About me
Hello. If you're suffering from anxiety, depression, overwhelm, self-doubt or despair then let me help you. I am a warm, dynamic, creative counsellor who works purposefully with you to help you feel stronger and, ultimately, happier. I will give you a safe, non-judgmental space to gently process your feelings, unravel tangled confusion, explore relationships with yourself, others, and your place in this world and reflect on how past relationships and events might be impacting how you are now.
I tailor make your therapy, having a range of processes to pull on. As well as creating that space for you to talk, I believe that by interweaving creative exercises we can enrich and intensify the process. These might include Jungian Sandplay and symbol work, therapeutic art exercises, Parts work and therapeutic writing. Together, we will define what you hope to achieve through our work together, having a clear focus on what we are aiming to discover or improve.
How I work
Counselling is about deeply listening. I begin by hearing your story, what brings you into counselling, and together we work out your aims, what you hope to achieve through our work together - this is a key part of my process because I want our work to be purposeful and focused. Every six sessions we review these aims, amending and adding to them as necessary.
The deep work can happen when we 'lose our minds and come to our senses' (Fritz Perls) - in other words, when we go beyond what we know and open ourselves to the unconscious, the buried and hidden within us. This is why I believe working creatively can lead to a richness beyond where we can get by only talking and listening. Our bodies hold onto trauma and therefore your physical responses are part of our process. Grounding exercises and breathwork are offered: you set the pace, you lead the way. I am there to guide you, offering a richness of creative experiences along the way.
I work with all sorts of creative tools. Symbols are a beautiful way of helping deepen awareness - I might ask you to choose a figure to show how you are feeling as you enter the room, or you might want to create a scene in the sand tray to show an emotion that you can't articulate. You might choose to use art exercises to discover more about a feeling or an experience. I welcome dreams, free writing and poetry. We might decide to look at your different 'parts' and give them characters or names. I invite clients to keep a journal of our time together where they can note down discoveries, affirmations, desires, resolutions and create a lasting memory of their counselling journey. Our work together will of course, be hard at times and raw, but there will also be joy and laughter.
Above all, the relationship is key. I am a warm, kind, intelligent counsellor who creates a safe, confidential space in which to support and walk alongside you on your journey to a happier way of being.
Training, qualifications & experience
My experience
I am a fully-qualified Integrative Therapist (with the core modalities of Person Centred, Gestalt and CBT). I am rich in life experience, including several years teaching English at secondary level, working as an artist and as a freelance writer. Counselling experience includes working for Age UK and the University Centre South Devon. I have worked with clients presenting with anxiety, complex grief, PTSD, childhood trauma, lack of confidence and self-belief, low self-worth, anger issues, agoraphobia, lack of purpose and depression.
I have a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from Oxford University in English Language and Literature, where I used my dissertation to look at the language of despair and depression in poetry. I have a Level 3 Foundation in Integrative Counselling (Heartwood) and Level 4 Advanced Diploma in Integrative Counselling (Heartwood), Level 2 Diploma in Suicide and Self-Harm, a Foundation in Sandplay and Foundation in Therapeutic Art
I am registered by the NCPS (National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society) and abide at all times by their Ethical Framework.
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
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£25.00 - £50.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
I suggest a minimum of six sessions in order to establish our relationship, set our aim and feel we have the time to achieve it. I review our progress every six sessions, so it is up to you how long our work together lasts. Some clients might come for six weeks to address a specific issue, while others will want ongoing therapy to work very deeply over months or years.
I offer a sliding scale from £25 to £50 depending on your financial situation. I offer a free introductory session. I can see you in Dartington or Paignton and I also offer online counselling.
When I work
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