About me
Whatever issues have brought you to this point are important. I know that the first steps towards getting support can feel really daunting.
Perhaps you are here because:
- You are feeling sad, stressed, lost, anxious, lonely, overwhelmed or angry
- Your self-esteem is at a low ebb, and an inner critic is out of control
- You don’t know why you are feeling the way that you are
- You want to move past feeling helpless and hopeless
- You want support to work on a known issue, like trauma, anger, anxiety, PTSD/CPTSD, behavioural/relational patterns, periods of change, health issues, loss, or boarding school syndrome
- You don’t want to feel like you are carrying things alone any more
- You want to understand how your past informs your present
- We can work together to unpick and process things to bring you clarity.
Things can change.
What can change?
Emotional Regulation
A greater sense of control over your emotions, less flooding and overwhelm, and more predictable responses. Knowing your triggers, where the triggers came from and understanding where your autonomic nervous system response is driven from will give you greater ability to challenge the “default settings” and make change.
Freedom from the Past
Our past won’t change, but the impact of previous trauma and childhood conditioning on our present can diminish. The way you kept yourself safe need not be your character now. Understanding what it is that makes you feel a certain way in certain situations, and which of your behaviours are driven by that feeling gives the insight to make changes.
Trust in yourself
With time and deeper self-awareness, a greater sense of trust in yourself can develop. As you begin to feel more regulated, less reactive and more confident, relationships with those around you at home and at work can change for the better.
A more authentic You
Your internal resources can strengthen, so that the challenges that family, friends and work present will not overwhelm you or shut you down. That resilience can make you much less sensitive to the opinions of other people, increase your self worth and strengthen your authentic self.
A calmer, steadier life
With fewer confrontations, less anxiety and stress, clearer communication, a stronger sense of self and a growing congruence there can be more internal and external peace.
How I Work
Validation and understanding
You will be heard and understood in our sessions. Knowing from personal experience how hard reaching out for help is, you will be empathically and compassionately treated.
You won’t carry things by yourself any more
Sessions are a safe space to express yourself however you want, and give voice to anything that you wish. It’s your time to share and explore things. I’m here for you.
Non-judgmental
We’ll explore things at your pace, in a safe and confidential way without judgment. What is important to you will come into the room when you are ready, and there’ll never be any judgment at all when it does.
Who’s in charge?
Well - you are! We will be equal partners in the therapeutic relationship. I work from a Person Centred base, so the relationship between us is the crucial foundation on which you will be able to make effective change and find your answers. But, this is your process, and you are the expert on you, so you set the agenda.
What will a session be like?
I know how hard the process can be, especially at the beginning. There’ll never be any pressure or expectations from me.
I have a lively, involved and inquisitive style, tugging on loose threads and allowing you to follow your feelings to their root causes. Silences and reflective moments can be a powerful and important part of the therapeutic process, but I won’t be a passive observer as I believe that the therapeutic relationship needs input from both parties to be effective.
I don’t feel that serious therapy needs to be sombre and heavy all the time. I find that some appropriate levity amongst the gravity can make the really tough moments less draining.
EMDR
I also offer EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) which we can work into our sessions if appropriate. EMDR can be a very effective in helping ease symptoms of PTSD and complex trauma, panic, anxiety, phobias, chronic pain and the negative self-beliefs which contribute to low mood and depression.
Training, qualifications & experience
I have a CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling, and experience of working in general counselling agencies supporting clients with a wide range of presenting issues. I have also counselled at a Cancer patients support charity.
I have also undertaken specific training on Trauma and working with traumatised clients, which I have incorporated into my practice, and have trained in EMDR with the EMDR Centre London.
I worked for 2 years at a Cancer support charity, working with both people dealing with Cancer, and their families. I also spent 2 years working in a general low cost counselling agency, working with a diverse group of clients, alongside my private practise.
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
I have decades of experience running my own business, and working as a freelance musician. I understand the pressures of working, and family life, very well.
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£60.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Concessions in certain circumstances are available, so please contact me for details.
Further information
I have a dedicated counselling room in my home near Fordingbridge on a very quiet lane, with parking available. I can also offer sessions at a GP Surgery in Salisbury (message me for availability), and I can offer sessions online. I can offer home visits in the local area for an extra fee based on mileage too.
