About me
Many of us learn to become a version of ourselves that feels "safe": acceptable, easier for others to understand, ready to grant others a level of grace we seldom, perhaps never, give ourselves.
We become the person who copes, the person who always says they are fine, the person who tries to keep everyone else happy, the person who hides the parts of themselves they fear others may not accept.
These ways of being often develop for good reason. They help us navigate difficult experiences, relationships, losses, and life changes. But sometimes the things that once helped us survive begin to leave us feeling constrained and exhausted. Our once "safe" patterns turn against us, and we feel trapped, with no recourse but to keep pushing through as we have always done, even as our joy and engagement with life continue to diminish.
Counselling can be a place to start exploring what lies beneath and, ultimately, beyond being stuck in patterns. Not because there is something wrong with you that needs "fixing", but because every person has a story worth understanding; through understanding we can begin to develop greater acceptance of ourselves. From that place of understanding, new possibilities for change can emerge. This is the process of therapy.
My understanding of this process comes not only from my training, but also from my own experience as a client. I have experienced first-hand how powerful it can be to sit with someone who is genuinely present, curious, and willing to understand your world. It reinforced my belief that therapy is not simply about techniques or theories; it is about the quality of the human connection between two people.
My style is calm and grounded. I focus first on building a relationship where you feel safe enough to be honest, without having to present a polished version of yourself. As trust develops, I may gently challenge some of the beliefs or stories you have carried about yourself, particularly those that tell you who you are or what you are capable of.
I have particular experience supporting people through grief and bereavement, as well as the wider experiences of loss and change that can affect our sense of identity, relationships, and future.
If you’re considering counselling and would like to see whether we might be a good fit, I offer a free, no-obligation 15-minute consultation by phone.
Training, qualifications & experience
Credentials:
I hold an MSc in Counselling and Psychotherapy from the University of Strathclyde and am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
Alongside my formal training, I continue to develop my understanding of psychology, human experience, and the many different ways people make sense of their lives. I work as an integrative counsellor with a person-centred foundation, drawing from different approaches where they may be helpful while keeping our work centred around your individual experience.
Counselling for Grief and Loss:
While I work with all the issues listed on this profile, I have significant experience with clients who are struggling with grief, loss, and bereavement.
There are many kinds of grief: perhaps you are facing a life-altering change in your health, the loss of a relationship, your role, your identity, and a sense that life has denied you the future you imagined for yourself?
There is no "right" way to face something so complex and personal, but I can help you explore what your loss means to you and to find a way forward that honours who or what has been lost.
Mindfulness:
I have over ten years of experience in Vipassana meditation, commonly referred to as mindfulness. Guidance around this is available on request, as it can be a fantastic addition to therapy, though there is no expectation that clients need to make use of this.
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
Photos & videos
Fees
£45.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Please see my website for all information and policies.
Further information
Please see my website.
