About Me

My interest in counselling goes back over thirty years when I first discovered, as someone seeking help, how effective therapy could be.  I learned how liberating it can be for an individual to have the time and space to express anything they want in a safe and confidential setting.  This influenced my approach to counselling and my aim is always to offer those who come to me the same experience.  I work in a non-judgemental, warm, and empathic manner, helping you to explore your inner most thoughts and feelings.  In this way, I help you examine and determine the best solution for yourself enabling you to move forward.

My approach to counselling is based around integrative therapy, which brings together different elements of several therapies. Integrative therapists believe that there is no single approach that can effectively treat each person in all situations and so combine the most appropriate and essential components according to what is needed.

I have a certificate in Creative Therapy and find this an important and effective approach to support people. 

This is a different approach to ‘talking’ therapies, which can sometimes feel challenging!  Creative therapies take a softer approach, working through art and the imagination to offer a new way to communicate.

With Creative Therapy, there is no pressure to find the words to convey a feeling, no pressure to talk in detail about difficult or painful experiences.  It simply offers a safe space to explore feelings in a creative way. Creative Therapy allows you to create images in art, clay, sound, or sand for example, to represent the feelings and images inside you.  A picture is always worth a thousand words, and these images can 'speak' for you, with every image telling its own story and expression. This helps both you and I to understand your inner world and experiences.

Whether to use the creative option is always a free choice, and simply offers a way to easier communication between you and me. It is suitable for adults and children, both individually and in groups.

 I am also trained in Animal Assisted Therapy and Activities (AAT), using my companion dog and rabbits to help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Animals provide unconditional affection and comfort, and AAT is a way to express feelings using the pre-existing human-animal bond, easing loneliness, and encouraging exercise and playfulness.  AAT has been proven to help reduce blood pressure and improve overall cardiovascular health - when you interact with animals, your body releases calming endorphins and bonding hormones.  This improves your social, emotional, or cognitive functioning, and is effective for individuals, groups, and people with learning difficulties. AAT can add real joy and unconditional love to your life!

Qualifications and Training

I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP), bound by its Ethical Framework for good practice in counselling and psychotherapy. I attend monthly clinical supervision with a Qualified Supervisor in accordance with the guidelines and requirements of BACP to maintain therapeutic standards of practice.  http://www.bacp.co.uk/ethical_framework. 

I hold an enhanced Criminal Record Bureau (DBS) disclosure, certifying me as suitable for work with vulnerable adults and children. As a member of the online DBS update service I am able to keep my DBS certificate up to date and employers can check my DBS status free of charge.

I maintain Continued Professional Development to update my skills, broadening my experience by regularly attending courses and seminars.