About me
Before I go any further I hope you take something from this inspirational quote - 'Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm' (Sir Winston Churchill).
I change these on a regular basis.
I offer therapy sessions on a face to face basis in Carlisle, Dumfries and Galloway (D&G) and North Cumbria. I also work nationwide via Zoom. I provide sessions for individuals and couple counselling.
If you feel that life is uncertain, particularly with the global issues that are ongoing, things can seem impossible to deal with. For instance stress levels are increased, worry and anxiety might have taken over or long held trauma is unexpectedly triggered. This could lead to you feeling overwhelmed but I'm confident I can help with these and all sorts of other problems. Issues might seem unsurmountable but, in reality, can be fairly straightforward to manage. It might help if you talk to a professional so, a simple email, text or phone call (07584 634060) could lead to you being able to change, and get your life back on track
About me
I welcome new clients regardless of the issues that they are struggling with. I can meet a client's individual needs by adapting therapy to an appropriate model be that Humanism (i.e. person centred), Psychodynamic or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or one of the many other specialist models I use.
I first became interested in being a therapist in the 1980's by volunteering for the Victim Support scheme. This has evolved into working with many issues, for instance I am a trained 'Critical Incident Responder' and I also specialise in supporting survivors of trauma (abuse of any kind, one off incidents or sustained/accumulated complex trauma such as childhood sexual abuse). For complex issues I use Comprehensive Resource Model (CRM) therapy, a model that works by connecting the body and brain to help the client process their trauma.
I also contract to employee assistance schemes, a bereavement service, LGBTIQA+ and neuro-diverse clients.
I also offer clinical supervision to counsellors who work anywhere in the UK (video sessions) or face to face in Carlisle, North Cumbria and D&G (please click on my supervisor tab). The training that the supervisee uses is not an issue as I use various reflective models and can adapt my style of supervision to suit all levels of experience. I also offer a discount for clients who are training to be a therapist.
If you contact me for counselling or supervision I can promise that I will:-
1. Contact you within two days
2. Offer you a free 20 minute consultation within five days
3. Be able to empathise with your situation and offer responses that will foster confidence and to establish a trusting relationship
4. Arrange a first appointment during the consultation to take place within 14 days if that's suitable for you
Nerves about engaging with a therapist?
Issues such as Anxiety, Depression, Stress etc. can often influence people in attending a first session, this is understandable, especially if you've never had counselling. I promise to use a calm non-judgmental approach to create a safe space for you to share your issues. As you'll see from the list below I am experienced in working in a many areas, my motto is
"Sometimes age can be an advantage, it means I've probably experienced the same issues that you have now "
I also have a keen sense of humour so and try to create an atmosphere where 'it's good to have a laugh.'
The counselling journey - (how a counselling usually pans out).
Beginning - first session
The first session will be an opportunity to:-
1. Get to know each other, agree a contract and conduct a brief assessment
2. Establish a trusting relationship for you to feel able to talk openly to me
3. Explore your aims and how we can work together to meet them. At this point I often provide strategies which will help you to work on simple improvements.
Counselling is conducted in weekly sessions of 50 minutes. The advantage of weekly sessions is that momentum is easily created. The amount of sessions required can vary and this would be flexible in order to meet your needs.
Middle - this part of the counselling journey is where the therapeutic sessions become part of your life. The differences that counselling makes are usually gradual and sustainable. Naturally a client will wish to have an ending in sight and this is my target too. Once progress starts it is often surprising how quickly things change and how much a person can benefit from a short (or longer) programme.
1. You can concentrate on the crux of the issues whilst I use experience and skills to adopt appropriate models to help you to bring about change.
2. Fortunately I have many years involvement in facilitating change, stress, anxiety disorders and training and development I can also draw on non directive support for work and personal problems through coaching and mentoring.
3. I will support you in moving on to a better place in a holistic, confidential and non-judgmental manner.
Ending - Bringing our professional and therapeutic relationship to an end is important in therapy. I am conscious that clients may well come to rely on the weekly engagement so moving on from that can be a challenge. However, depending on the length of therapy, I take a flexible approach in balancing your new capabilities and confidence with a managed closure process to accommodate any uncertainty over finishing.
Training, qualifications & experience
My History
1. I became a therapist via a unique route in that I had a very successful career in prisons where I graduated from being a prison officer to attain senior management roles.
2. Alongside this career I worked as a volunteer support worker and counsellor for victims of crime. I work in all areas including employee assistance programmes, supporting survivors of sexual crime and other post traumatic stress areas through 'Critical Incident Responder' work.
3. I worked tirelessly in prisons to support staff after incidents, work related stress and to raise awareness and support for prisoners who were also survivors of abuse. I also trained managers in leadership skills, business planning, appraisals and effective communications skills. I use a blended approach to therapy and support work for all my clients.
4. After retiring from the prison service I managed the provision of therapy and advocacy (for seven years) nationwide for a Scottish charity supporting survivors of abuse, most of whom were suffering from complex PTSD.
5. I was heavily involved in training and development in all of these roles. I have also taught student counsellors to the level of Advanced Professional Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling
I feel that my career, training and experience as a therapist means I have a lot of skills to support people in many areas including relationship problems, bereavement, complex trauma, stress, anxiety, grief, depression etc.
My qualifications are:-
Advanced Professional Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling - March 2017
Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling - February 2016
Diploma in Transformational Coaching - July 2021
Diploma in Neuro Linguistic Programming - May 2021
Advanced Assessment and Treatment Strategies for People with Insomnia
Essential (Clinical) Supervision Skills Level Two
Essential (Clinical) Supervision Skills Level One
Certificate in Counselling -2013
Certificate in Comprehensive Resource Model (CRM) - 2014
I am also a qualified 'Critical Incident Responder' - 2006
Accredited Member of National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society
I also have a Master's Degree in Business Administration, a Diploma in Management Studies and a Certificate in Management Studies - Summer 2000
I regularly undertake continuous professional development (CPDs) to ensure that I maintain a wide range of counselling, coaching and mentoring skills.
Recent courses attended are:
Mindfulness - July 2025
Depression the Brain and Recovery - March 2025
Vicarious Trauma - January 2025
Self Hypnosis - May 2024
Relationships - affairs -May 2024
Working with suicidal ideation - Oct 2023
Understanding Border Line Personality Disorder (BPD) - Oct 2023
Self-harm and self-sabotage - Oct 2023
Trans awareness - May 2023
Diploma in Transformational Coaching - 2020/21
Diploma in Neuro Linguistic Programming - May 2021
Advanced Assessment and Treatment Strategies for People
with Insomnia - November 2019
Essential Supervision Skills level two - September 26th 2018
Essential Supervision Skills level one - July 2018
GDPR - the new data protection act - May 2018
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 National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society This Not For Profit association of counsellors and psychotherapists aim to support the counselling profession, members and training organisations. In 2013 the NCS register was accredited by the Professional Standards Authority under the Accredited Voluntary Register Scheme. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
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
Financial stress, cumulative stress issues, work/life balance and stress management skills. I am also a critical incident responder and can facilitate individual and group sessions for post fatality workshops, prices for this can be negotiated.
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£65.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
I charge £65 for each 50 minute one to one sessions (in person or online), this includes any work I do in between sessions.
For couples the charge is £75 for an hour, this includes any work I do in between sessions. If each person wishes to have a solo session before they embark on couple counselling the fee is £75 for each person requiring solo session(s).
Families, groups and organisations would be negotiable depending on the type and length of work required, distance and the amount of people involved.
I also offer Critical Incident Support sessions to individuals or organisations, fees to be agreed. This work generally has to be actioned within three weeks of a fatality to be effective.
When I work
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Further information
People often have a misconception about therapy, it isn't a weakness to ask for help, in fact it's a strength. People close to you will often try to offer solutions. That's not going to help as much as having an independent, genuine, non judgemental therapist who can empathise and at the same time help you to gain the confidence needed to make changes.
I offer face to face supervision to counsellors in Carlisle, Cumbria and Dumfries and Galloway. I also offer supervision for the rest of the UK via Zoom video sessions. The model of counselling a therapist may use is not an issue and I can adapt my style of supervision to suit all levels of experience. I charge £60 an hour for supervision.
