About me
I believe counselling should feel like sitting with a real person not being analysed, judged or told how to live your life. My hope is that, from our first conversation, you feel able to breathe a little more easily and know that you do not have to carry everything alone.
Perhaps you have become so used to getting through each day that you have forgotten what it feels like to truly feel okay. Something from your past may still be affecting you, or you may be struggling with grief, anxiety, low self-worth, relationships or addictive patterns. Perhaps you cannot quite explain what feels wrong; you simply know that something needs to change.
You do not need to arrive with everything worked out or know where to begin. I offer a warm, grounded and genuinely human space where you can speak openly, without judgement or pressure. We can take things at your pace, gently make sense of what you are experiencing and work towards a life that feels more manageable and more like your own.
I will not pretend to have all the answers, because you are the expert on your own life. What I can offer is a genuine relationship where you feel heard, understood and accepted. Together, with honesty, curiosity and compassion, we can explore what may be keeping you stuck and begin to find a way forward that feels right for you.
I work integratively, which means I draw from different counselling approaches depending on what feels most helpful for you. I do not believe one way of working suits everyone, so our sessions will be shaped around your individual needs, experiences and pace.
Our relationship will be at the heart of the work. I am warm, approachable and down-to-earth, and I believe counselling can be meaningful without always feeling formal or clinical. There may be difficult moments, but there can also be space for warmth and humour when it feels right.
I am also comfortable sitting alongside you in silence when words feel difficult or simply are not needed. You will never be rushed or pressured to speak. We can allow things to unfold naturally, knowing that I will remain present with you.
Training, qualifications & experience
I am a qualified integrative counsellor with a Level 5 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling and a registered member of the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS). I also hold a BSc in Psychology and Criminal Justice. I work in accordance with the NCPS ethical framework and undertake regular clinical supervision and continuing professional development.
Alongside my counselling practice, I work within a substance-use service, supporting people affected by alcohol and drug use. My role includes one-to-one psychosocial support, motivational work, harm reduction, relapse prevention, care planning, emotional wellbeing, risk management and safeguarding. This experience has given me a compassionate and non-judgemental understanding of addiction, including the shame, loss, trauma and difficult life experiences that may sit beneath it.
Before becoming a counsellor, I spent almost 20 years working within the emergency services. This gave me extensive experience of supporting people through complex, distressing and life-changing circumstances. It has shaped my ability to remain calm, grounded and present when someone is sharing experiences that may feel difficult to speak about.
My counselling experience includes supporting people with anxiety, depression, grief and loss, low self-worth, relationship difficulties, shame, addictive patterns and the lasting effects of difficult or traumatic experiences. However, you do not need to be facing a crisis or have a name for what you are feeling. You may simply feel out of sorts, disconnected, unsettled or unlike yourself. Whatever brings you to counselling, we can begin with where you are and explore it together.
My additional training and professional development includes:
- Substance-use awareness and interventions
- Harm reduction
- Motivational Interviewing
- Psychosocial interventions
- Relapse prevention
- Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
- Mental Health First Aid
- Safeguarding and risk management
- Trauma-informed practice
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
I work in a trauma‑informed, compassion‑focused way, supporting clients who are navigating the impact of difficult or overwhelming experiences. This includes working with substance use as a coping strategy, helping people understand emotional triggers, reduce harm, and move toward change at a pace that feels safe and sustainable. My approach recognises the connection between trauma, the nervous system, and patterns of coping, and I support clients in developing grounding skills, emotional regulation, and kinder internal narratives. I also work with partners and family members affected by someone else’s substance use, offering space for clarity, boundaries, and emotional steadiness. Alongside this, I have a particular interest in attachment patterns, shame‑sensitive work, and stabilisation, helping clients build inner resources before moving into deeper exploration.
Therapies offered
Fees
£50.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
I charge £50 per 50-minute session, with a reduced rate of £45 available for students, trainee counsellors, OAPs and people on a low income. I aim to keep therapy accessible while maintaining a consistent, professional service. If you’re unsure which fee applies to you, we can talk it through together.
I offer a free initial telephone conversation, giving us an opportunity to briefly discuss what has brought you to counselling, ask any questions and see whether working together feels right for you. There is no pressure or obligation to book afterwards.
If you need to cancel or rearrange an appointment, I kindly ask for at least 48 hours’ notice. Sessions cancelled with less than 48 hours’ notice will be charged at the full session fee. Further details are included in the counselling agreement.
When I work
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Further information
I offer individual counselling to adults, with appointments currently available online or by telephone in the evenings, Monday to Friday, from 6 pm, and F2F appointments available on Saturdays between 10 am and 5 pm in Barry.
Sessions last 50 minutes and cost £50. I offer a free 15-minute initial telephone conversation, giving you an opportunity to briefly share what has brought you to counselling, ask any questions and get a sense of whether working together feels right for you. There is no pressure or obligation to book afterwards.
You do not need to prepare anything before your first session. We will begin gently, talk about what you hope to gain from counselling and consider how we might work together. If you are unsure whether your reason for seeking support is “enough,” please know that you do not need to wait until things become overwhelming. Whatever is affecting you matters.
