For many years I worked within supported housing projects, including Women’s Aid, offering support, advice, information and advocacy for people who were experiencing homelessness, housing or tenancy difficulties, perhaps because of money problems, difficulties with drugs and/or alcohol, mental health issues including anxiety or depression, domestic violence, harassment, disability, relationship issues, learning difficulties, long term ill-health and so on.
Through my work it became clear to me that sometimes our individual lives take unexpected twists and turns that can be frightening and leave us feeling exposed, isolated, confused and vulnerable.
I felt privileged to hear many difficult and varied stories about relationships ending, ill-health, bereavement, a loss of identity, addiction, redundancy and the many other layered and complex reasons that resulted in homelessness and housing difficulties.
It is a simple fact that the everyday things in life that are often taken for granted can sometimes slip through our fingers.
I soon realised that working with people and being alongside them during their difficulties and their desire for change filled me with awe, interest and curiosity. I began to see that if each person is offered a safe place, filled with acceptance, openness, regard and understanding – without judgement, control or oppression – change may begin.
Unexpectedly, an opportunity to study and practice counselling simply extended this realisation. I had discovered something that filled me with passion and joy, reflection and challenge. I had embarked on a personal and professional lifelong journey.
Qualifications
BA (Hons) in Humanistic Counselling Practice
Post Graduate Certificate in Counselling Supervision
BACP Accreditation
Certificate in Online and Telephone Counselling
NCPS Senior Accreditation
Experience
I trained at the University of Nottingham and have a first class BA (Hons) in Humanistic Counselling Practice. My training embraced the Person-Centred approach and as such in my practice I hold each person as an individual of value and worth, who, given the right ‘conditions’ will flourish and grow.
I have counselled clients since 2006 and have experience working in the voluntary sector with Counselling Xtra, a generic counselling service, Nottingham Sexual Violence Support Services (Rape Crises) and the Carers Federation. In 2014 I set up my own independent, private counselling practice. I am privileged to have worked with many different clients with different histories, backgrounds, cultures, beliefs and concerns, who have taken all their courage to share and explore their difficulties with me. I therefore have counselling experience in different areas, some of which are listed below, and many of which I have attended training/workshops:
- Trauma
- Sexual abuse / violence
- Dissociation (DID)
- Self-confidence
- Bereavement
- Gender identity
- Dealing with distress: working with suicide and self harm
- Anxiety / Panic
- Relationship issues
- Sexuality
- Eating disorders
- Personal development
- ME / CFS / Fibromyalgia
- Living with long term/chronic health issues
- Domestic abuse / violence
- People trafficking
- Addiction
- Depression
NCPS Professional Membership
The NCPS (National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society) is a professional organisation that sets standards for membership. It also holds an accredited register of counsellors who have met the standards for registration. The NCPS and the register are there to help you to access good, ethical counselling.
I am a registered and senior accredited member of the NCPS. As such I meet the standards required for membership and registration, and regularly engage in supervision and continuing professional development, which may assure you of competency and professionalism. I also incorporate the NCPS Code of Ethical Practice into my counselling, and this means that I embrace guidelines about trust, confidentiality, your well-being, justice and equality.
You can find out more by clicking on the image below:
Continuing Professional Development
I strive to increase my awareness, understanding and knowledge of self, others and the counselling process through different mediums – radio, workshops, peers, training, lectures, films, and so on.
I embed equality, diversity and inclusion in my counselling practice and I consider this lifelong learning, and I am interested in working with and learning more about GSRD (gender, sexual and relationship diversity). I am passionate about politics and social responsibility, our relationship with our ecosystem, and I am fascinated by therapy and its influences on the wider community.