About me
Do you feel different to people around you? Misunderstood by the world? Let down by the usual advice that only seems to work for other people? Stuck in a life that feels exhausting and not at at all what you hoped it would be?
This is a common experience for neurodivergent people – especially autistic, ADHD or AuDHD people – and also a common feeling among people who grew up in volatile or unhappy families. If that sounds like you, it's possible you have never spoken to anyone who can really understand your problems before. No wonder it is hard to understand what is going on yourself.
If you want to work with someone who will 'get it' from the first session, and can help you get to the root of your problems, I may be a good match for you.
I have a track record of working with people long-term, sometimes over several years, as they figure out who they are and make changes in life to suit them. If it sounds like I could help you, please do get in touch.
You may want to work with me if:
- You think you may be autistic or ADHD but aren't sure. I have worked with many people who were self-diagnosed or questioning if they might be neurodivergent. It can be useful to talk this through with someone and explore the nuances of it, such as what it means for you, whether you want to be 'out' to others, and whether you need a formal diagnosis at all.
- You are unhappy at work or unsure what career to pursue. Difficulty in office jobs is particularly common for neurodivergent people, and it can be hard to figure out how to make work more bearable. I can help you to work out if there are changes that can make your job more fulfilling, or if it's time to branch out into something new.
- You're an adult student looking for support. I have extensive experience supporting people completing degrees and post-graduate study, especially autistic and ADHD students. This is often a highly stressful time in life and it can be useful to talk to someone who has been there. We can discuss strategies and approaches for revision, studying, sleep issues and social anxieties; whatever is in the way, we can overcome it.
- Your life feels meaningless or aimless and you feel depressed. This is a common experience, especially in your 20s, or in mid-life after becoming a parent or achieving some success. I take an existential approach to therapy that rejects easy answers and encourages you to go deeper into what life is and how you want to spend yours. This can be the start of a more meaningful, more authentic next chapter for you.
- You have chronic health problems that feel related to your struggles. Many autistic people especially suffer from chronic issues such as POTS or EDS, and many people from traumatic family backgrounds suffer from ME/CFS or other chronic issues with sleep or illness. These are medical issues but therapy can often make them more bearable – and even lead to changes in mood and lifestyle that reduce flare-ups and pain.
- You know a difficult childhood is affecting your life today. We live in worlds shaped by our experiences when we were small. Whether you were neglected or bullied, overworked or ignored, the black sheep of the family or the perfect golden child, the strain of what you went through back then is sure to be playing a part in your life today. I can help you explore what's happening, why, and how you can change the story.
How I work
My training is in the person-centred approach, which is all about accepting you as you are in a way that is radical and transformative. The heart of my training was about becoming an authentic, trustworthy person who strives to understand himself, so that I can offer you a safe relationship where feelings and needs can be expressed without fear of being judged.
I am a fully qualified person-centred therapist and a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, the country's largest professional body for therapists.
How long will we work together for?
That will be your choice. I have worked with some clients for several years, and with some for just a few weeks. I will be happy to be your therapist for as long as you find our work together useful.
How to book a session with me
Email me using the button on this site, or via the Contact Me page on my website. Let me know a little about what you are seeking help with, plus what times would suit you for a 50-minute introductory session.
Training, qualifications & experience
- Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
- Certificate in Therapeutic Counselling
- Certificate in Intimate Partner Therapy
- BA Politics, Philosophy & Economics
Before working professionally as a therapist, I volunteered for five years for the charity Counselling Initiatives in north London, offering long-term therapy to people on low incomes. In my previous career I was an editor at a broadsheet newspaper.
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
£80.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
I offer a free introductory call for you to meet me and find out if we can work together. If we decide to work together, my standard rate for weekly sessions is £80.
When I work
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Further information
I work online, usually over Zoom, in weekly sessions of 50 minutes each. Because I work online only, you will need to find yourself a safe and private space where you can talk to me without fear of being overheard or interrupted. If Zoom is not an option for you, I can use Skype, WhatsApp or Google Meets instead.
Our first session will be 50 minutes like any other. I will begin by explaining the key things you need to know about how therapy works and I may ask one or two questions if there are things I need to know based on what you have told me before we meet. The rest of the session will be free-form, and we will focus on what you want to talk about and what has brought you into therapy.
