About me
Counselling offers a unique, caring, non-judgmental, confidential space to focus on you.
I can help you with anxiety, stress, panic, depression, self-criticism, self-confidence, self-worth, self-acceptance, ageing, self-care, anger, sleep issues, relationship issues, grief, life crises, health issues, sexuality, abuse, conflict, trauma, trans-generational issues, repeating patterns, dissatisfaction, lack of purpose or meaning. Actually, anything that's getting in the way of you enjoying yourself and living your best life, whilst navigating the inevitable difficulties along the way.
Do you long to feel relaxed, grounded, strong, free, joyful, content, vibrant, spacious, open-hearted, valuable and purposeful? To like yourself? To unlock your vitality, creativity and agency? To be able to navigate relationships and setbacks with ease? Well, you've come to the right place.
Many of our troubles have their roots in coping mechanisms developed when we were younger (for example, criticising ourselves as a way of trying to avoid disapproval from parents). These mechanisms can become stuck patterns, limiting our ability to live fully.
Another cause of difficulty is a society or family where expressing, or even feeling emotion, is frowned upon as weak or inappropriate. This can leave pain stuck inside us, begging to be heard, often accompanied by a sense of shame and aloneness.
Counselling works by exploring and raising our awareness of the patterns, feelings, beliefs and thoughts that drive our behaviour. With more awareness and self-compassion comes more choice over how we deal with situations. Counselling works by learning that we are not alone with our issues and that there are genuine reasons for our troubles. It works by being able to express the pain we are carrying and by learning to develop self-compassion and value ourselves.
We’ll explore your situation, your feelings, your thoughts, wishes and what your body is telling you. We might get creative or playful. We will likely laugh. I’ll be myself in our relationship, not a blank screen or someone who’s ‘sorted’, but another human who also suffers. Mainly, I'll listen and ask questions but I'll also share my thoughts, feelings and personal experience when appropriate. We’ll pay attention to our relational dynamics as these will likely shed light on patterns outside therapy.
As counselling is a personal relationship, it’s useful to see a few of us until you find someone who feels right. This usually becomes clear in the first meeting. I also offer free telephone consultations before meetings so you can ask questions and get a feel for me. You can also email or text.
I work face to face, online and in nature. I can also visit you if you aren’t mobile.
Training, qualifications & experience
I am a BACP Registered counsellor with a diploma in Gestalt psychotherapeutic counselling and an MSc in executive coaching. I have significant training in mindfulness, self-acceptance, self-compassion, mind/body/emotion connection and Buddhist philosophy. I have worked in different mental health settings, including a hospital, a GP practice and various counselling organisations.
Before becoming a coach and counsellor, I spent 20 years leading humanitarian projects with people of different cultures in disadvantaged and war torn parts of the world. I have worked to chief executive and board level. My original training is in civil engineering (BSc) and public health (MSc).
In addition to my life experience and my training as a coach and counsellor, I have spent (and continue to spend) many years working through my own wounds and patterns. I am passionate about understanding what it is to be human, how we can be our true selves and live to the full from that place. I am committed to my own personal and professional development and have done additional training for 8 years at the Pacific Gestalt Institute in Los Angeles and 3 years at the International Gestalt Institute in Turin. I have fortnightly supervision and therapy. I regularly attend workshops, conferences and retreats. I meditate daily and belong to various inner work groups. This all allows me to keep up to date and offer a reflective, ethical practice. For fun, I love to spend time in nature with my dog. I also sing and play guitar and dabble in art, mosaic and jewellery making.
Member organisations
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
Therapies offered
Fees
£75.00 - £100.00
Free initial telephone session
When I work
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I'm available 7 days a week, daytimes and evenings.
