Íø±¬ÃÅ

I currently have some availability for new clients.

I offer appointments daytime and evening, Monday to Friday.  I work primarily in person, but also offer online and telephone counselling.

I am a person centred counsellor with more than 25 years experience.    Prior to qualifying as a counsellor, I was a lecturer and it was students often coming to me with their problems, as well as my own keen interest in personal development and self awareness,  that led me to train in counselling.  I also taught counselling part time for over ten years.

My counselling experience includes long and short term counselling in education, with NHS staff, industry and the voluntary sector.  I also have a private practice where I see  wide range of clients dealing with issues such as anxiety and depression, bereavement loss and change, difficult relationship situations such as bullying or abuse and the many other challenges that we can encounter in life.  

I have trained in other counselling approaches such as cbt, solution-focused, trans personal psychology and mindfulness, which I may use, occasionally, but always within a person centred framework.  Every client is unique, so therapy is tailored to meet individual needs and desired outcomes.

As I have also trained in person centred expressive therapy, clients may also use art, writing, journaling, movement or bodywork as part of their therapeutic journey.  However, this is never imposed, is always optional and completely up to the client.  Although only a minority of clients embrace this way of working, a creative approach can be very helpful.

I am based on the outskirts of Standish, near J.27 of the M6 so am convenient for Chorley, Wigan, Leyland, Preston and Warrington.  I endeavour to be flexible and work around client needs and availability as far as scheduling appointments is concerned   For example a client may want in person sessions, but car trouble or winter weather may make it easier to move to an online session for a while.

I provide a welcoming, comfortable and confidential space.  As a person centred counsellor I offer a supportive, empathic and non-judgmental relationship, within which life’s difficulties and painful situations can be explored, to gain the clarity to move forward in a happier and more positive way.  Therapy eases emotional pain as we gain insights and grow in self awareness and personal development. We can let go of so much that was holding us back, as fears and old wounds are released.  We develop new ways of approaching life and get to know ourselves at a deeper and more authentic level, so we know what needs to change and how to change it.  

I work from a home based practice, but I no longer have noisy young children, so clients can rest assured that my room is quiet, peaceful, and as a conservatory, it is at the rear of the house, accessed directly by an independent pathway.   There is plenty of parking on the road at the side.

Prior to committing to counselling I always offer potential clients a free half hour initial consultation.  This gives people an opportunity to meet and see if they  are comfortable with me and the way I work.  It also can clarify whether counselling is definitely the right step to take.  There is no obligation to commence counselling after this meeting.  

I offer appointments as flexibly as I can from Monday-Friday, daytime and evening.    

I currently have some availability for new supervisees

I am an experienced person-centred Counsellor and Counselling Supervisor. I have counselled and supervised within education, industry, EAPs, NHS and the voluntary sector. I have also run my own private practice for over 25 years.

I am well aware of the personal challenges of sitting with clients in distress and how our own self-awareness and self-care is a consistent priority. My own supervision has always been so important to me and given me so much that I would like to offer the same level of support to students and qualified counsellors.

As a supervisor I offer a collaborative and supportive space, where counsellors can talk about their work and explore their experiencing of clients, as well as discussing ethical dilemmas, organisational issues, cultivating skills etc

Supervision gives students and qualified counsellors a unique space, where they can finally discuss their work without risking confidentiality. That can be anything from focusing in on detailed client work and nuances within the therapeutic relationship, to a wider more objective look at their caseload as a whole, or to what might be happening for them personally or professionally, and if that may impact on their work.

If potential supervises would like to discuss their supervision requirements with me, I offer a free initial meting.

I am based on the outskirts of Standish, near Junction 27 of the M6  and offer appointments Monday-Friday, daytime and evening.  I offer online and in person appointments.

The first session is usually the free initial meeting, which is a discussion about what the potential supervisees may need or wish for within supervision.  It covers  basic information about timings, contracting, fees etc and it is also an opportunity for me to speak about how I work, what models of supervision and approaches I may include in my work.  

I would need some information about supervisee workplace, specialisms etc to ensure that we would be a 'good fit.'