About me
Are you facing challenges, changes or choices - and finding that previous strategies just aren't helping anymore?
I'm Vicky, an integrative psychotherapist with almost 20 years as an NHS GP behind me. I understand both the emotional weight you're carrying and the physical reality of what you're experiencing.
You might be struggling with one or more of life's countless challenges:
Anxiety that steals your peace.
Depression that steals your joy.
Burnout that steals your energy.
Transitions that steal your identity.
Menopause that changes everything.
Health fears that dominate your mind.
Physical illness that limits your life.
Self-doubt that holds you back.
Young people who are struggling.
Neurodiversity that makes you feel different.
Here's what matters: you've been incredibly strong to get this far. You are facing real difficulties, and the strategies that have served you well are not enough anymore. I work with you with both passion and the compassion of someone who has walked the paths and rebuilt - and the professional expertise to help you find your way through.
There is something deeply rewarding about witnessing clients rediscover their spark - that moment when they realise they have more strength than they knew. When making changes feels possible rather than overwhelming. When clients start to genuinely enjoy life again. Together, you and I will uncover the strengths you already have and build a clear path forward with strategies that benefit you and your life.
Sometimes life asks more of us than we feel able to give. Life has a way of shifting beneath our feet, and one day you realise you don't quite feel like yourself anymore. You know something needs to change, but you're not sure what or how. Perhaps you're going through the motions, running on empty, while the joy and energy you once had seem just out of reach. The things that used to help aren't working anymore, and you're tired of just getting through each day rather than truly living and enjoying life.
My unique perspective comes from years as a GP before transitioning to psychotherapy. This medical background gives me deep insight into how our bodies hold and express emotional experiences - whether that's anxiety sitting in your chest, the exhaustion of depression, the complex interplay of hormonal changes and mood, or how physical health conditions affect your entire sense of self. I bring both clinical understanding and genuine compassion to every session.
In addition to my work with adults, I love working with young people because I have seen their needs through my voluntary work in a school setting, and observed how support can make a real difference to them in helping them reach their full potential.
I offer specialist support for:
· Life transitions and burnout, including career changes, personal upheavals
· Anxiety, depression, and health anxiety
· Self-esteem and identity challenges
· Neurodiversity-related experiences
· Menopause and midlife changes
· Living with physical health conditions
· Young people (aged 11+)
I work integratively, drawing from person-centred, psychodynamic, CBT and mindfulness approaches, tailoring our work to what serves you best. My consulting room is a warm, non-judgmental space where you can speak freely, know you can bring your whole self (including your struggles) and feel genuinely heard.
If this resonates with you, or you are curious to know how therapy might help you, I'd love to talk and have the opportunity to help you rediscover you.
If you're looking for support around a specific issue, or want to gain clarity quickly, I also offer Single Session Therapy, which is ideal if you're self-directed, have had previous therapy, or want focused support without committing to long-term work.
My practice is based in Guildford and Horsley, Surrey (as well as online).
I am called Dragonfly Psychotherapy for a reason: The dragonfly symbolises adaptability, change, transformation, and self-realisation, embodying the journey of growth and adaptability.
Training, qualifications & experience
I hold a Masters degree in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy from Roehampton University, and I am a registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) (member number 402603). I have worked with individuals facing a wide range of issues, and I continue to be passionate about helping people navigate life’s complexities with compassion and care.
Areas of Special Interest
- Anxiety, stress, and burnout
- Depression and low mood
- Chronic health conditions and their emotional impact
- Health Anxiety
- Neurodiversity
- Life transitions, such as career shifts, family changes, loss, the menopause or retirement
- Self-esteem, self-worth, and personal growth
Before embarking on my journey as a counsellor and psychotherapist, I spent 20 years working as a doctor in the NHS. This rich background gives me a broad and deep understanding of both the emotional and physical aspects of health, allowing me to bring a truly integrative perspective to my practice.
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
£95.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Further information
I know how much strength it takes to be here, reading these words. Life can feel overwhelming, lonely, or confusing, and you might be wondering if anyone truly understands what you're going through. I want you to know that I see you - your struggles matter, your story matters, and you matter.
You're already being brave just by considering reaching out. In our work together, there's no judgment, no pressure to be 'fixed,' and no timeline you need to follow. This is your safe space to be exactly where you are, to feel what you're feeling, and to gently explore what comes next. I'm here to walk alongside you with warmth and understanding as you write your next chapter - one filled with greater clarity, self-compassion, and hope.
In Charlie Mackesy's book The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse, the boy asks the horse “What's the bravest thing you've ever said?” to which the horse answers "Help". This book goes on to emphasise that asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but rather a courageous act of refusing to give up, mirroring my own ethos.
It can feel very difficult to reach out and make initial contact with a therapist, and I wholly understand this and try to make the process as straightforward as possible.
When you first make contact with me, we can arrange a 15-minute telephone call so that we can talk through the difficulties you are experiencing and whether there is something you are hoping to achieve through therapy. It’s okay if there isn’t something specific, sometimes it feels too complicated to untangle everything at first. We can talk through how we might be able to work together.
If you decide that you would like to work together with me on your difficulties, we will arrange an initial assessment appointment. This and subsequent sessions are 50 minutes in length. In the initial assessment, I am seeking to get a much more in-depth understanding of your difficulties, in order for us to be able to make a plan for working jointly towards your goals.
Our sessions are collaborative and tailored to your specific goals - whether you're looking for immediate relief from stress, seeking to understand and repair from past experiences, or working towards long-term personal growth. My background as a doctor means I bring a broad, informed perspective to our work, integrating my knowledge of both physical and mental health to support you holistically.
