About me
About me
Hi, I'm Olivia, an Integrative Psychotherapeutic Counsellor, registered with the BACP, working face-to-face in Durham.
People often find their way to therapy when something inside signals it's time for change- perhaps you're carrying pain that needs tending, feeling drained by life's demands, or sensing a quiet disconnect between who you are and how you're living. You might be seeking relief from specific struggles, or simply wanting to understand yourself more deeply. Therapy offers a gentle space where we can look honestly at your experiences, make room for difficult feelings, and explore new possibilities together. We'll honour where you've travelled from, pay attention to where you stand today, and consider the direction you'd like to move toward. Through this process, many people rediscover parts of themselves that had gone quiet, learn to trust their own wisdom again, and find ways of being that feel more authentic and nourishing.
How I work
My approach is Humanistic, Person-Centred, and relational- which means you're at the heart of the work we do together. My way of working is rooted in warmth, genuine curiosity, and compassion. Together we'll create a space where you can be fully yourself, and where everything you share is held with care, kindness, and respect.
I draw on different therapeutic models including Transactional Analysis, Attachment Theory, and Gestalt techniques, tailoring our sessions to meet your unique needs and circumstances.
Whilst talking is generally at the centre of therapy, sometimes words alone don't quite capture how we're feeling. I have a variety of creative approaches we can draw upon if you’d like to, such as sandtray, guided imagery, and the use of stories and metaphor to help explore thoughts and feelings in different ways.
Who I work with
I work with individuals age 18+.
I've walked alongside people through many different experiences and challenges- including anxiety, depression, grief and loss, relationship challenges, life transitions, work stress, trauma, family dynamics, questions of identity and self-worth.
I work from a place of genuine warmth and curiosity which honours and affirms all identities and ways of being, everyone is welcome here.
Where I work
I offer sessions both in the room, and outdoors; I work from a cosy, welcoming space in the heart of Durham, as well as in a number of beautiful outdoor locations across County Durham.
If you're interested in Outdoor Therapy (sometimes called “Walk and Talk” Therapy or “Nature-Based” Therapy), we can take our work out into nature. These sessions respect all the usual boundaries of confidentiality and safety, but offer a very different experience to being in a room. We have a number of options around Durham- local parks, riverside walks, woodland, where we can either walk and talk or find a peaceful spot to sit.
Get in touch
If you're interested in working with me, or you have any questions, please get in touch to arrange a free, 15-minute, no-obligation telephone call to tell me a bit about what’s going on for you and see whether you feel I could be the therapist to support you on your journey.
Training, qualifications & experience
Qualifications:
- Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling (Northern Guild)
- PhD in Psychology and Psychobiology (the anticipatory stress response)
- MSc in Developmental Psychopathology
- BSc in Psychology
Further training:
I continue to learn and grow as a therapist through my commitment to regular training and supervision, which helps me bring the best possible care to my work. Some of my additional areas of training include: outdoor therapy, neurodiversity, and pretrial 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.
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.
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
Fees
£70.00 per session
Further information
I respond to enquiries within 48 hours (working days).
Please remember to check your junk mail folder if you're waiting for a response.
