About me
NCPS Senior Accredited Integrative/CBT Psychotherapist and qualified EMDR practitioner offering both face to face and remote counselling sessions.
I have 25 years' experience as a psychotherapist. I work with individuals and couples/relationship clients experiencing a wide range of emotional, psychological and relationship difficulties.
Sometimes people come to therapy knowing exactly what they want help with. At other times, they simply know they are struggling, feel stuck or overwhelmed, or don't feel like themselves but aren't sure where to start.
I offer a warm, supportive and non-judgemental space where we can work together to understand what is happening and what might help.
I am a qualified EMDR practitioner and an experienced CBT practitioner with particular specialist experience in anxiety, phobias, and OCD (Including ROCD-relationship OCD). I also have experience and expertise in neurodivergent-affirming practice, extensive experience working with gender, sexuality and relationship diversity (GSRD), and years supporting couples and relationship clients.
As an integrative therapist I draw from a variety of therapeutic approaches tailored to individual needs including Person Centred Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Emotional Therapeutic Therapy and Existential Therapy. CBT is at the core of my practice alongside EMDR, Exposure Response andPrevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (CFT), Solution Focused Therapy, Schema Therapy and mindfulness. I work integratively and adaptively, choosing approaches according to you rather than expecting you to fit a particular therapy.
My approach is individualised, collaborative and intersectional. I consider your experiences, relationships, identity, neurotype and wider circumstances, recognising that difficulties rarely exist in isolation.
Individual Therapy
I work with adults experiencing a broad range of emotional and psychological difficulties, including anxiety, OCD, low mood and depression, stress, panic, phobias, low self-esteem, lack of confidence, feeling stuck or overwhelmed, relationship difficulties, parenting challenges, work related stress and difficult life challenges and choices.
I also have extensive experience supporting people through trauma, abuse, grief, loss and bereavement, illness and injury, chronic and long-term health conditions, eating disorders, pain, disability and other difficult or life changing experiences.
I don't believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. I work with you to make sense of what is happening and how we can address that together in a way that is meaningful and helpful to you.
EMDR
I am a qualified EMDR practitioner, having completed Modules 1-3 through an accredited training organisation. EMDR is a specialised therapeutic approach using guided eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation. It can be helpful in addressing and processing distressing experiences that affect your everyday psychological well-being.
Whilst EMDR was originally developed for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), EMDR today is widely recognised as an effective treatment in many other areas including anxiety disorders, depression, phobias, grief and loss, chronic pain and illness, childhood trauma and sexual abuse and distressing memories.
EMDR is not necessarily used on its own. Depending on your needs, I may combine EMDR with CBT or other therapeutic approaches. We will consider together whether EMDR is appropriate and work at pace that feels manageable and supportive.
Anxiety, OCD/ROCD, Panic and Phobias
Anxiety related difficulties are particular areas of interest and specialism in my practice. I work with different presentations of anxiety, phobias and OCD including Relationship OCD (ROCD). I use CBT approaches including Exposure Response and Prevention (ERP) where appropriate, alongside ACT, CFT, Solution Focused Therapy and mindfulness.
The aim is not simply to reduce symptoms and distress but help you understand what keeps the difficulty going and develop different ways of responding to thoughts, feelings and situations.
Neurodivergent Affirming Practice
I have particular experience in working with neurodivergent clients (with diagnosis and without), informed by many years of professional experience including 10 years of working within the social services.
My approach is affirming and adaptive. I work with individuals to adapt the therapy based on their particular needs including the way we communicate, process information, structure sessions and work with emotional, sensory, relational or other individualities.
I recognise that neurodivergence intersects with mental health, identity, relationships, work and other aspects of life. My aim is to understand and support your experience in a non-pathologising way and develop approaches to therapy that work for you.
GSRD Affirming Practice
I have many years experience working with gender, sexuality and relationship diversity (GSRD).
My practice is informed by Pink Therapy UK and is affirming, welcoming, inclusive, non-judgemental and non-pathologising. I recognise that identity, relationships, mental health and wider life experiences can intersect in different ways.
Personality Difficulties and Emotional Regulation
I have experience of working with personality difficulties, including Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD), and with difficulties involving emotional regulation, relationships and self-esteem.
I draw on the principles from Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Compassion- Focussed Therapy (CFT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and mindfulness to support emotional regulation, distress tolerance, self-understanding, relationships and developing more helpful ways of responding to difficult thoughts and feelings.
Couples and Relationship Clients
Relationships can be rewarding, but they can also become difficult particularly when communication breaks down or the same conflicts keep repeating.
I work with couples/relationship partners experiencing difficulties including communication, conflict, loss of connection, trust, affairs, betrayal, parenting and other challenges within the relationship.
Improving communication is a particular area of my relationship work. I provide a balanced space where all partners feel heard, can work towards understanding patterns and finding effective ways of relating.
Mixed Neurotype Partners
I have particular experience working with mixed-neurotype relationships. This can include where one partner is neurodivergent and the other neurotypical, as well as where partners have different neurotypes, such as ADHD and autism. We can explore differences in communication, processing, expectations, emotional regulation, sensory needs, without assuming that either partner is the problem.
GSRD Partners
I also work affirmatively with GSRD partners, including trans and non binary partners and partners with diverse sexualities and relationship structures.
I aim to provide a space where all partners can work together on their relationship challenges without assumptions or judgement and without the burden of needing to 'educate' me as the therapist.
Additional Specialist Experience and Practice
Alongside my wider practice, I have additional training and experience in sexual trauma, sexual abuse and problematic sexual thoughts and behaviours.
I am a trained StopSo counsellor and undertake specialist work through StopSo referrals. I also support people affected by sexual trauma and abuse, and clients experiencing compulsive or problematic behaviours where these are causing distress or affecting relationships or everyday life.
How I work
There is no single therapeutic approach that works for everyone.
Whether you are coming to therapy because of a specific difficulty, a major life crisis, problems in a relationship, or simply because you know that you aren't feeling yourself, we can start by understanding what is happening for you and go from there.
I offer both long and short term therapy, depending on your needs. We will work collaboratively and review what is helpful as the therapy progresses.
My aim is to provide a safe, compassionate and non-judgemental space where you can make sense of your experiences, develop greater self-understanding and work towards meaningful change.
Fees
In person individual therapy - 50 mins: £70
Remote therapy - 50 mins - £65
Relationship/Couples therapy - 50 mins - £90
EMDR - 60 mins - £90
For relationship therapy and EMDR sessions can be extended where appropriate and priced accordingly.
I offer a limited number of concessionary spaces where available.
I also offer a free initial 30 min telephone or zoom discussion.
Training, qualifications & experience
- Certificate in Couple/Relationship Counselling. COSRT Accred. (Level 5)
- CPCAB Diploma in Online Therapeutic Supervision (Level 6)
- Certificate in Online and Telephone Counselling
- Diploma in Emotional Therapeutic Counselling (Level 5)
- Certificate in Counselling Supervision (Level 3)
- Advanced Practitioner Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) (Level 5)
- Certificate in Bereavement Awareness
- CPCAB Certificate in Counselling Studies (Level 3)
- PgDip in the Fundamentals of Psychotherapy and Counselling
Additional training includes: Attachment Theory, Existential Psychotherapy and Transpersonal Psychotherapy.
Alongside working in private practice, I was a Cruse Bereavement Volunteer for 14 years. I also worked as a Supervisor for Cruse Bereavement Care.
I have extensive experience of working for various organisations and charities including: Eating disorders, and LBGTQ support, anxiety and depression.
My background is in the Social Service working as an Employment Officer in the field of learning disability, physical and sensory disability. I have also worked in the field of personal injury/medico legal work.
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 National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society This Not For Profit association of counsellors and psychotherapists aim to support the counselling profession, members and training organisations. In 2013 the NCS register was accredited by the Professional Standards Authority under the Accredited Voluntary Register Scheme. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
National Council of Integrative Psychotherapists
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
Emotional Therapeutic Counselling
Therapies offered
Fees
£70.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
- Free initial 30 min initial consultation by telephone or video conferencing.
- £70 per 50 mins face to face counselling session.
- £65 per 50 min remote counselling session (zoom/WhatsApp/phone)
- Couples and Relationships:
- £ 90 per 50 min session remote or in person.
- EMDR - £90 per 60 min session remote or in person
- No cancellation fee as long as 24hr notice is given.
- No need to book and pay for block sessions.
- Please contact regarding concessions and reduced fees.
When I work
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Further information
Please contact me to discuss your individual counselling needs.
