Who?

Individual therapy gives you time, space & a therapeutic relationship that will help you find solutions to problems you are having.

I would meet with you for an initial 50 minute session so we can discuss your needs & aims & see if we'd like to work together. 

Normally I'd see you once a week & I find that as issues become resolved, you & I will know when counselling comes to a natural & agreed end.

Couples Counselling is different to individual counselling in that it is the relationship that is the client & the dynamics within that relationship. 

I will help you understand what is & isn't working, why & how to communicate more effectively so that you both feel heard & listened to. 

Couples can come to counselling wanting to work together to resolve their issues, or not sure what they wish to do in terms of moving forwards, or to separate. 

I will help facilitate change.

I work with children & young people from the age of 12. Teenage years can be tough, children & young people are particularly vulnerable in today's world & face multiple pressures from school, family & friends.

A private & unbiased space, with a neutral third party, where you can talk & be heard can help take the pressure off & allow you to explore problems you are having.

Depression & anxiety affect your day-to-day living, robbing you of any sense of peace, love, fulfilment & hope for your future. Your motivation can be seriously limited - some days you may not be able to get out of bed - & your day-to-day functioning can be severely impaired. 

I will help you navigate through the aloneness of these mood disorders to a place where you can begin to enjoy life again, or even to enjoy life for the first time.

Phobias & Panic attacks can be very frightening. Phobias are an intense fear of something that appears dangerous or threatening to you. Panic attacks feel unpredictable & terrifying & often when you are experiencing a panic attack you can think you are seriously unwell or even dying. 

I will help you to understand your phobias, your reactions & we will work together to identify triggers. I will help you & teach you how to cope & de-escalate when triggered so in time you will learn to manage them more effectively. 

This will lead you towards having more confidence and a greater freedom.

Bereavement & Loss can leave us feeling bewildered, swinging from one intense emotion to another, & very lost ourselves. 

There are no typical grief responses, everyone reacts differently. For some grief is delayed or repressed & for others they are stuck, seemingly frozen in their grief. 

I will come alongside you & help you come to terms with your loss; whether it is the death of a loved one, a shock or trauma, or the death of a dream. Or the loss of  what could or should have been.

Being abused at any stage in life can leave lasting effects on our sense of self, sense of safety & our ability to be in the world & in our own lives. Abuse/trauma at any age can leave us with emotional difficulties, relationship difficulties & functioning difficulties long after the abuse has ended.

Talking about your experiences, in your own time, in a safe, non-judgemental space leads to greater understanding of the impact of trauma on your life, then & now.

With time, reflection & space you can make sense of your reactions to trauma & begin to make changes that will help you to heal.

Trauma is never 'simple' & it effects everyone differently, however, in some cases where the trauma has been repeated, began early in life & lasted a long time, the effects on your life can be devastating.

Complex trauma has an array of 'symptoms' in later life; such as flashbacks, sleep disturbance, anxiety, mood changes, dissociation, derealisation, depersonalisation, poor self-image & a sense of 'emptiness' which can cause a lack of 'connection' with yourself & to other people around you. These defences you learned helped you to survive at the time, but they can feel redundant in adulthood & interfere with your ability to freely live your life.

By identifying, talking about & processing these experiences, you can learn to to understand & connect to the defences you developed, giving you greater control & allowing you to build fuller & more present life.

You may have sought help before from a therapist, or from NHS mental health services which you have found to be harmful. I understand the extra layer of difficulty you have when considering seeking help again.

Sadly what's available often isn't what's needed & often, pressures on services can be passed on to service users in the form of poor, neglectful or abusive care. 

Before you can begin to work on what brought you to therapy, you will need to learn to feel safe again, safe to be with a health professional, & safe to freely talk about your experiences. By doing so, with someone who has no bias & no judgement, you can move on from previous experiences & focus on yourself.