About me
I offer short term therapy, depending on your needs, using cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Solution Focussed Brief Therapy. Our sessions would be very much based on identifying your own goals and values, and working with anxiety, social anxiety, low mood and depression. We would be exploring your difficult thoughts, feelings, and behaviour, with both compassion and care.
I also provide longer term holistic therapy using principles of psychodynamic psychotherapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) , counselling, Internal Family Systems (IFS) , and Compassion Focussed Therapy (CFT). This is for deeper and more entrenched levels of distress relating to relationships, mental health, work problems, bullying, feelings of isolation and depression, and complex family dynamics. Many of us are facing anxiety, fear, stress, low mood, burnout, trauma, moral injury, loss, grief, and uncertainty about what the future may hold.
I am happy to provide a safe and non-judgmental space to discuss your experiences. I worked in the NHS for 24 years, supporting NHS staff’s mental health and well-being, in Adult ADHD services, with young adult mental health services and in forensic mental health I have worked in private practice across the UK for many years, both as a therapist and as an expert witness. I specialise in working with addictive behaviours, including gambling, and also have a particular interest in late diagnosed Adult ADHD, especially in women, and other areas of neurodiversity. I offer post-diagnostic support as well as working with adults who are self-diagnosed as ADHD, autism or AuDHD.
I've noticed that many of my clients have been using alcohol, drugs, prescription medication, online shopping, gaming, gambling or doom scrolling/phone addiction as ways of coping. I offer a non-judgemental open space, currently only online, but am considering opening clinics in the Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, and Essex areas in the future. There are things we can change and things we can't. We are all struggling, and that's ok. I work flexibly and am happy to offer appointments in the afternoon and evenings and at the weekends.
Training, qualifications & experience
UK wide expert in substance use and mental health including new psychoactive drugs like spice. I worked in the NHS for 25 years, as a Senior and Lead Clinical Psychologist. I was a Senior Manager in the NHS for many years, but wanted to get back to the true values and commitment of my profession and training. I have worked in adult mental health services in the NHS for more than 25 years, including many years in forensic mental health services.
I am a Member of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the British Psychological Society, Division of Clinical Psychology. I am also an Associate Fellow of the BPS and a member of the Association of Clinical Psychologists -UK which is a good indicator of the level of my professional skills and experience. I adhere to and am accountable for all their strict standards of professional behaviour.
Qualifications
Internal Family Systems (2024)
ACT and Compassion Focussed Therapy (2022)
GTEP (2022)
Reflective Practice (2022) and (2016)
EMDR (2021)
DBT (2018)
Graduate Certificate in Group Analysis (2011)
Certificate in Group Work (2008)
Personal CBT, CAT, Psychodynamic and Psychoanalytic Long Term Personal Therapy 1999-2023) (absolutely essential for any therapist in my opinion)
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology UCL (2003)
Masters in Psychology, (Hons) Edinburgh University, (1993)
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.
British Psychological Society
The HCPC are an independent, UK-wide health regulator. They set standards of professional training, performance and conduct for 16 professions.
They keep a register of health professionals who meet their standards, and they take action if registered health professionals fall below those standards. They were created by a piece of legislation called the Health Professions Order 2001.
Registration means that a health professional meets national standards for their professional training, performance and conduct.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
I have specialist interest in working with people who consider themselves neurodiverse or who are struggling with drug and alcohol use, in the context of their mental health. In addition I am experienced in working with coping strategies that are starting to feel or becoming addictive, such as gambling, gaming and the internet. Initially all of these things are there to make you feel better, but they not be as be helpful as they were, or have even started becoming unhelpful and maybe even making your struggles worse.
Therapies offered
Fees
£100.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
My fees do vary but reflect my experience and training and are available on request. For fee-paying clients my standard fee is £100 online, and I have separate arrangements with the various insurers that I work, most of whom I am registered with. This does not currently include BUPA. Currently I am only working online so am open to referrals across the UK.
When I work
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I offer both afternoon and evening appointments during the week and also have some availability on Saturdays. I am currently only working online.
Further information
I am happy to work with you online via various forms of secure messaging, WhatsApp, Zoom or the secure platform I am involved in called Clinix.
I am relaxed, highly knowledgeable, chilled, non judgmental, and provide a highly confidential and professional service. I understand the importance of potentially talking about something that for some may be controversial such as substance use or other addictive behaviours or even just things that have got out of hand and are hard to talk about. I believe that we are all doing our best but sometimes we can start to struggle when our behaviour and experiences become misaligned with our goals and values.
Confidentiality is guaranteed, and a breach of this would only occur in extreme circumstances, fore example, if I thought that you or someone else was at risk of immediate and/or serious significant harm. This would always be discussed with you in and mutually and collaboratively agreed in advance about the best management strategy at the time of our first meeting and as our sessions progress.
I do ask that time booked in and then cancelled within 24 hours of the appointment, or not attending without notice, will be liable for the full charge. I know this might sound harsh but it’s standard practice.
