Background information

Training and qualifications:

I am a qualified integrative psychotherapist, able to draw on several therapeutic traditions which I feel may best suit your needs.

I specialise in Relationship Counselling, with an MA degree in Relationship Therapy, and an MSc degree in Social Policy and Social Work. I qualified as a Relate Counsellor in 2014.

In addition, I undertake an on-going programme of continuing professional development to keep my skills and knowledge up to date.

I completed a Diploma in Integrative Supervison of Individuals and Groups in October 2021.

I am a registered member of the BACP ( British Association of Counsellors and Pyschotherapists), and fully adhere to BACP ethical guidelines. 

I hold professional indemnity insurance and my work is fully supervised.

The Counselling Process:

I  provide counselling for both couples and individuals. One of the most important conditions needed for effective therapy is a close and trusting relationship between client and therapist. I aim to create a confidential, safe and supportive environment in which to help you explore the issues that you identify as being problematic.

We will decide together how long counselling should continue. I aim to provide as flexible a service as possible. We would usually expect to meet weekly, for 55 minutes. However, this can vary, according to your needs.  You can expect to meet with me for between 6-21 sessions, depending on the complexity of the issues involved.

Types of difficulties I may be able to help with:

Much of my counselling work involves helping people, either in couples, or on their own, to explore and resolve painful difficulties they have in getting along with their partners, family, friends, or work colleagues.

As well as discussing their current situation, I find it often helps clients to consider and explore the impact of their early life on their present difficulties. I believe that our early childhood relationships and life experiences create an important template for how we feel about ourselves, what we expect from other people and how we behave in our adult partnerships.

These early experiences of family life can also affect how we approach parenthood ourselves. 

Sometimes we find ourselves behaving in ways we do not understand or even like. Through counselling, we may be able to manage these things differently.

Apart from relationship difficulties, I may also be able to help with other situations in life where you are feeling stressed, anxious or stuck, and unable to resolve a problem on your own.

Important life transitions, such as moving to a new place, the birth of a new baby, developing a chronic health condition, children leaving home, redundancy or retirement can put people under great emotional strain. 

Sometimes you might feel you cannot talk to family or friends, and then having a trained and objective person to talk to can be very helpful. 

Professional Experience:

I have over 35 years experience of supporting people through life's difficulties, through developing, delivering and managing support services. These experiences have included managing a holistic advice, counselling and support service for women, managing and developing a therapeutic domestic abuse intervention programme for men and women, and as a key worker in a young family support service.

In addition to my private practice I also work with organisations as a supervisor, trainer, mentor and consultant on domestic abuse issues. I recently stepped down after many years of chairing a multi agency forum on domestic and sexual abuse.

If you are experiencing conflicts or difficulties in your personal or work relationships, and would like to explore the possibility of making changes to your situation, please contact me to discuss how I might be able to help.