About me
About me
If you have spent years coping alone, putting other people first, or feeling that you are somehow not enough, counselling can offer you a space to stop, breathe and begin to understand what you are experiencing.
You may be struggling with anxiety, low mood, relationships, loss, a difficult life change, or simply feeling overwhelmed by everything that life has brought you. You don't have to have all the answers before you come to counselling. We can explore what is happening together, at a pace that feels right for you.
I am an experienced Integrative Counsellor and I offer a warm, accepting and non-judgemental space where you can be yourself. I believe that the relationship between counsellor and client is central to the work, and it is important to me that you feel safe, heard and respected.
My experience
Alongside my counselling practice, I have 26 years' experience working within hospice care, supporting people and families through serious illness, end-of-life care, grief and loss.
This experience has given me a deep understanding of how profoundly illness, death, bereavement and other significant life changes can affect us. I have supported people through many different kinds of loss and understand that there is no single or "right" way to grieve.
I also have many years of experience as a Complementary Therapist. This has given me a strong understanding of the connection between emotional and physical wellbeing and has shaped the gentle, holistic way in which I work.
How I work
I am an Integrative Counsellor, which means that I draw on different therapeutic approaches and tailor our work to you as an individual, rather than expecting you to fit into one particular model.
I also hold a Diploma in Gestalt Counselling. My Gestalt training allows me to pay attention not only to what you are saying, but also to what may be happening for you in the present moment – your feelings, thoughts, body and relationships.
For me, counselling isn't about telling you what you should do. It is about creating a space where you can begin to understand yourself, explore what you need and find your own way forward.
Creative counselling
I often incorporate creative ways of working when they feel helpful. This might include imagery, metaphor, objects, drawing or other creative exercises.
You don't need to be artistic or "good at art". Sometimes a picture, colour, object or image can help us explore something that is difficult to put into words.
I find creative approaches particularly helpful when feelings are complicated or when talking about something directly feels too difficult.
Areas I can help with
I work with adults experiencing a range of difficulties, including:
• Bereavement, grief and loss
• Life changes and transitions
• Anxiety and depression
• Low self-esteem and self-worth
• Relationship difficulties
• Trauma and emotional distress
• Loneliness and feeling overwhelmed
• Menopause and changes in identity
• Experiences of serious illness or caring for someone who is unwell
• Neurodiversity, including autism and ADHD
I also have experience working with people who have spent a long time caring for others and have lost touch with their own needs.
Neurodiversity
I work with neurodivergent adults, including people with autism and ADHD. My aim is to provide a space where you don't have to justify or explain the way you experience the world.
We can explore the things that are difficult for you, as well as the strengths and qualities that come with being uniquely you.
What you can expect
I won't judge you or tell you what you should do. I will listen, ask questions and gently help you explore what is happening for you.
Some sessions may involve simply talking. At other times we may use creative approaches or look at things from a different perspective. The work will always be guided by what feels appropriate and useful for you.
You don't need to know exactly what you want to talk about before your first session. We can start wherever you are.
Face-to-face and online counselling
I offer face-to-face counselling in Highcliffe, close to New Milton and Christchurch, as well as online sessions.
Sessions last 50 minutes and cost £50.
Making contact
Taking the first step towards counselling can feel daunting, particularly if you are used to managing things on your own.
To help you decide whether I am the right counsellor for you, I offer a free 10-minute, no-obligation telephone consultation. This gives us an opportunity to briefly talk about what has brought you to counselling and for you to ask any questions you may have.
You don't have to make any commitment following the call.
Training, qualifications & experience
Qualifications and Professional Memberships
BA (Hons) Humanistic Integrative Counselling
DipHE Humanistic Gestalt Therapy
AQA Certificate in Counselling Skills
AQA Certificate in Counselling
Certificate in Telephone and Online Counselling
Certificate in Working with Complex Trauma
CPD Training Includes
Creative Interventions Pathway
Working Creatively with Russian Dolls
Creative Interventions
Solution-Focused Techniques
Mental Health and the Body: Treating Trauma
Working with Relational Trauma
Doodling as a Grounding Intervention
I am a Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and work in accordance with their Ethical Framework for Good Practice. I am also a member of Creative Counsellors.
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
£50.00 per session
Additional information
Fees:
£50 - Face to Face
£42- Online
I offer a free 10 min consultation so you can ask.me questions a.d get a feel for how I work
When I work
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