One of the most important factors in whether or not your therapy will be successful is your relationship with your therapist. It’s really important that you find the right fit for you, and I recommend that you speak to a few therapists with this in mind. I hope this website gives you a sense of who I am.
My APPROACH
I trained as an integrative counsellor and psychotherapist, which means I trained in a few different approaches. I think it is helpful to be able to adjust my approach to clients’ needs as their therapy evolves. I bring together three approaches:
Person-centred, focused on creating a non-judgemental and empathetic space, and supporting you to understand what you want and who you really are.
Psychodynamic, focused on the ‘presenting past’ - how the past is impacting you now in your life. We might also look at how you relate to yourself and others.
Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy, where we work to identify triggers, unhelpful beliefs and patterns, and work to actively change thoughts and behaviours.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reintegration) Therapy. EMDR is effective in treating individuals who have experienced psychological difficulties arising from traumatic experiences, such as assault, road traffic accidents, war trauma, torture, natural or man-made disasters, sexual abuse and childhood neglect. EMDR is also used to treat symptoms which are not necessarily trauma-related, such as panic disorder, phobias, performance anxiety, self-esteem issues and other anxiety-related disorders. EMDR is integrates many of the successful elements of a range of therapeutic approaches in combination with eye movements or other forms of alternative dual attention stimulation, such as alternative hand-tapping or alternative audio tones, which appear to stimulate the brain's information processing system.
I work collaboratively with you, and we are curious together as we try and figure things out. I work on both a short or long term basis, depending on your needs. I used to work as a psychotherapist at the Priory Woking, as a bereavement and end of life counsellor at Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice, and at a local college. I now work only in private practice.
PREVIOUS LIFE
Before I became a therapist, I worked in the financial sector, in government, and then at director level in the international not-for-profit sector. I spent a number of years living overseas in Europe, sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia. I loved that work, but wanted to work in something where I had a more direct connection with people, with less jet lag. My own experience of therapy brought tremendous benefits, and I wanted to open up that possibility for others.
My CREDENTIALS
I am BACP-Accredited, which means that I have met my professional body’s higher standard as a competent, ethical and independent practitioner.
MA in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy (University of Roehampton).
Qualified EMDR practitioner. EMDR Parts 1, 2 & 3, Richman Accredited EMDR training.
Certificate of Higher Education in Counselling and Counselling Skills (Birkbeck University).
MSc in International Development, Birkbeck University.
BA (Hons) French and Italian, Durham University.
I have an enhanced DBS.