About me
I am a qualified psychodynamic counsellor specialising in work with children, teenagers, and young adults. Childhood, adolescence and early adulthood can be particularly challenging times, and it is not always easy to know who to turn to for support. Talking to family or friends can sometimes feel difficult, especially when young people worry about upsetting those close to them. Speaking with a counsellor who is separate from everyday life can offer a safe, confidential space and help relieve the burden of carrying things alone.
My aim is to build an accepting and trusting therapeutic relationship with each young person I work with. I provide a safe and supportive space where they can explore what is troubling them and begin to express their thoughts, feelings, and experiences at their own pace. In busy everyday life, we do not always have the opportunity to pause and reflect on what we are feeling, and having someone dedicated to listening and supporting you can be incredibly valuable. It is important to find a counsellor you feel comfortable with and able to connect to, and I place great importance on creating this sense of safety and trust.
Before training as a counsellor, I worked for over 25 years as a teacher, primarily as a SENDCo and learning support teacher. This experience has given me a strong understanding of children and young people and the challenges they may face both emotionally and within education.
Some children, particularly younger ones, may find it hard to talk directly about their feelings. In these cases, play can provide a natural and meaningful way for them to express worries and emotions. I offer the opportunity to work through play or through talking, depending on what feels most comfortable for each client.
Training, qualifications & experience
Masters Degree (MA) with Distinction in Psychodynamic Counselling Psychotherapy from The University of Essex
Registered Member of the BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy) .
I have experience of working with children and teenagers both in school and in private practice. I have many years of experience as a learning support teacher working 1:1 with children
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
£55.00 per session
Additional information
I offer a reduced fee structure based on financial need.
