My experience and motivation

I have been a psychotherapeutic counsellor with several organisations in Bristol including the Swan Project, the charity Mind and the counselling services at Bristol University. I currently have my own private practice which I have been running for several years.

My experience of counselling means I am not afraid to feel my own difficult emotions or how to bear the unknown or uncertainties in life. I have been working through my own emotions and life traumas for many years in personal therapy and I believe I have developed an inner courage and resilience to be able to feel whatever needs to be felt and the power of having that witnessed by another. I have been helped by therapists to feel what I could not bear alone. I also understand that your journey in counselling is your own, but invite you to learn how to hold what feels unbearable and to gain freedom for yourself in being able to do so.

My qualifications

I obtained my Diploma in Humanistic Integrative counselling at Bath Centre of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BCPC) in Bath, in June 2018, which is accredited by UKCP (UK Council for Psychotherapists) and BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy).

I am also an accredited member of BACP (member number 380148) and abide by its Code of Ethics (2016). I attend regular supervision with an accredited and qualified supervisor to ensure my counselling work is both effective and ethical. I also undergo ongoing training and development in various areas in order to hone my counselling skills.

I have BA in Psychology and and an MSc in Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health.

My journey to counselling

I have wanted to be a counsellor for many years. I obtained my BA in Psychology and then decided at 21 that I needed more life experiences to be able to work with people in the field.

After undergoing many personal journeys, literal and metaphorical, and exploring many of my life issues that impeded my progress, I undertook voluntary work in developing countries including Peru, Bolivia and Thailand, adopting basic counselling skills. I also volunteered with the Red Cross in Spain.

I studied my counselling certificate at City University in 2009 and undertook my MSc in Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health at London Metropolitan in 2012. During this time I worked on my self-esteem and carried out projects enabling others' self-belief to be enhanced as I understood how limiting this might be.

My Experience

In my many earlier roles of coach, teacher and mentor, I have always been a counsellor in the sense that I am curious about people and what makes you tick and function, the lacks and challenges you might have experienced in your development, the difficulties and adversities you have had to overcome, and the strengths you have drawn on to do so.

I have then honed my professional skills and knowledge to support you in therapy to help you become your most thriving version of self or to find a quiet self-acceptance by re-finding your inner relationship with yourself.

I have worked with DHI (Developing Health and Independence) in Bristol, supporting people with addictions and dependency issues and their family members. I have also worked with the Swan Project in Bristol, in the student counselling services at Bristol University, and undertaken longer term counselling with the national Mind charity, working from their Bristol therapy rooms and with private clients.