About me
I offer a blended approach to counselling and art psychotherapy using talking therapy, art therapy, or a combination of the two, depending on what feels most helpful for you.
You may be feeling stuck, overwhelmed, low, anxious, or struggling to make sense of a loss, a change, or a difficult experience. Something may not feel right, even if you can't yet put it into words. My approach is person-centred and collaborative, offering a gentle, non-judgemental space where we can explore what is troubling you at your own pace.
I won't tell you what to do or push you in any direction. Instead, I work alongside you to help you better understand where you are now, what you are struggling with, and what you want or need moving forward. Through this process, many people begin to feel clearer, and more able to make choices that feel right for them.
Many people seek support simply because they want a supportive space to reflect, heal, or find a clearer sense of direction.
I offer support and guidance for a wide range of issues including anxiety, depression, bereavement and loss of all kinds, relationship and workplace difficulties, plus other life issues that affect wellbeing. My specialist interest is in trauma. I am experienced in working with serving armed forces and reservist personnel, and veterans, and welcome enquiries from emergency services first responders and all within the blue light services.
I encourage you to reach out for an initial 30 minute discussion at no charge, giving you an opportunity to see if counselling with me feels right, ask questions, and decide without pressure.
Training, qualifications & experience
I hold a Doctorate in Professional Studies (Psychological Trauma), Masters degree in Art Psychotherapy and a Graduate Diploma in Psychology.
I have also completed studies in Trauma Focussed Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (imaginal and in vivo exposure therapy and trauma focussed cognitive therapy).
My experience spans twenty years and includes roles with the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the Leukaemia Foundation, SSAFA, the Red Cross, and the United Nations. I have worked with individuals and groups in diverse settings including a women's refuge, hospitals (supporting bone marrow transplant & other cancer patients, and their family members), community groups, humanitarian aid, and with serving armed forces personnel and veterans.
I have also provided psychosocial support to individuals recovering from physical and psychological injuries sustained in a terrorist bombing attack.
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 HCPC are an independent, UK-wide health regulator. They set standards of professional training, performance and conduct for 16 professions.
They keep a register of health professionals who meet their standards, and they take action if registered health professionals fall below those standards. They were created by a piece of legislation called the Health Professions Order 2001.
Registration means that a health professional meets national standards for their professional training, performance and conduct.
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.
The British Association of Art Therapists
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
The above list is not exhaustive. Please contact me for more information of how I may support the difficulties you are experiencing.
Therapies offered
Fees
£65.00 per session
Additional information
Concessions may be available for people with limited resources.
When I work
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Further information
I am a trained art psychotherapist and have undertaken additional studies in psychology. Since qualifying twenty years ago, I have continued to update my professional training, knowledge, and development through courses including Trauma-Focused Training, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and completed a Professional Doctorate in Psychological Trauma researching the subject of multiple sudden bereavements and cumulative grief.
I am a counselling art psychotherapist based in Blandford, Dorset with the skills and experience to provide support that uses both talking and/or art therapy. There is no 'one size fits all' approach to therapy and we will discuss at the outset how you feel most comfortable working, and review it as sessions progress. As an integrative therapist, there are various approaches I can utilise to best suit your requirements.
My role is to provide space and support to help you to examine your situation and identify choices and potential changes that you would like to make. It can be easier to talk to someone from outside your day-to-day life to help you to reflect on the difficulties or problems you are experiencing. We will take time to explore your situation together to help you to examine your thoughts and feelings and consider fresh perspectives, leading the way to increased self-awareness and new understanding.
