About me
How psychotherapy can help:
At times we are confronted by difficulties in life which can become overwhelming. We may want to seek support, tell our story, and perhaps feel and more deeply understand these challenging life events.
We may feel our energy, vitality and joy for life has been diminished. Or perhaps stuck or confused about our way forward. Signals and symptoms may emerge such as increased anxiety, panic, depression, addiction and other embodied health concerns.
These signals and symptoms can be clues and indicators that things are not right and you need to take care of yourself. Often we attempt to solve our problems with short term solutions. Sometimes we may make attempts to cope and manage difficult times by escaping from them. This can frequently make us feel worse and leave us feeling more stuck and in a cycle of unhelpful behaviours and relationship patterns.
Therapy can provide an experience of being with an interested and attuned listener. The psychotherapist can provide a supportive and focused space while you explore difficulties or dissatisfaction. The aim is always to guide clients to work out what they need to do for themselves. It is not about giving clients the answers or telling them what to do. Rather, psychotherapy is about working in compassionate collaboration to support clients to make sense of their unique lived experience, whilst regaining trust in themselves and hope in life.
Therapy can provide the possibility to reshape your relationship to being in the world. It can be an opportunity to consider what has happened, what matters now, and what you would like for yourself going forward (in a meaningful way). Perhaps providing awareness that we are not fixed and that there is possibility within the inevitable experiences of both joy and adversity. Viewing these experiences as potential opportunities to learn and live with more integrity and authenticity. The process may take time, and undoubtedly takes courage, commitment, and responsibility.
My Approach:
My relationally centred approach to psychotherapy aims to enable clients to experience a genuine and caring relationship, where they can reach a deeper level of understanding about who they are, as well as the experiences and relationships they have had and what they value now and in the future.
Each lived experience is different and I offer a safe space to listen and unfold what has happened. Together we can pay attention and understand what your difficulties are disclosing to you about being in relationship to yourself, others and the world. I will support you to explore what matters to you and how to move forward with that in mind.
I typically work with people on an open ended basis. However, I am happy to work short term with clients if agreed.
My doctoral research interest was in existential sexuality. I explored intimacy, desire, vitality and awareness. The research focused on women’s meaning and experience of being sexual in consensually non-monogamous relationships.
I am a qualified counselling psychologist (HCPC registered) and an existential psychotherapist (UKCP). Existential therapy is my main way of working but I use other approaches to inform my work too. I am informed by both philosophy and psychological theory. I have training and experience of working with other modalities including psychodynamic and third wave CBT approaches including Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Compassion Focus Therapy (CFT).
I also have psychologically centred assessment, training and development experience whilst working as a business psychologist in the UK and the United Arab Emirates. My area of expertise is leadership assessment, development and stress management. Additionally, I have spent many years training in yoga and meditation. Deep awareness and a somatically focused exploration of our lived embodied experience is incorporated into all my work.
Training, qualifications & experience
Counselling psychologist (HCPC- registered) and UKCP-registered existential psychotherapist, with a Masters in organisational psychology. Over 16 years of working across counselling and business psychology, psychotherapy and bodywork (including biodynamic massage, yoga teaching, and Zen Buddhism and somatic meditation training).
A deep regard for aliveness, creativity, self-enquiry, curiosity, generosity and openness, with a keen interest in the conditions of transformation.
Working therapeutically with individuals, couples, and groups, bringing an embodied and reflective person-centred stance and a critical phenomenological view of structures and systems developed through many years of diverse embodied and psychological trainings.
My clinical experience spans NHS, charitable, and private practice settings, working with adults and couples existentially, psychologically, and relationally. I combine clinical and philosophical depth with an organisational psychology background to therapy, teaching, supervision, and training.
Experienced in working with diverse cultures, in the UK and internationally (UAE, Asia, Europe).
Education:
- DCPsych Doctorate in Counselling Psychology and Psychotherapy, NSPC/Middlesex University.
- PG Dip Counselling Psychology; Foundation Certificate in Psychotherapy, Counselling and Coaching, NSPC/Middlesex University.
- MSc Organisational and Occupational Psychology, Surrey University.
- Graduate Conversion in Psychology, London Metropolitan University
- BSc (Hons) Sociology, Bristol University
- Certificate of Competence in Occupational Testing (Levels A, B & B+); trained in HPI, HDS, MVPI
- Teacher Training in Dynamic Yoga Method
Publications and professional writing:
Doctoral Thesis: Sexual Becomings: Being Sexual in and as a Process of Becoming
Contributing writer, Brighton and Hove Psychotherapy blog exploring existential themes in psychotherapy
Published in the Society of Existential Analysis journal (peer-reviewed) and the Hermeneutic Circular
I worked as an honorary counselling psychologist and psychotherapist in training in two NHS clinical health psychology departments, as part of my doctoral programme:
- NHS Sussex Partnership trust - clinical health psychology department.
I worked long and short term with clients struggling with cardiac and diabetic conditions. Additionally, I worked in the psychosexual department working with clients with sexual and relationship concerns.
Other clinical placements:
- The Rock Clinic: (Brighton and Hove)
Working with clients with a broad range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, loss, sexual and relationship issues.
Other Professional Qualifications and Registrations:
- Registered member: (HCPC) (UKCP)
- Certificate of Competence in Occupational Testing. Level A,B, B+;HPI, HDS, MVPI.
- Teacher of the Dynamic Yoga training method.
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.
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.
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
- Life transitions
- Love, sex and intimacy
Fees
Additional information
Counselling fees and payment:
Adults (50-minute session)
- Early Morning: 6am-9am £150
- Daytime: £130
- Evening: 5pm-10pm £150
We may agree to a lower fee depending on your circumstances. This can be discussed at assessment.
Further information
I am available for both online sessions and have face to face clinics in the following locations:
- Cumbria
- London
- East Sussex - Brighton and Hove
Please get in touch to discuss clinic options.
