ÌÇÐĹÙÍø

I try to work around my clients and have availability six days a week.  I have my own place for face to face working, although I am also available to work online if this suits you.  We could always have a hybrid arrangement depending on our availability and other commitments.  I really try to flex.

My place is easy to access by car, bus and train.  Happy to provide directions/what three words etc. 

I have wheelchair access, although we will need to discuss your wheelchair - size etc and the ramp needed for the back door.  

If you are struggling to get to me please contact me as I have some limited availability to visit. 

I work in a person centred way, with Person Centred Therapy, Gestalt and Transactional Analysis.  I work intuitively following your needs.  Some carry pain, others grief, and others confusion to my door. 

I follow your lead but will safely challenge you to work on your pain and its origins where appropriate.  Sometimes you may just need a safe space to talk and let out your feelings.

I work with young people aged 11 and upwards, in or out of school towards a better, safer future for each of them.  Many young people have had traumatic experiences at school/home affecting access to education.  I work with each child differently - they are all unique. 

I have varied experience with young people in many different roles, and many years of experience with young people on the spectrum.  I work with adults and children on the autistic spectrum, newly diagnosed and trying to understand a way forwards.

LGBTQIA+ - I have experience with young people going through medical transitionning and understand the extreme emotions from the mismatch between biological sex and gender identity.  Our sense of who we are is so important, and this is central to my work.  You may not even know the words to describe your pain, but discovering them is a part of healing and acceptance. 

I work with grieving clients needing to rationalise the loss they feel without a loved one.  Processing loss may mean re-living pain, and we grieve in different ways and at different rates.  Grief may start when your loved one is still living, when there is a terminal illness to manage - I can work long term through these painful periods. 

Anxiety, stress or depression are present for most of us at some time and I work with you to find a way to manage this

I also work with clients with, or having had medical conditions which are life threatening or life changing.  

I have been a nurse for many years, and have also been a solicitor.  I have been a Cub leader for over 10 years, and currently also train others in First Aid and CPR. 

You can expect honesty from me, and a safe space to unload.  I will be kind and respectful.  YOU are my client and you are at the heart of my work.

My practice is varied so that I am always learning and I learn every day about my clients and about myself.  If I feel that I need support in my work with you I have a Supervisor with whom I am able to talk about aspects of my work which are challenging.  This allows me to hold you in my work safely, and to comply with my ethical standards as a Counsellor.  Anything I say to her will never reveal your name, and in fact she will not know where I see you or whether we are in person or online. 

I provide a small but safe space for face to face counselling, and my practice is centred around accessibility, both physically and emotionally.  I want you to be able to access the painful thoughts which are affecting your life, maybe your work, study, or relationships.  In this way we are able to address ways of managing this pain. 

In our first session I will begin by outlining the need for confidentiality and any exceptions to my duty of confidentiality to you.   There are legal and ethical exceptions.  If you are under 18 I will invite your 'adult' to be with us for a few minutes so we can cover my duty of confidentiality, and payment arrangements.   

I will talk about our contract, and our responsibilities to each other, such as honest, good time-keeping and letting each other know about sessions we cannot make and holidays etc..  At this time I will ask more about what you are expecting or needing from counselling and the areas which you believe are at the centre of your difficulties or pain. 

I will let you know about my governing body, the ÌÇÐĹÙÍø, and also how to make a complaint if you are not happy with my work.  I will always do my best for you and hope that if you are unhappy we may work through this and learn.   

There will be a couple of surveys which we do generally as counsellors to help flag up concerns or worries, or areas we might start with or concentrate on.  You may feel that these are not helpful, but bear with me - sometimes these surveys throw up things neither of us expect!  Occasionally just answering a question can provoke emotions which are hidden and just having a safe space to let them out could be the beginning of our work. 

The session starts when you enter the room/online space with me, and our first session may seem a quite structured.  It is the same as any first appointment though - we are just starting to get to know each other and this will need time and curiosity.  I will ask about you and I will care about your needs.  Healing comes from within you, and whilst I may help you and guide you, healing is not a gift from me to you, but a gift you may recognise in yourself at some point in our time together.