Welcome to my website.

Please have a look around to find out more about me, see what I offer and decide if I might be the right counsellor for you.

My first experience of counselling was at 19 when I volunteered as a rape and sexual abuse counsellor. Since then I have worked in lots of different support roles before starting my formal counsellor training in 2009. I am an accredited member of the BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy) which means that I have undertaken further extensive assessment following my initial training.

I have counselled people from all walks of life with a variety of reasons for counselling. This includes depression, anxiety, self harm, abuse, suicidal thoughts, anger and identity issues. I also have a lot of experience working with young people aged 14 above – who I also counsel via a local charity.

Aside from direct counselling I have also run self-esteem groups, parent support groups, trained professionals on working with domestic abuse issues and worked on projects raising mental awareness for young people and professionals.

Qualifications:
BSc Psychology and Criminal Justice Studies (2002)
PGDip Humanistic Therapeutic Counselling (2011)
BACP accreditation (2016)

I have also done additional training in creative counselling, attachment theory, domestic and sexual abuse, child protection, trauma therapy and outdoor therapy.

We quite often get stuck in the narrative of what is going on for us that we can’t see a way to make a change, cope or even merely to see a different perspective. The phrase ‘Can’t see the woods for the trees’ springs to mind. Counselling is a way to get those thoughts and feelings unstuck and processed, to help make things clearer but not having to do it alone.

You can talk openly without having to censor yourself depending on who you are talking to. This is because you are talking to somebody who doesn’t have an agenda in the outcome or knowing that what you might tell them could have an impact on them or your relationship.

Counselling is about taking time to care for yourself. Self care can be particularly hard when you are feeling low or have a lot going on and so even an hour a week can make a difference.

Working through issues can be difficult at times but, when things do get hard, counselling can provide you with coping strategies that can help you to stay safe and move forward.

I have been counselling young people for over 7 years and, as well as private practice, work for a charity that counsels young people from 14-25 years old. Because of this I have a huge amount of experience working with issues and concerns that face young people today.

With mounting pressures both academically and socially, it is important for me to be able to offer them a safe space to be able to come and talk about whatever is on their minds. The sessions are confidential – which means that parents or carers won’t have updates or information about what is discussed in the sessions – but (as with any clients) serious concerns about harm to self or someone else may mean information needs to be shared outside of the room.

Whilst some young people are comfortable with the more traditional face to face style of counselling I have found that others find it difficult to have so much focus on them. It can also be hard for some young people to be able to explain in words what is going on for them. Therefore I offer – to those that are interested – a more creative approach using drawing, cards, figures and activities to explore and better understand their world and experiences.

 

In general I believe that my role is to empower clients to accept, manage or change their situations through helping them to understand their lives and who they are within them. People usually come to counselling when they are in crisis but I think counselling can also be used when things are calmer – both to prevent further crisis and to work on issues which aren’t possible when our days consist of just trying to survive.

People often think that counselling is a ‘one size fits all’ kind of a deal but actually everyone responds differently to various types of counselling. Because of this I draw on several counselling theories and techniques depending on what suits the individual client. Specifically I use Humanistic, CBT, Solution-focused and Gestalt philosophy and tools.

Aside from the more traditional counselling set up I also offer creative counselling to those who are interested in it. Some people can find talking about things painful, or not even be able to find the words to do so, and creative counselling can be another way of exploring whatever has brought them to counselling.

I love nature and the outdoors and am trained to offer outdoor therapy. This can be “walk and talk” style or using nature more proactively as part of the work we do. I have found that working outside can offer a different experience for clients – particularly those who find the idea of working indoors too intense – and many clients have found it an extremely helpful way of working.

Investment:

Initial session (50 mins): £25
This is a chance to meet and to decide between us if we are able to work together

Following sessions (50 mins): £50

If the outdoor therapy session location is more than 15 mins drive from East Grinstead an extra charge of £20 will be applied.

Fees can be paid by cash or cheque at the end of a session or by money transfer before the next session.

Location:

I currently have access to a rooms at the Jubilee Centre in East Grinstead and Lingfield Community Centre in Lingfield.

Contact:

If you have any questions or would like to book a session please give me a call on 07511539086 or fill in the enquiry form below. I am happy to give you a call or arrange things over email – depending what is easiest.