About me
Hi there, I am an integrative counsellor with 25 years' experience working in therapeutic outdoor environments and education. I work with adults and young people aged 11 and over.
I offer walk-and-talk sessions in the New Forest, as well as online and telephone sessions. Walk-and-talk therapy provides a gentle, freeing space to explore your thoughts and emotions while moving through natural surroundings. Many people, myself included, find that the physical rhythm of walking encourages cognitive flexibility, making it easier to access new perspectives and insights than in a static, seated setting.
This can be particularly helpful for neurodivergent people, as walking side by side in an open space can feel less pressured, more natural and more relaxed. Online and telephone sessions offer greater flexibility and convenience, which may suit you better. A hybrid approach is also available to fit your circumstances.
For half of my working week, I deliver group-based courses for a mental health charity. These focus on anxiety, emotional regulation, coping skills, low mood and self-esteem. This work has given me a strong grounding in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), which we can draw on, where appropriate, and apply in a deeper, meaningful and relational way during one-to-one sessions.
We can work together on either a short-term or long-term basis, depending on your goals and what you would like to gain from counselling. We will begin with an informal telephone conversation to explore whether counselling with me feels right for you and discuss the practical arrangements.
Our first appointment is usually an open, exploratory session. As we move forward, we can develop a clearer sense of what you would like from our work together. However, there is no pressure to know what you want at the outset. Sometimes we simply feel stuck, and even speaking may feel like too much. That is OK. It may be enough to walk, breathe different air with a safe companion, and see where it leads.
I draw on a range of therapeutic approaches and techniques from different schools of thought, adapting my way of working to suit your circumstances, needs and preferences.
If you are interested in the theory behind my approach, here is a little more detail. If not, please feel free to skip this next part.
My approach is grounded in person-centred and nature-based therapy, while also incorporating elements of Transactional Analysis, Gestalt therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Training, qualifications & experience
- Registered member 420173 MBACP - British
- Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
- Advanced Diploma in Integrative Counselling
- Trauma Informed Journey training
- Counselling Young People (Stage One)
- Online counselling (Get started)
- Mental Health First Aid
- Reality Therapy based on Choice Theory Course
- First Aid at Work
- PGCE Post-compulsory Education & Training
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
£40.00 - £50.00
Additional information
Adult - £50 per session
Option - block of 6 at £270 (6x £45)
11 - 17 years old - £45 per session
Option - block of 6 £240 (6 x £40)
