About me
With a decade of post-qualification experience, I am a friendly, creative, active and direct psychotherapist. Welcome! I look forward to talking with you.
How we might begin:
The first step is an initial free-of-charge consultation where we will discuss general questions about how and whether we might work together.
We would then meet for three assessment sessions. These are an opportunity for you to discuss what's on your mind, describe the context of your life experiences and talk in depth about what's troubling you. In the second session we can discuss the likely approach which would be personalised to you, and having had time to reflect, we can come to a shared decision about how to move forwards and what might be best for you.
Relational psychotherapy
'Symptoms are a sign of what the soul longs for and the ego guards against" - James Hillman
We meet once or twice a week at a time that is reserved exclusively for you. We will reflect carefully together to understand the root causes of your difficulties and how you might begin to do things differently.
Many of the difficulties which lead us to seek psychotherapy start within relationships. A relationally-oriented approach to psychotherapy is reflective and occasionally uncomfortable, because it aims to consider our relationship with ourselves and others. Like any important relationship, psychotherapy involves commitment, boundaries, learning and listening. Harmony, disharmony and repair, sometimes over a substantial period of time, are often the most important and healing phase of a relational and analytically-oriented psychotherapy. The therapeutic relationship between you and I is built so that you can come to understand yourself and to offer a reliable relationship within which you can begin to change. Outcomes of relational psychotherapy are different for everyone but will often be towards developing resilience, creativity and well-being.
In psychotherapy, human struggles do not need to be avoided by 'getting on with it', using addictions or distractions, or getting stuck - there is a well-trodden and generative path through these times. I will share aspects of myself and my own inner work, if it is best for you. For many people it can reduce an illusion of 'power imbalance' to remember that psychotherapists are human beings: that it is natural and human for us to feel pain, face crises, make mistakes, grieve and establish positive changes.
Creative approaches
To support your inner work I may use techniques of metaphor, active imagination, art therapy, compassionate inquiry, shadow work, sand tray, dreamwork and parts work. Sometimes no 'technique' is needed: compassionate, respectful conversation can give you the breathing space to explore things and begin to make profound changes.
The first step
Please get in touch by phone or email for an initial consultation, when I'll explain the first steps and you can ask any questions you might have about the important decision to start psychotherapy. There's no charge for this initial meeting, which usually lasts around 30 minutes. I look forward to hearing from you - wherever you are in the process of seeking support.
Training, qualifications & experience
I have 15 years of experience working together with clients in psychotherapeutic settings. I now have a busy private practice and I've worked in NHS, corporate and trade union environments. I can work with you to create a psychotherapy which is unique for your own needs and lived experience, and we will aim together to work at a safe pace of your own choice.
- Foundations in Group Analysis - Institute of Group Analysis - 2024-2025
- Shadow Work Coach - certified 2018
- Deep Democracy Basic Training 2018
- MSc in Psychotherapy - Newman University - 2015 "An autoethnographic study of the experience of uncertainty in psychotherapy"
- Diploma in Psychotherapy - Northern Guild - 2015
- Diploma Clinical Supervision - Northern Guild 2015
- Postgraduate Diploma in Integrative Psychotherapy - Newman University 2013
- Diploma Psychotherapeutic Counselling - Northern Guild - 2012
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.
The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) is a leading professional body for the education, training and regulation of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors. Its register is accredited by the government's Professional Standards Authority.
As part of its commitment to protect the public, it works to improve access to psychotherapy, to support and disseminate research, to improve standards and to respond effectively to complaints against its members.
UKCP standards cover the range of different psychotherapies. Registration is obtained by training or accrediting with one of its member organisations, or by holding a European Certificate in Psychotherapy. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
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
Psychedelic integration therapy - supporting those who wish to make sense of psychedelic or other peak experiences.
Leadership development and executive coaching.
I draw on techniques from Cliff Barry's ShadowWorkTM and use sand tray to support deeper exploration and healing. I also offer one-off half and full-day Shadow Work sessions
Supportive community in-person CPD group for psychotherapists.
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£90.00 per session
Additional information
The first discussion is free of charge and is a chance to discuss any questions about how we might work together and to explain the process of committing to a course of psychotherapy. I don't charge for this initial consultation. This may be on the phone or online and is likely to last for around 30 minutes.
In the initial few sessions, we will discuss and negotiate fees together so that the weekly fee agreed is sustainable for the duration of therapy. My usual fee currently is £90.
When I work
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I work in clinic from 7am-2pm Tuesday-Thursday.
Further information
My life experiences have brought me to this work. My first training was in genetics and I went on to train as a patent attorney in biotechnology and medical technology. When I developed binge eating disorder and began a journey of recovery, I changed my priorities, career and way of living. I have come to view my eating disorder as a symptom of a spiritual awakening. Whatever your own symptoms - whether apparently mild or very overtly impacting on your life - I believe that with time and compassionate, courageous enquiry, greater empowerment emerges through self-understanding.
I look forward to meeting with you. You are welcome no matter whether you know clearly what you want, or have no idea at the moment.
