​Training and Experience​

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I have 14 years experience of training and practice in psychotherapy, working for various institutions such as universities, charities and the probation service, as well as running my own clinical practice.  I have a BA Hons in Counselling studies, and am a registered member of the BACP - the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. I'm due to complete my MSc in the Psychology of Mental Health and Wellbeing in March 2025.

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Background​

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I came to counselling via other professional lives. Prior to retraining in my late twenties I spent a decade working in professional theatre and teaching at a University, experiences that gave me a lived experience of creativity, growth, problem solving and a deep connection with personal narrative and the power that holds.

 

Approach

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My initial training was varied, and as a result I refer to myself as being an integrative practitioner.  I practice from a humanistic base, meaning that I align with the idea that clients are experts in themselves, given the space, acceptance and understanding to be honest with themselves about who they are and what they want.

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People learning who they are, how they feel and what they want, in their own time, and in their own way, seemed very respectful and very empowering to me.  I value autonomy and peoples right to self determine, and fully believe that given the right support, time, and acceptance that everyone is capable of this.  My solutions will not be your solutions, (though my experiences and training may help you find solutions you haven't yet considered) and only you know what they are (whether or not you know it, or how to recognise them yet).  My job is to help you find them.

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Even though I have a humanistic base, my integrative approach means I believe in taking solutions where we find them.  If that, for you, means taking from other psychological models, spiritual practices, coaching, self help books, meditation, exercise, food or otherwise I am open to helping you explore those options.  I believe all our parts are (or want to be) connected and working with our complexity and our contradictions, is sometimes where we make most progress. 

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 My client range is pretty diverse, however there are some things I'm particularly interested in and these often coincide with the experiences of students, which is why they're one of my specialisms. Developing autonomy, shedding identities that have been handed to us by other people, learning to feel less anxious and more capable in systems and environments that disempower us, and relating to and connecting with each other as our authentic selves, are all core themes that run through my interests, training and practice.​​

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In the counselling room, I'm warm, pragmatic, steady and open minded.  I often use humour, particularly when I'm explaining things, and believe as much can be healed through laughter as can through grief, but never at the expense of you or your experience.  I will treat everything you bring with the respect and the sincerity it deserves.  Perhaps one of the most misunderstood things about counselling is that it is not always sad, and not always dark.  We hold and explore a lot of hard, complicated and sad stuff in therapy, but therapy does not always need to be hard, complicated and sad.

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I am committed to my own personal and professional growth - I study, attend training and read and research in line with my current practice to make sure I remain up to date in my knowledge, and am constantly expanding my understanding and experience.

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I was a counselling client long before I became a counsellor and so I have learned to be both, which I hope will help me help you find your way through this part of your journey.

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