About Me

• I believe that counselling can be a very powerful tool, to support all of us, when faced with life's challenges. 
• For the counselling process to be effective, I strongly believe the most important thing within counselling, is the relationship between us. 
• The building of trust between us is really important, so you feel safe to explore your feelings and emotions freely. 
• This requires the development of a positive rapport between us, where you feel understood. 
• To be heard and feel understood, is a very powerful therapeutic experience.   

• I achieved the Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling Practice / AIM Award Level 5 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling, in April 2019. 

• I achieved BACP certificate of proficiency and became a registered member in September 2019.

• I completed the Cruse Bereavement Care Foundation Course, because I have an interest in this field of work and I wanted to offer bereavement counselling; as this is a key area of interest. I added to this by completing a course created by The Foundation For Infant Loss. For parents, the loss of a child is never something that feels ok, on any level; regardless of the age of the child. However the grief process will be affected by the age of the child and each person's relationship and experience, will be unique to them. By studying this course specifically looking at infant loss; I feel I have a greater appreciation of how it may feel when you experience the loss of an infant, whether this is a loss that occurs during pregnancy, at the child's birth or following this period,; when you are getting to know your baby and suddenly they are no longer with you. 

• I achieved the OCST2 Diploma in Online Counselling Skills, to support my Online work with clients. 

• I completed The Foundation Certificate in Transactional Analysis (TA). This provides an additional relational perspective; which is useful for counselling practice and adds to what I can bring to our work together.

• I have completed courses on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for anxiety, depression, grief and loss. This is a very solution focused approach, looking at values and committed action for behavioural change. This can be very useful where you want to make changes but don't want to explore the reasons and the past. ACT is well suited to a solution-focused approach to counselling. 

• I achieved the Advanced Certificate in Couples Therapy, which builds on my interest in working with the challenges, that all relationships can bring to our lives. 

• I have attended training and achieved the competencies, to be able to work in a Trauma-Focused way with clients. This reflects the important of working in stages; initially supporting the safety and stabilisation phase; before considering any trauma processing. Techniques that can help with the second phase are Rewind Therapy and Imagery Rescripting work.

• I completed a Certificate in Diversity in Contemporary Relationships in July 2023, looking at the wide range of potential relationships which people may choose to have in their lives; challenging the traditional heterosexual, monogamous option as being right for everyone.

• I completed in December 2023 the Certificate in Psychosexual Relationships. This has built on the couples training and supports the use of a holistic model when looking at sexual issues people may experience as an individual and within relationships.

• I am qualified as a Certified Counselling Supervisor; providing supervision using The Seven Eyed Model.

I have been set up in Private Practice, working with adults over the age of 18, since August 2019 and am enjoying this work enormously. I constantly reflect on the sense of satisfaction working as a counsellor brings me and I feel very lucky to be doing something I enjoy so much.

As part of my face to face counselling training, I was privileged to work with clients with a range of issues. Often a key focus, was looking at a wide range of losses, such as relationship breakdowns, a lack of suitable housing and work options, a lack of a clear sense of purpose, sometimes leading to a sense of hopelessness. These experiences at times, led to strong feelings linked to a loss of identity and a real sense of uncertainty about life. Stress, depression and anxiety, were also often a factor; within the complex nature of the struggles, people were trying to work their way through. 

During the completion of the Diploma in Online Counselling, I was able to work experientially with my peers and use all of the different mediums; as well as learn about best practice standards, for this way of working.  This was important, so I would know what it feels like to be the person accessing counselling this way. Since qualifying in this and throughout the period of Covid-19, I have been able to use these new skills across all of the different online modes and can say with confidence, that these services continue to meet clients needs very well. 

Please note I am only able to work with individuals resident in the UK.

Previously I had a 20 year career in nursing, so worked with people in distress, due to a range of health conditions. During this time I completed a degree in Gerontology (care of the older adult), as I had a special interest at that time, in working with older people. This complemented my work with older people with Dementia and their families and was the focus of my dissertation. I also completed a District Nursing qualification and worked in the district, providing a wide range of services to meet the needs of patients with long-term conditions and often terminal conditions and their families. 

The knowledge I gained through my educational activities and within nursing as a career; I believe, is transferable to counselling practice. I feel this enables me to relate to people's experiences, a little more easily. 

I then spent 10 years in education, working in a further education college, supporting students on Health and Social Care courses and Apprenticeships. This often involved supporting students with emotional difficulties, as well as their course requirements. Anxiety and stress were understandably, frequently issues experienced and helping students achieve qualifications, despite these challenges, was rewarding.