About

Here’s some information about my approach, qualifications and experience.

In summary, I am an experienced, BACP registered, integrative and psychotherapeutic counsellor. I have completed integrative, relational counselling training and further specialist therapy training (please see below). I have 9 years post-qualifying experience. I offer short or medium-term counselling (8 weeks, or up to 6 months) and also long-term counselling. This includes supporting people with stress, low mood, trauma recovery, complex relationships, parenting/carer challenges, loss and bereavement, addiction recovery, self-discovery, adjustment to diagnosis and long-term illness.

I have 15+ years experience working within psychology and healthcare teams in the NHS; with adults and older adults from all walks of life, many of whom were living with long-term neurological conditions – particularly dementia, and I also supported their carers/partners. I have worked within charities and agencies specialising in end of life and bereavement support/therapy, and also addiction recovery (mainly alcohol); supporting those in recovery and family members/partners affected by someone else’s substance use (past or present).

My personal and work experiences have brought a great deal of diversity into my life; getting to know individuals and families all over Bristol – from a white, female, middle-class, gender-questioning and neurodivergent perspective; I am grateful to have gained awareness of various cultures, beliefs, life stages, gender identities, sexual/relationship orientations, blended families and neurodiversities.

My Work Experience

The therapy, health and charitable settings I have worked with are mostly Bristol-based and include the Bristol Dementia Wellbeing Service, the SWAN Project, The Harbour, Forest of Avon Trust (‘Woodland Wellbeing’ groups) and Redcatch Community Garden (Art Therapy groups). Previously I worked for the UK Young Autism Project in Swansea, and as a healthcare assistant in various mental-health care settings in Wales and the Bristol area (NHS and private sector).

My Qualifications and CPD

Starting with the most recent: IFS (Internal Family Systems) Level 1, Diploma in Professional Studies Counselling from University of West of England (UWE), Counselling Certificate from UWE, MSc in Neuropsychology from Bristol University and a BSc in Psychology from Swansea University.

Ongoing CPD (Continuing Professional Development) involving courses, reading, writing, podcasts, groups – about grief & loss, trauma, abuse, recovery, healing, trauma-informed therapy, body-focused therapies, meditation, movement, neurodiversity, parenting, gender, sexuality, relationship status, peri-menopause/menopause, IFS, existential therapy, art therapy, creative writing and working therapeutically outdoors.

My Approach

I draw mainly from Person-Centred, Psychodynamic, Gestalt and Trauma-informed approaches including IFS, whilst bringing a neuropsychological perspective to understanding the brain-mind-body relationship. I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP), abide by its Code of Ethics and attend regular supervision with a qualified supervisor to ensure my counselling work is both ethical and effective.

I work relationally and creatively. ‘Some therapists combine creative activities with talking therapy as part of their sessions.’ (www.bacp.co.uk/about-therapy/types-of-therapy/creative-therapy). I am experienced in integrating various therapeutic approaches to best suit each person, which can include working therapeutically outdoors, such as ‘walk and talk’, or bringing natural items, ‘small world’ toys, or objects which are meaningful for you, into an indoor space to work with creatively. My experience also includes therapeutic drawing, writing, use of metaphors and imagery. There are many options for working creatively to help find the words for, or make sense of, feelings and experiences and the various ‘parts’ of our inner system or personality. A client once described this as ‘thought untangling’.

Research shows that the quality of the therapeutic relationship itself, is the most important element in creating an effective therapy process. I aim to offer you a calm, curious and connected presence, and a chance to be yourself, find yourself, understand your relationships and life circumstances (past and present) and move towards healing old wounds.

This is all possible.

I have experienced first hand how hard it can be to find a voice to express feelings such as sadness, anger, fear, guilt, shame, disgust, joy. With an attuned listening ear and compassionate responses, we can express all of this and more, and discover so much more about ourselves than ever imagined.

I am listening.

“A word after a word after a word is power.”

Margaret Atwood