About me
You may be reading this because you are feeling overwhelmed, distressed or just not like yourself.
I understand how overwhelming life can feel and I offer a calm, safe, supportive space to explore what is important for you.
You may be facing difficult challenges such as a loss of a loved one, a relationship or a job. You could be feeling debilitating anxiety, panic attacks and unable to function on a day-to-day basis. You might feel trapped in a cycle of arguments or feeling misunderstood in your relationships and feeling unable to make things better. You may be finding that past pain and distress such as childhood neglect and abuse are impacting you now.
I am mindful of how daunting reaching out for counselling can be and want you to feel safe, heard, not judged or rushed. We work at your pace and focus on what is important for you. Often clients tell me they learn so much about themselves from simply being listened to and are surprised what they share when they have the space to slow down, reflect on themselves and their experiences.
I am an integrative, relational therapist and draw on a range of theories and approaches in our work together. My core approach is humanistic, centred on exploring and understanding how it feels to be you, and helping you to realise your potential for growth. I draw on mindful CBT to support achievement of specific goals and to manage and overcome aspects of anxiety and stress. Transactional Analysis theory and process helps us to become aware of the past and present relational processes that are keeping you stuck and help you find a way forward.
Working together we could:
· Explore your experiences, feelings, sense of self and identity
· Help you to be more compassionate, kind and understanding to yourself
· Discover the patterns that are keeping you stuck in your relationships
· Understand how childhood experiences are affecting your life now and work through the impact of past trauma
· Help you to feel more present and purposeful and satisfied with life
First steps
I understand that choosing a therapist to work with isn't easy. If you think you might be interested in us working together, please get in touch by email, text or call and we can arrange a free consultation before you commit to anything. We can discuss your best hopes and worst fears about the process. I will do my best to answer any questions and address any concerns that you may have. If you decide then or later that you want to go ahead with an initial session we can make the arrangements.
Working with me
My practice is based in my discreet, comfortable, welcoming home therapy room in Horbury. It is within easy reach of Wakefield and Huddersfield and surrounding areas and 5 minutes drive from M1 Junction 40. There is ample, free off-road parking.
If getting to an appointment is a problem I offer telephone or online video (Zoom and Teams) sessions. It may be that you will feel more comfortable speaking about your issues from the comfort of your own home or have anxiety or disability and it is easier for you to use this facility.
I will always respond to you within 24 hours, please do check your junk/spam if you are still waiting for my reply after that time.
Training, qualifications & experience
- Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy (Level 7 Leeds Beckett University)
- Diploma in the Practice of Supervision (Leeds Centre for Psychological Development)
- BSc (Hons) Psychology (University of Huddersfield)
I undertake extensive ongoing professional training to continue to develop my knowledge, practice and therapy.
Specific training and experience
I am a neuroaffirmative practitioner with a special interest in and lots of experience of working with autistic and ADHD adults (including before and during diagnostic assessment)
Most recent training:
- Understanding Autism – The Open University
- A guide to mental health experiences and needs of autistic teenagers (National Autistic Society)
- Autism, stress and anxiety (National Autistic Society)
- Women and girls on Autistic Spectrum (National Autistic Society)
- Understanding ADHD – The Open University
- Understanding Dyslexia – The Open University
I have completed the Imago Couples training, and Imago theory underpins my understanding and practical approach to supporting individuals with relationship difficulties
I am a certified Rewind Technique practitioner for PTSD and phobias
Women’s Health – I am interested in the social and cultural context of women’s mental health and have studied:
- Exploring issues in women’s mental health (highlighting abortion, periods, fertility, menopause)
- Menopause: Symptoms, support and the role of exercise
I am a registered BACP member and support its ethical framework for good practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy.
I am fully insured and DBS checked.
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
Photos & videos
Fees
£55.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
I offer a free initial consultation for up to 20 minutes to help us get to know each other a little, to understand your needs from therapy and the process that will work for you.
Individual therapy sessions are generally 50 minutes and are £55
Concessions are available for student counsellors. Please contact me for further information
I will always respond to you within 24 hours, please do check your junk/spam if you are still waiting for my reply after that time.
