About Me

I embarked on a career in counselling because it helped me through some difficult times, and I firmly believe it can help others too. Counselling can be hard work and emotionally challenging, but also rewarding and even enjoyable. It certainly does not have to be all serious.

 

I try to bring all aspects of my personality into my work with clients in the hope that my clients feel comfortable and safe enough to share their stories, feelings and experiences with me. By becoming more self-aware, clients might in this way find a more meaningful way forward.

 

I work in an integrative way as a counsellor which means I draw upon different theoretical approaches when I work with clients, rather than working with just one approach. I will tailor what I offer to you, the client, depending on your needs and requirements.

My Approach

My work is significantly influenced by  the  person-centred (humanistic) approach to counselling where the belief is that all human beings have the ability to fulfil their full potential provided the right conditions are present. However, I also draw significant  inspiration  from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Transactional Analysis, Solution-Focused and the Psychodynamic approaches to counselling, and the Systemic Approach for couples counselling. I am also a qualified and accredited EMDR Therapist - EMDR therapy is specifically aimed at dealing with trauma and distressing memories. Read more about Trauma Therapy here. I generally offer therapy on a weekly or bi-monthly basis to ensure momentum is gained in the work and that issues can be worked through consistently and safely.

 

Professional Bodies

  • Accredited Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)  and I am listed on the BACP RegisterThis register is also accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
  • Accredited Professional of National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS) and I am listed on the NCPS directory. This register is also accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
  • Member of  the Association for  Counselling and Therapy Online (ACTO).
  • EMDR Europe Accredited Practitioner and member of EMDR Association UK.

 

Current practice

Private Practice in Croydon and Online

  • Affiliated with Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) including Health Assured and Care first.
  • Approved by insurance companies: Nuffield Health, AXA Health, BUPA, WPA, Aviva and Vitality Health.
  • Clinical Supervisor to trainee and qualified counsellors.


Patient and Family Counsellor/Pschotherapist at a leading London Hospice

  • Offering therapy to patients and family members, mostly on a short-term basis as part of the psychosocial team.
  • Working as part of a multi-disciplinary pallitive care team and seeing clients in the hospice, virtually and in the community.
  • Clinical supervision (cover when required) for counselling students on placement.

 

Past Experience

  • Clinical Supervisor at a Shirley High School in Croydon (2018-2023). I offered group clinicial supervison to the counselling staff and counselling student volunteers.

  • Lead School Counsellor at a Shirley High School in Croydon (2016-2022). Service level agreement with the school to provide the counselling provision to all students. I offered placement opportunties to counsellors in training to complete clinical hours for their course requirements and clinicial supervison to the counselling student volunteers.

  • Affiliated with Workplace Options (2017-2019)
  • Affiliated with Victim Support Homicide Team in London where I offered counselling to people who had been affected by murder or manslaughter (2016-2019)
  • Online Counsellor with TalkLife Connect (2016)
  • Locum Lead School Counsellor in a  secondary school in the Royal Borough of Greenwich (2016)
  • School Counsellor in a secondary school in Bromley (2015-2016)
  • Counsellor at Bromley Community Counselling Service  (2015-2016)
  • Counsellor at Evolve Housing + Support - formerly South London YMCA (2014-2016)
  • Counsellor in a primary school in Croydon working for Place2Be (2013-2014)
  • Counsellor for Carers Support Merton in Mitcham (2013-2015)

 

Core Training

    • Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling Level 4 (CPCAB - 2013-2015)
    • Certificate in Counselling Studies Level 3 (CPCAB - 2013)
    • Certificate in Counselling Skills Level 2 (CPCAB - 2012)
    • Award in Introduction to Counselling Skills (CPCAB - 2012)


    Trauma Training

    • Attachment Focused/Informed EMDR (Mark Brayne - EMDR Focus - 2020)
    • Accredited EMDR Training Level 1, 2 & 3 (EMDR Academy - Matt Wesson - 2018-2019)
    • Introductory Certificate in Trauma Therapy (Wealden Institute - Joanna Beazley Richards - 2018-2019)


    Children and Young People

    • Level 5 Course in Counselling Children and Young People (CB Counsellor Training - 2019)
    • Certificate in Approaches to Counselling Children and Young People Level 4 (Aim Awards - 2018)


    Other Training

    • Couples Counselling Skills Course (Counselling Academy - 2018)
    • Diploma in Clinical Supervision (Pamela Nell Associates - 2018)
    • Certificate in Online Counselling Skills (OCST Online Counselling Services & Training - 2016)
    • Couples Counselling Certificate (Pamela Nell Associates - 2016)


      Additional events and workshops I have attended recently

      • An introduction to Internal Family Systems (Workshop)
      • An introduction to Family Constellations (Workshop)
      • The Psychotherapist as an Effective External Regulator (Workshop)
      • Healing Complex Trauma (Workshop)
      • DreamTechnique (Workshop)
      • Flash Technique to reduce distress (EMDR)
      • Attachment Focused EMDR
      • Sexuality and Gender (Workshop)
      • Eating Disorders (Workshop)
      • Borderline Personality Disorder (Workshop)