I am a fully qualified Counsellor and Psychotherapist and a registered member of the British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP). I adhere to their ethical framework, for good practice, by holding full professional insurance, an enhanced DBS certificate and being committed to continual professional development and regular supervision.

Prior to becoming a psychotherapist I have a background of working in a caring capacity for over 25 years, in the private sector and the NHS. Within adult mental health services and learning disability/difficulty services. To further support the people I worked with I studied alternative therapies for 2 years becoming a Holistic Massage Practitioner and an Aromatherapist. This increased my awareness and interest in the close link between physical and emotional wellbeing. This insight, along with my own positive experience with counselling, prompted me to re-train.

I gained a first class Bachelor of Science, with Honours, in Humanistic and Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy from The Sherwood Institute in Nottingham, which was awarded by the University of Staffordshire.

Additional training which I have completed is as follows:

Awareness in Bereavement Care (2015)
Personality Disorder and Counselling (2015)
Mental Health First Aid Skills (2016)
Dementia Awareness (2016)
Working With Anger (2016)
Understanding Self-harm (2017
Sudden and Traumatic Death (2017)
FGM Awareness (2017)
Counselling Young People (2017)
Mental Health and the Body :Treating Trauma (2019)

My clinical experience includes working with adults in a variety of organisational settings including a counselling service for children and young adults, a bereavement counselling service and a counselling and support service for survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

The way I work
I have a strong belief that we all have the right and the ability to thrive, however through difficult past or present issues some people merely survive. At these times it can be beneficial to talk to someone who is trained in active listening.

My work is grounded in humanistic and integrative theories, which are both powerful and transformative. I take a holistic approach which reflects my belief that we all have within us the resources to become more fully ourselves and realise our unique potential. This natural growth process is most likely to happen when we feel fully accepted, respected and understood by a person who is real and committed to being alongside us. The way I work is unique to each person and is never reduced to a series of techniques but tailored to your own needs.

My intention is to create a space in which you can be freely who you are, where you can find your truth and what it means to be true to yourself (to be you). My aim is to support people to find their own way forward, to discover what resources they have, develop resilience and make choices that are of benefit to both themselves and the people they are in relationship with. I am available to working with you on any issue that feels important to you, and engaging in a process that is helpful and supportive to you.

Counselling is an opportunity to work through your problems and issues with someone who is professionally trained in active listening and in creating a safe, supportive and non-judgemental environment. This space can help you to clarify, understand, process and resolve problems and issues which are troubling you.

The purpose of therapy is not to give you advice, but rather to bring greater awareness to understand your internal and external experience. This can help you feel more empowered, more aware of yourself and your available choices.

Psychotherapy is all of the above, but tends to work at a deeper emotional or relational level. It works to heal inner unresolved conflicts or deeper emotional or psychological issues within yourself.