About me
I offer a space where you can take time to reflect and explore your experiences, thoughts, and feelings to understand yourself more deeply. I believe that every person’s story is unique, shaped by their own experiences, relationships, background, culture, and the challenges they have faced. I welcome people from all walks of life and aim to create a space where you can feel heard and accepted for who you are.
Perhaps you are experiencing anxiety, low mood, depression, relationship difficulties, low self-esteem, trauma, or a sense of feeling stuck or disconnected from yourself. Sometimes childhood experiences, significant life events, loss, or trauma can leave us feeling uncertain about who we are or how we relate to others. Counselling offers an opportunity to gently explore these experiences and begin to discover new possibilities for growth.
Alongside talking, we may also explore creative ways to express and understand your experiences. Using art, symbols, images, and other creative techniques can help you connect with parts of yourself that may be difficult to put into words. This can open up new ways to see your story, explore your feelings, and reconnect with your imagination and creativity.
I work with people seeking support for:
- Anxiety and depression
- Low self-esteem and confidence issues
- Relationship difficulties and attachment issues
- Feeling stuck and lost
- Addictions
- Grief and loss
- Life transitions
- Work-related stress, burnout
- Family pressures and caregiving strain.
I am registered with the British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC) and the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), and I work in accordance with their professional and ethical standards. I am also a qualified therapeutic social worker with many years of experience supporting people with emotional and mental health difficulties.
I work with children and adolescents as well, offering them a space to explore their feelings and experiences. I also offer reflective sessions for parents who would like to develop a deeper understanding of their child’s behaviour.
I provide counselling in Wells, Somerset, as well as online counselling across the UK. I see clients in person in my consulting room in a quiet, central location in Wells.
Whatever you are carrying, you are welcome to bring it into this space, where we can begin to understand it together.
If you would like to learn more about my work, please visit my website at www.operrytherapy.co.uk.
Training, qualifications & experience
I support people experiencing anxiety, low mood, emotional overwhelm, trauma and post-traumatic stress, relationship difficulties, low self-esteem, and the feeling of being stuck or disconnected from themselves and others.
I have a particular interest in working with adverse life experiences and the ways emotional distress can show itself through the body. I also enjoy working with dreams as a powerful and meaningful way to deepen emotional understanding and develop insight.
I regularly attend CPD (Continuing Professional Development) to strengthen my clinical skills and continue developing my specialist interests. I believe the therapeutic relationship is the foundation of any effective therapy, and I offer a calm, confidential space where you can feel safe and supported.
Alongside my private practice, I work as a trauma-informed therapeutic social worker within a specialist service for children and young people. I am registered with Social Work England and work in line with professional standards and ethical practice. This role has given me extensive experience supporting complex emotional needs, trauma, and the longer-term impact of adversity, and it strongly informs my careful, grounded approach as a counsellor.
I also hold a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy), which informs my thoughtful and reflective approach to therapeutic work.
Qualifications
PhD (Doctor of Philosophy)
BSc in Social Work
Postgraduate Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling – Children & Young People: kitemarked by the British Psychoanalytic Council.
Postgraduate Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling: accredited by the British Psychoanalytic Council and the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Additional training:
Creative Counselling Interventions Training Pathway
Narrative Therapy – Level 1
Dyadic Developmental Practice and Psychotherapy – Levels 1 & 2
Mindfulness UK Teacher Training: Integrating Mindfulness and Compassion Qualification Course.
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
£55.00 - £65.00
Concessions offered for
Additional information
I offer a free, no-obligation 15-minute telephone consultation. This provides an opportunity for us to explore what brings you to counselling, to see whether we feel comfortable working together, and to consider whether my psychodynamic approach may be helpful for you.
Ongoing counselling sessions take place at the same time each week and last for 50 minutes. Fees range from £55 to £65 per session, depending on individual circumstances. Concessionary rates are also available, so please feel free to ask about this during our initial conversation.
