You may well feel nervous on coming to counselling for the first time. But I will make every effort to ensure that the sessions are relaxed, friendly and informal while still being purposeful and worthwhile. 

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When you come to a session I want you to feel that you are being listened to and fully heard. I also want you to feel safe enough to be able to talk honestly and openly without thinking you are being in any way judged.

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I hope our sessions together will help you to gain insight and perspective, to tap into and understand some of your deeper feelings and emotions and to let go of them where appropriate. This will allow you to move forward in your life with more confidence and a greater sense of purpose and well-being.

What I can help you with

I work with adult clients of all ages on a wide range of issues, but especially anxiety related problems self-esteem, self-confidence and relationship issues. For information about these see our separate pages.

Other areas I work with include low-mood, loss,  bereavement, stress, and 'time of life' or age related worries and anxieties.

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'Time of life' problems can affect us at any stage and counselling can help us to deal with issues around our sense of identity and self-worth, as well as with the changes that can accompany these cross-roads in our life-journey.

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Mindfulness and Relaxation Strategies

In addition to being a qualified person-centred counsellor and member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, I am a trained hypnotherapist with a particular awareness of the ways mindfulness and relaxation can help with problems such as stress, anxiety and panic. 

This means that I have the experience to help you develop self-help and coping strategies alongside our main counselling work, if this is something that interests you. Strategies can be tailored according to individual preference and might include simple mindfulness, relaxation and grounding techniques.

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My Professional Background

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I trained as a Person Centred Counsellor later in life having previously worked as a journalist for a few years before embarking upon academic studies and later becoming a teaching and manager in a sixth form college.

 

My progression to counselling has been part of a natural evolution, grounded by an interest in people and their lives. Having the opportunity to help people to understand themselves more deeply and manage their feelings and emotions more effectively is a great privilege.

 

Before becoming a therapeutic counsellor I trained and then worked as hypnotherapist and was also involved in the tutoring of adult hypnotherapy and counselling skills students. It was on the basis of this experience that I then decided to become counsellor. 

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Training, qualifications & experience

 

• Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling - Level 5, BACP Accredited

• Certificate in Couples Counselling

• Diploma in Clinical and Analytical Hypnotherapy with Psychotherapy - Accredited by the General Hypnotherapy Standards Council

• Certificate in Counselling Skills - Level 3

• Emotional Freedom Technique – Level 2, AAMET

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Registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy