About me
I am a neurodiversity and trauma-informed therapist with many years of experience working within specialist CAMHS services before establishing my own independent practice. Alongside my own work, I am supported by a team of specialist practitioners who share my commitment to providing compassionate, individualised support for children, young people, adults and families.
I have a particular interest in supporting people who may be described as "hard to engage" or who have had difficult experiences with previous services. Many of the young people and adults I work with have spent years feeling misunderstood, judged, or unsupported. Some arrive expecting another professional who will not understand them. My aim is to offer something different: a relationship built on curiosity, respect, and genuine understanding.
I recognise that connection is not always easy. Trust can take time, especially for those who have experienced trauma, repeated misunderstandings, or relationships that have broken down. Rather than seeing difficulties in engagement as resistance, I try to understand and build trust. I work hard to maintain engagement even when things feel stuck, difficult, or uncomfortable. Repairing misunderstandings and working through challenges together is often one of the most important parts of the therapeutic process.
Because traditional talking therapy is not always the right fit for everyone, I use a variety of approaches to help people feel comfortable and engaged. This may include animal-assisted therapy, outdoor sessions, creative activities, crafts, and working through a young person's own interests and strengths. Sometimes the relationship begins through a shared activity rather than a conversation.
One of the most rewarding parts of my work is hearing clients describe experiences of being understood for perhaps the first time. Feedback I have received includes:
"No one has ever understood me before."
and
"When I first came to see you, I didn't come to see you – I came to see your animals. But after a while, I realised you were very helpful too."
I believe that meaningful change develops through feeling safe, understood, and accepted. Whether someone is struggling with anxiety, trauma, neurodiversity, emotional regulation, family difficulties, or simply feeling overwhelmed by life, I work collaboratively to help them find a way forward that respects their individual needs, strengths, and experiences.
Training, qualifications & experience
- Level 6 Certificate in Therapeutic Counselling Supervision Pass 2019
- IAPT Systemic Family Therapy Postgraduate
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Training Centre Pass 2016 - Diploma in Solution Focused Therapy BRIEF Pass 2012
- Developmental, Dimensional and Diagnostic Interview
Institute of Child Health, University of London Pass 2011 - Graduate Diploma in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Practice (including a certificate in CBT) University of Central Lancashire Pass 2010
- School Age BASIC series The Incredible Years Webster Stratton 3 days Pass 2008
- Postgraduate Module in Expressive Arts University of Chester Pass 2007
- Advanced Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling Wirral Metropolitan College Pass
2003 - Applied Psychology Honours Degree Liverpool John Moores University 2:1
2002
Work History
Healios Jan 2020-Nov 2022
Autism Consultant/Family Practitioners
Space 2 B You March 2021 - ongoing
Director/Psychotherapist/Neurodiversity Consultant
Alder Hey CAMHS March 2016-Jan 2020
Professional Lead/Senior CAMHS Therapist
CWP CAMHS May 2004 - March 2016
CAMHS Therapist/Autism and ADHD Practitioner/Lead
Talking Changes June 2009 - August 2009
Psychotherapist
Capio Nightingale Hospital June 2003 - August 2004
Assistant Psychologist/Social Therapist
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'm very experience and have a wide range of experience. I do specialise in Neurodiversity (autism and ADHD). Contact me to see if I can be helpful.
Therapies offered
Fees
£150.00 per session
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
I can be funded through EHCP funding, section 117 aftercare funding and access to work funding.
I also offer autism and ADHD assessments please see website for details. Other services include:
- Sensory Assessments
- Functional Assessments
- Neurodiversity Coaching
- Cognitive Assessments
- And more.....
When I work
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Further information
My practice is grounded in current evidence-based approaches and follows relevant NICE guidance wherever applicable. I work from an autism-informed, ADHD-informed, trauma-informed, and neurodiversity-affirming perspective, recognising that emotional, behavioural, and mental health difficulties are often best understood within the context of a person's developmental history, life experiences, relationships, and environment.
Before establishing my independent practice, I worked within specialist CAMHS services supporting children, young people, and families with complex and often high-risk presentations. This experience continues to inform my work today, particularly when supporting individuals who have struggled to engage with services, experienced multiple placements or interventions, or felt misunderstood by professionals.
I have extensive experience supporting children, young people, and adults with autism, ADHD, anxiety, depression, trauma, emotional regulation difficulties, school attendance difficulties, OCD, psychosis, personality difficulties, family relationship challenges, and complex presentations where several needs overlap. I have a particular interest in working with neurodivergent individuals whose difficulties may have been misunderstood or overlooked.
Alongside therapy, I offer comprehensive autism and ADHD assessments, specialist consultations, professional reports, and recommendations to support understanding, access to services, educational provision, and long-term planning. My assessment work focuses not only on identifying difficulties but also on understanding strengths, unmet needs, and the factors that may be contributing to distress.
I also have significant experience working with individuals receiving Section 117 aftercare funding following psychiatric hospital admissions. This includes leading and coordinating therapeutic teams to support complex community placements, helping individuals maintain stability, improve quality of life, and reduce the likelihood of further admissions. My work in these settings often involves close collaboration with families, support providers, social care, healthcare professionals, and multidisciplinary teams.
Recognising that traditional talking therapy is not suitable for everyone, I offer a flexible and creative approach to engagement. Depending on individual needs, support may include animal-assisted therapy, outdoor sessions, creative activities, practical interventions, and interests-based approaches that help build trust and make therapy feel more accessible.
I am particularly passionate about engaging people who have found it difficult to engage with services in the past. Rather than viewing engagement difficulties as resistance, I seek to understand the barriers that may exist and work collaboratively to overcome them. Maintaining engagement, adapting approaches, and repairing misunderstandings are often central parts of the therapeutic process.
Alongside my own work, I am supported by a team of specialist practitioners who share the same commitment to providing compassionate, evidence-based, and individually tailored support. Together, we strive to provide services that are flexible, accessible, and responsive to the unique needs of every individual and family we work with.
