About me
Sessions are face-to-face, online, or via 'walk and talk' in woodland and parkland around Exeter.
You are welcome here just as you are, however dark, difficult, or unclear things seem to be; however lost, sad, confused, anxious, or vulnerable you might feel.
I believe that therapy can offer hope when it feels like there is precious little of it. However, 'healing' might not involve a cure, but rather a coming to terms with our lives, which may be painful; a grieving, and an imaginative approach to what the symptoms of our distress might be pointing to.
...maybe there is wisdom and gold in the tears and the grief.
...maybe what 'healing' will look like might be very different from what we expect.
...maybe 'successful therapy' could involve making space for the parts of us that we struggle with and reject, rather than to cut them off.
For me, there hasn’t been an ‘end point’ of experiencing difficulty in my life, but rather a sense of being more able to tolerate and re-vision uncertainty, confusion and disappointment.
Embrace your grief, for there your soul will grow. Carl Jung
Are you looking for an inclusive approach where we grow down into living our lives in these human bodies, on this earth, as part of nature? I hope to offer a space to reimagine life towards being full of flavour, texture, and meaning, full of moments and relationships that move us and feel precious, whether traditionally seen as sad or happy.
I am particularly experienced in working with adults who are
- Seeking hope, purpose, and direction but feeling lost or stuck
- Facing life changes and challenges such as the quarter-life and mid-life ‘crisis’
- Facing the challenge of living with chronic illness (like cancer)
- Facing bereavement, or who have been bereaved
- Exploring their spirituality and spiritual direction
- Seeking to explore and understand their sexuality
I have worked in a range of settings, including in private practice, as a bereavement counsellor, and as a cancer support counsellor for a local cancer charity. I identify as LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent, and seek for my practice to be affirming of both of these. I aim to be inclusive, open, and welcoming to those who do and do not have any particular identity.
I recognise the distress and wounds to the soul caused by living in a culture that has become disconnected, creating crises racially, ecologically, socially, and in emotional well-being.
About my approach
Counselling and psychotherapy are often called 'talk therapy', but there is a lot more to it than simply having a chat.
We are relational beings, and I believe that healing in therapy tends to come from relationships rather than a particular way of doing it. A key part of our work would be to pay attention to what we think of, feel, and imagine when we meet together.
We might also make space for what could be happening beyond our usual awareness and our own attempts at managing life. Some people might say that this relates to the unconscious. It might also involve making space for what is happening collectively - the climate crisis, the pandemic, social and political structures - and wondering about how we are being affected by such things.
We might also listen for the whispers of our deepest self in images, dreams, stories and myths, and our body’s movements. What if the symptoms that feel so painful are also communicating something important for us to pay attention to? This is what 'soulful' means to me - paying attention to what touches and moves us, and holding the possibility that being touched and moved emotionally has some value by itself.
If you want to find out more, do call or email me to have a free exploratory session to find out if it is right for you.
Training, qualifications & experience
I hold a Diploma in Integrative Transpersonal Psychotherapy from Re-vision in London. My training courses are accredited by the UKCP counselling and psychotherapy professional association. I have been offering counselling since 2014, honoured by the privilege of seeing clients who are seeking support with managing difficult situations and major life transitions such as bereavement, anxiety, depression, trauma, career changes, and illness.
I have experience in settings such as hospices, cancer centres, universities, and schools, as well as in private practice. I also work as a trainer and group facilitator, having recently run a men's group and a group for women with secondary breast cancer.
My most recent professional development has been attending a training on 'Taking Psychotherapy Outdoors ', supporting me in offering 'ecotherapy'. Other recent professional development includes psychotherapy training on shame and trauma, Mental Health First Aid, and 'Solution Focused Therapy'.
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 UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) is a leading professional body for the education, training and regulation of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors. Its register is accredited by the government's Professional Standards Authority.
As part of its commitment to protect the public, it works to improve access to psychotherapy, to support and disseminate research, to improve standards and to respond effectively to complaints against its members.
UKCP standards cover the range of different psychotherapies. Registration is obtained by training or accrediting with one of its member organisations, or by holding a European Certificate in Psychotherapy. 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 don't like using the term 'disorder' unless you find it helpful. I believe that there is a lot more to understanding someone than a label that they are given, although being given a label can sometimes be experienced as a relief.
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£65.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
I generally charge £65 per hour, payable by bank transfer before the start of each session. I have limited places at £55 per hour for those on lower incomes - please do ask if you want to find out more.
