About me
Whether you're an adult or a young person, if you feel anxious, depressed, lost, or stuck, if you've experienced bereavement, trauma or abuse, or have relationship, family, work or school related stress or other difficulties impacting on your well-being, a therapeutic approach that is not simply talking based, but also involves the creative arts may be really helpful.
If we work together, taking a warm, empathic approach and going at your own pace, my aim will be to empower you find your own answers to whatever you may be struggling with. In my 25 years of working as a therapist, this always seems to have been what's helped people the most.
I imagine that it would not only be your thoughts but most especially your feelings that it would be important for us to try and understand more about. That's where music can be really helpful, music that I would help you choose to connect with your feelings and make them easier to manage. There is so much different music that we could potentially use. It might be music you suggest, or that I do - whatever works best for you.
There are different ways in which I would then support you to explore your feelings creatively whilst listening to your chosen music. This might involve using art materials or visualization. You don't need any previous experience for this and we'd find the approach that suits you best.
Working in this way is not only be a great way to work on your feelings. Accessing your creative mind may also help you to discover new perspectives on the issues affecting as you might not otherwise. This in turn may enable you to make changes that benefit your wellbeing as you move forward in your life.
Training, qualifications & experience
I've been practising as a music psychotherapist for over twenty-five years since I qualified and specialize in Music and Imagery (MI) and Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) in which I'm additionally trained. I am registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), am a member of the British Association for Music Therapy (BAMT), and a Fellow of the Association for Music and Imagery (AMI). I am also a Registered Practitioner with the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM).
In addition to my private practice , I've worked in schools, in palliative care, and in adult psychiatry. I'm also an approved provider for Adopt South West, where I work with young people. I also run online training for therapists, am a registered supervisor with the BAMT, and am published in 5 international peer-reviewed journals.
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.
The HCPC are an independent, UK-wide health regulator. They set standards of professional training, performance and conduct for 16 professions.
They keep a register of health professionals who meet their standards, and they take action if registered health professionals fall below those standards. They were created by a piece of legislation called the Health Professions Order 2001.
Registration means that a health professional meets national standards for their professional training, performance and conduct.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
For those whose work involves the creative arts, a therapeutic approach that also involves these can be especially helpful in addressing work-related issues, where I am a Registered Practitioner with the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM).
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£55.00 per session
Additional information
The fee for sessions is based on a rate of £55 per hour.
The session length depends on the approach we use which we would discuss and agree together the first time we met. Sessions can take place weekly or fortnightly, though I usually recommend weekly at least to begin with. I would either be able to work with you in-person in Dorchester, or online as suits you.
Free initial consultation
I offer a free no obligation 20-minute, initial consultation via zoom or telephone which you can book through clicking on the link at the top of my profile. If the times listed don't suit you, please email me and we can arrange something to suit us both that way.
The initial consultation would provide an opportunity for you to share something of what you may be struggling with and what your hopes/goals for therapy are, to ask questions, to get an initial impression of me and whether you might like to work with me, and to find out more about what I offer and whether it may help you.
