About me
Welcome. I know that taking the first step in looking for counselling can bring up many feelings. It might feel daunting, or you may feel ready to focus on yourself and have space to talk. However you’re feeling right now, I’d like to walk alongside you and find out more.
How I work:
Relationship is at the heart of my work, and I bring empathy and compassion, aiming to provide you with a space that feels safe so that you can be yourself and tell your story.
Sometimes when we experience trauma, difficulty or challenge in our lives, that feeling of safe connection, or attachment, to those around us can feel lost. Among other things, we might experience burn out, depression or anxiety, people please, have low self-esteem or low self-confidence, develop compulsive behaviours, or struggle with addiction. Often, we start to function in survival mode and this can show up in fight, flight or freeze responses in our mind and body, impacting your mental health and wellbeing.
I work as an integrative counsellor, which simply means I draw on a range of approaches and ideas, rather than working in one fixed way. Everyone is different, so we’ll spend time working out what feels most supportive for you as an individual. I see counselling as a shared exploration — an ongoing conversation where we think things through together, at your pace.
Some of the approaches that inform my work include attachment theory, which helps us understand how we relate to others and how those early patterns can show up in our lives now, polyvagal theory, which looks at how our nervous system responds to stress, trauma and feeling overwhelmed. I also work in an Internal Family Systems-informed way, which involves gently exploring the different “parts” of us — including those that may seem unhelpful or self-destructive at times, but are often trying to protect us from pain (for example, in the context of addiction).
Alongside this, I draw from Compassion Focused Therapy, Existential and Gestalt approaches, the core conditions of Person Centred counselling, as well as some CBT techniques and Motivational Interviewing. Occasionally, and only when it feels useful, I may suggest something to reflect on or try out between sessions.
What to expect from our sessions:
At the beginning of our work together, the focus will be on building a trusting relationship. Like any new connection, this takes time, and there’s no rush. We’ll explore what has brought you to counselling, what you’d like to be different, or what you might want more of in your life, and gently consider how change might happen.
My role is largely to listen — really listen. You’ll do most of the talking, while I may ask questions to help deepen understanding, or sometimes gently challenge something you’ve said. All of this is done with the aim of supporting you to reconnect with your own insight and inner resources. You are the expert on you.
I offer short or longer term work dependent on your requirements. I have experience of working with many different presenting issues including anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction and low self-esteem or self-worth. I have experience working with neurodiverse clients - particularly Autism and ADHD.
We will regularly check in and review our work together to make sure you feel like you're getting what you want and need from our sessions.
Training, qualifications & experience
People come to therapy for many different reasons — confusion, pain, curiosity, change, or simply the need to be heard. I have experience working with a wide range of concerns and offer a warm, non-judgemental space where you can explore whatever is happening for you, without pressure or fear of judgement.
My core qualifications are:
- Advanced Diploma in Integrative Counselling (Iron Mill College)
- BACP Registered Membership
- Certificate in Counselling (Bristol UWE)
In addition, I have completed the following:
- The Swan Project internal training programme (addiction counselling)
- SMART Recovery Facilitator (SMART Recovery)
- Mindline Listener and Peer Supporter training (Bristol Mind)
- Children and Young People’s Mental Health- Level 2 (Bath College)
Additional training I have undertaken includes:
- Embodied Awareness for Therapists - Iron Mill College
- Pre-trial Therapy for Victims of Rape and Sexual Abuse training with The Survivors Trust
- Understanding and working with Compulsive Sexual Behaviour with Magda Piesiewicz
- Compassion Focused Therapy for Trauma with Chris Irons
- Working with Complex Trauma - Iron Mill College
- Transitioning to Internal Family Systems with Natasha Wilson
- Working with Relational Trauma with Carolyn Spring
- Dealing with Distress: Working with Suicide and Self Harm with Carolyn Spring
- Safeguarding Adults and Children
- Working with Addiction with Phil Harris
- An Audience with Susie Orbach - talking about body image and disordered eating
- Recognising and Responding to the Impact of Domestic Abuse on Women's Mental Health
- Applying IFS Processes for Addictive Processes
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
Other areas of counselling I deal with
- Solo Parenting by Choice
- Solo Mothers by Choice
- Undertaking fertility treatment as a single person
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£65.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
My fee is £65 for 50 minutes.
I currently have limited daytime space on a Monday, Tuesday and on Wednesday afternoons at Vessel Spaces and on Wednesday and Thursday mornings at the Healing Rooms on Gloucester Road.
Please get in touch if you would like an initial, free, no obligation, 15 minute phone call so that you can ask any questions you may have, and to get an understanding of how we might work together.
I also offer some concessionary spaces for students and those on low incomes. Please get in touch for more info.
When I work
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early morning | |||||||
| Morning | |||||||
| Early afternoon | |||||||
| Late afternoon | |||||||
| Evening |
Further information
Problematic Substance Use and Addiction:
I have a lot of experience working with people who are in active addiction, in recovery, or focused on relapse prevention, as well as those who are beginning to question or feel concerned about their substance use.
I’ve gained this experience through my work as a Recovery Practitioner at a small Bristol charity called Hawkspring, through my placement at The Swan Project in Bristol, and through my work in private practice. Working across these different settings has given me a grounded understanding of both the practical side of reducing use or moving towards abstinence, and the deeper, more reflective work of making sense of what may have led to the addiction in the first place.
Addiction is very rarely a standalone issue. It’s often connected to past or present trauma, stress, or painful experiences. For many people, addictive behaviours begin as a way of coping or numbing, but over time can lead to feeling increasingly disconnected — from ourselves and from those around us.
Many of us are addicted to something, sometimes without even realising it. While we often hear about alcohol and drug use, addiction can show up in many other ways too, such as compulsive eating, exercise, work, phone use, sex or gambling.
In our work together, I can support you to gently explore what sits at the core of your addictive behaviour, while also offering practical tools and exercises to help you reduce or step away from your substance or behaviour — whatever that may be — at a pace that feels right for you.
