About me
As an Arts Counsellor and Sandplay Therapist, I blend traditional talking therapy with creative processes designed to help you relax and explore any difficulties you bring to our sessions.
I enjoy working with children, teenagers, young people and adults of all ages and abilities. We can talk as much or as little as you like. Creative processes offer alternative ways to express and consider challenges, and are ideal for anyone who, for whatever reason, finds it hard to put their feelings into words.
Arts counselling provides a safe way to explore thoughts, feelings and emotions. I will guide you to express yourself through paint, pastels, clay or other artistic media. Creative processes give space and distance, allowing us to look at any difficulties from new perspectives.
You might choose to create a scene in the sandtray, a safe and protected space, that can give fresh insights. Sandplay therapy is a gentle yet powerful process that aids self-expression and sensory integration. It offers a way to be in the moment and explore inner worlds.
However you express yourself, emerging themes or imagery can be explored and transformed through conversation and further activities. I will help you to find healing and wellness through solutions, acceptance or new paths forward.
Training, qualifications & experience
Private Practice at my Studio
As an Arts Counsellor and Sandplay Therapist, I welcome individual clients to my warm, comfortable home studio where a wide range of art materials is available. Together, we explore thoughts, feelings and emotions in a safe space. I work with all ages and abilities. I also offer online sessions to those who cannot come in person.
Other Current Practice
Alongside my private practice, I teach as a visiting lecturer at a college for art and therapy where I deliver modules and assess Clinical Case Studies to trainee Arts Counsellors.
I run a monthly Art for Wellbeing group, bringing the value of creativity into the local community.
I also offer supervision to trainee and qualified counsellors. I value the variety of my work and the privilege of supporting both clients and developing practitioners.
Across all parts of my practice, I aim to work with the whole person, holding belief in each person's potential for growth and transformation.
Background & Experience
As an Arts Counsellor, working therapeutically in community settings such as day centres and care homes has given me a breadth of experience with individuals from diverse backgrounds and abilities.
During the pandemic, I supported older clients in care homes living with dementia and/or various age-related conditions. Working at a community arts group gave one-to-one experience supporting individuals with sensory differences, neurodivergence and/or physical or intellectual disabilities.
Prior to training in Counselling, I worked within Education. I have extensive teaching experience in mainstream and special education in schools and further education in the UK and overseas. My PhD in Applied Psychology centred on developing play and independence in children and young people with autism.
Professional Memberships & Credentials
- MBACP (Accred) - I am accredited by the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and follow their code of ethics
- Enhanced DBS check
- Fully insured
- Associate member of British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT)
Qualifications
I am a trained Transpersonal Arts Counsellor with additional training as a Sandplay Therapist. My doctorate is in Applied Psychology.
- MCGI (level 7, master's) Transpersonal Arts in Therapy
- Certificate in Integrative Sandplay Therapy
- PhD Applied Psychology
- BA (Hons) in Fine Art
- Post Grad Cert in Education
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.
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 work with neurotypical and neurodivergent individuals. I am experienced at working with those who have differences including ADHD, autism, sensory overwhelm, dementia, physical and learning difficulties.
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£55.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Standard fees are £55 per one hour session, which includes materials for those coming to face-to-face sessions at my home studio.
I also offer online sessions for those who cannot come in person.
I have a small number of reduced fee sessions for those on a low income.
Further information
Next Steps
If you're wondering if Arts Counselling is right for you, you are very welcome to get in touch. To help get started, I offer a free 20-min call to answer questions and see if we are a good fit. Please contact me to arrange a good time for this call. Then, if you'd like to meet, we will arrange a convenient time for a first session.
I look forward to hearing from you.
