About me
Hello. Welcome to my site. I am a BACP accredited psychotherapist/counsellor with wide experience in one-to-one client work.
Please note that during this Corona Virus epidemic I am only available for telephone or on- line counselling. Email me for details of this.
My private practice is in a rural setting and is a relaxed, safe and comfortable environment where you can find space and time to work on whatever is troubling you.
I have worked as counsellor since 2010 in an NHS medical practice on issues of anxiety and depression. I have also had my own private practice since 2013 providing clients with confidential and professional support in a wide of issues including those relating to: relationships, gender, health, employment, bereavement, panic attacks, social anxieties, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anger management, body dysmorphia and low self-esteem.
I have also worked with adults who have Asperger's Syndrome and with parents of children with Asperger's.
Occasionally individuals who feel they might benefit from attending counselling are reluctant to try it because it is new to them. If you are browsing this web-site because you have issues that are causing you distress I would be pleased to meet and discuss with you the therapies I practise and to explore how these may help you.
Whilst I favour Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) I work in an integrative manner blending the various therapies I have studied to create an approach personalised to the individual needs of each client.
I welcome both male and female clients from teenage years up. Prior to working as a counsellor my background was in education and I was a primary school principal for 18 years.
I work on on both short and long term approaches and I have worked with those on Employee Assistance programmes who wish support to help them return to work.
I have also wide experience in working with students taking personal therapy as part of their Counselling training.
Some comments from former clients about their therapy experience: From our first meeting Loretta made me feel at ease. The worries and fear I had in the days and hours before melted away. Loretta was warm, sincere and genuine and I felt as if I had known her for years. That first meeting gave me the reassurance I needed to go back again. I was able to speak freely without fear of judgement or ridicule. This was something, I could never do. I could truly be myself as I felt safe and protected. I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for all your help, I really feel I benefited immensely from it, and I look for possible alternatives now in my thought processes. I tell everyone who wants to listen that I have been to counselling and I really feel it helped me, and I personally feel in a much better place now myself. This past year has been without doubt life changing. It wasn’t easy but anything in this life worth working for isn’t. I do look at things differently now, I have changed, others notice it but can’t really put their finger on it. I have now a greater understanding of myself and what I need and I have let go of everything and everyone who has held me back over the years. I no longer look back as my past is history, I look forward to many tomorrows and I enjoy the present as it is my gift. So thank you Loretta for giving me my gift. It will be forever unwrapped. |
Training, qualifications & experience
My professional qualifications are:
M.A (Ed). (OU)
B.Ed. (QUB)
DASE. (QUB)
Higher Diploma in Counselling. (UU)
Certificate in Cognitive Behaviour (IICT)
Diploma in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CPCAB)
Further Professional Development in the areas of:
Sexual Abuse
Domestic Violence
Child Protection
Suicide Risk Awareness
Game Playing
Life Coaching
Member organisations
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.

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
BACP is one of the UK’s largest professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy. Therapists registered with the Association fall into a number of different membership categories such as Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP and Registered Member MBACP (Accred), each standing for different levels of training and experience. MBACP (Accred) and MBACP (Snr Accred) members have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by the Association.
Registered members can be found on the BACP Register, which was the first register to achieve Accredited Voluntary Register status issued by the Professional Standards Authority. Individual Members will have completed an appropriate counselling and/or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but will not appear on the BACP Register until they've progressed to Registered Member MBACP status.
All members are bound by a Code of Ethics & Practice and a Complaints Procedure. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Accredited register membership

Accredited Register Scheme
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
Fees
£30 per 1 hour session. Please enquire for concession fees for students/unemployed.
For those who are new to counselling or who have some questions about it I offer a free initial 30 minute consultation (with no obligation to proceed further) on request.
This will be carried out by telephone at the moment.
Further information
If you phone and I am unable to take your call please leave your details and let me know if you wish me to text or phone you back when I am free. I will get back to you as requested.
My premises are wheel-chair accessible.