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From June I have additional availability for in-person sessions at Satori Complementary Therapy Centre in Wakefield, WF1. 

Taking the first step to access therapy can feel difficult, so please feel free to email, text or leave a voice message to arrange an informal call to discuss the possibility of therapy.

I am an accredited Counsellor & Psychotherapist with the British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy (Íø±¬ÃÅ). I work with adults (16 and above) offering in person and video sessions via Zoom. In-person sessions are located at the Satori Complementary Therapy Centre, Wakefield, WF1. I enjoy being a therapist and have also taught on counselling and psychotherapy courses for the past 4 years (at Leeds Beckett University and Metanoia Institute).

Life is full of challenges. At times we need help to find a way through. You may need support during a difficult time such as following a bereavement or end of relationship. You may be feeling dissatisfaction in life but don’t know where to start to make things better. You could be feeling overwhelmed due to work, parenting and / or caring responsibilities. You may be finding  something from the past such as childhood abuse or neglect or  elements of your upbringing are having an impact. You may be feeling confused about experiences you find yourself repeating such as unsatisfactory relationships or reacting to others in certain ways. Whether you require short-term support or want to engage in longer-term work, I may be able to help.

We could work together to:

• create a space for you to explore and better understand your situation

• help find your purpose and re-balance your priorities

• understand how patterns established in childhood may be affecting your life now

• help you to develop self-compassion

• work through the impact of past trauma

I have additional experience and training in working with people who:

•  were abused (physical, emotional, sexual) or neglected as children

• had parents with mental health difficulties / addictions

• find becoming a parent triggers their own childhood trauma

• are struggling following a loss such as a bereavement

• have a relative living with dementia

• have dementia or a learning disability 

I work with clients on a weekly basis. When people are approaching the end of therapy it may be possible to work together fortnightly, depending on availability. Usually the time of the slot is the same time each week..

I can offer a fee reduction for counselling and psychotherapy students. Please ask for further details.

I aim to provide a supportive space, where we can explore your reason for seeking therapy and we can work together to help you find a way forward. How we work and for how long will be unique to each person, depending on a range of factors such as finding the right pace for you and your availability i.e. how long you want to engage in regular sessions for.

Often people find that having a space to focus on their own needs, where these needs are really heard by a therapist, can be healing in itself. Often people find this is a different experience to sharing with friends and family as a therapist – people often tell me I’m more objective. By slowing things down and really trying to understand what’s happening internally for you (i.e. understanding your reactions, feelings and thoughts) and externally (i.e. your relationships, work, roles, cultural experiences) we may notice things you weren’t aware of before. In turn this may help us understand how you can  live more fully and feel more contented.

I am an integrative therapist which means I make use of a range of theories in our work together, including humanistic and psychodynamic theory. A psychodynamic approach can involve us trying to understand how the past influences the present and this may not be conscious / in your full awareness as we start therapy. A humanistic approach emphasises the unique potential for growth that all humans have, so I’ll aim to provide the right conditions to help you develop and grow.

I am unable to work with you if you know me personally or if I have worked with a close relative or friend. If you are unsure, please do ask. 

Teaching Experience

I am a Senior Lecturer in Psychotherapy at Metanoia Institute. I have also worked as a Senior Lecturer / Lecturer in Psychological Therapies and Mental Health at Leeds Beckett University. My teaching experience has included delivering lectures, experiential sessions, facilitating Personal and Professional Development / group process groups and facilitating counselling skills sessions. 

I have provided bereavement training for Cruse Bereavement Care as part of their national training team to a range of organisations and also delivered their bereavement volunteer training. I have also provided bereavement training on behalf of Leeds Bereavement Forum. 

Before I became a psychotherapist I delivered dementia training in the NHS as part of my role and worked as a National Trainer for Alzheimer's Society. 

Experience

As a counsellor and psychotherapist I have worked in private practice, bereavement services and in sexual violence services. I have also acted as a supervisor for Cruse Bereavement and delivered bereavement training on behalf of Leeds Bereavement Forum and Cruse Bereavement to volunteers and a range of organisations. I have a special interest in making bereavement support accessible for people with learning disabilities. I previously working for Alzheimers Society as a dementia trainer. 

I have a  private practice where I work with adult clients offering in person and video sessions via Zoom to clients across the UK. I also offer supervision. 

I am currently undertaking a PhD exploring the experiences of older adults who have been affected by sexual abuse. 

I am a relational, integrative therapist drawing strongly on humanistic and psychodynamic concepts. I am also influenced by the pluralistic approach and strive to apply trauma informed principles to my work. Depending on the specific needs of clients I integrate additional approaches exploring significant events and illuminating relational patterns, while holding the clients phenomenological experiencing mind. I may use elements of parts work, creative therapy (e.g. objects). I integrate neuro-biologically informed psycho-education, helping client to understand the basis of their trauma responses.

I have additional training and experience in the following areas:

-Working with adults who had were abused or neglected as children and/or whose parent/s or carers had mental health difficulties and/or addictions

-Working with survivors of of trauma, such as sexual violence

-Working with loss and bereavement

-Working with adults living with dementia and their carers

I am a counsellor, psychotherapist and supervisor. 

Experience

Initially, I trained as an occupational therapist, where I gained experience working in the NHS with people living with a range of conditions affecting their mental health, cognitive skills and physical health and abilities. This combined with placement experience in an NHS IAPT service means that I have skills in supporting people with mental health difficulties to navigate this complex system. 

I hold an MSc in Dementia Studies and my highest level counselling qualification is a Level 7 Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy, where I gained a distinction. 

As a counsellor and psychotherapist I have worked in private practice, bereavement services and in sexual violence services. I have also acted as a supervisor for Cruse Bereavement and delivered bereavement training on behalf of Leeds Bereavement Forum and Cruse Bereavement to volunteers and a range of organisations. I have a special interest in making bereavement support accessible for people with learning disabilities. 

Current Work

I work with adult clients from age 16+ offering in person and video sessions via Zoom to clients across the UK. I also offer supervision. I am currently focusing on supervising trainee therapists. 

I am also a Senior Lecturer in Psychotherapy at Metanoia Institute. I also undertaking a PhD exploring the experiences of older adults who have been affected by sexual abuse. 

How I work

I am a relational, integrative therapist  drawing strongly on humanistic and psychodynamic concepts. I am also influenced by the pluralistic approach and strive to apply trauma informed principles to my work. Depending on the specific needs of clients I integrate additional approaches exploring significant events and illuminating relational patterns, while holding the clients phenomenological experiencing mind. I may use elements of parts work, creative therapy (e.g. objects). I integrate neuro-biologically informed psycho-education, helping client to understand the basis of their trauma responses.

Supervision

My supervision experience includes supervising clinicians in the NHS, trainee therapists and volunteers at Cruse Bereavement. I have also written a Level 6 Distance Learning module on Supervision for students studying a Top-Up degree in Counselling at Leeds Beckett University.

I have been trained in the use of a number of supervision models including the 7 eyed model and the Cyclical Model.  However, the specific approach we take to  supervision will become unique to your own needs. We will explore your specific supervision needs, your goals and mandatory requirements of your course. I take a developmental approach to supervision, so the way we work will vary, depending on where you are in your training. We will work together to support your development into an independent practitioner. 

I offer a 20-30 minute chemistry session (no charge) to student therapists to help you decide if I am the right supervisor for you.