, celebrating your strengths, and helping you explore what this means for you, practically and emotionally. There is a way forward and I am hopeful that we can find it together.
Training, qualifications & experience
My counselling experience within organisational settings includes working with adults at a general counselling service and with young people at a sixth form college.
I also work for a charity where I mentor neurodivergent young people and adults to build self-esteem and confidence, and develop accessible and inclusive pathways into paid employment.
Qualifications
- BSc (Hons) Counselling and Psychotherapy - University of Surrey
- CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
- CPCAB Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Skills
- CPCAB Introduction & Level 2 Certificates in Counselling Skills
CPD & Further Training
- Working with male sexual trauma
- Understanding narcissism and personality
disorders - Working creatively as a counsellor
- Young people and trauma
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
£65.00 per session
Further information
I offer weekly, in-person appointments (50 minutes).
Prior to our first session, I will offer a free, no-obligation phone consultation (up to 30 minutes). This will provide you with the opportunity to get a feel of who I am, ask any questions you may have, and for us to have a think about if we both feel I am the right person to support you. I will ask some questions about you, your history, and what is bringing you to counselling. You can then take some time before deciding.
In our first session, we will further explore your hopes and desires from counselling. If you are neurodivergent, we can also begin to think about any adjustments we can put in place to make counselling feel more comfortable, if you feel this would be helpful.
I welcome you to get in touch.
