ABOUT ME
Since 2011, I’ve helped my clients work
through and heal from the experiences
that were holding them back from living
a fulfilled life, true to their own values.
I have compassionately listened to and supported my clients during some of their most difficult and painful times, providing a neutral, therapeutic presence, which can feel very different to support from friends and family.
I am an experienced, established counsellor and registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), with thousands of hours practice accrued within the NHS. I worked in an expert reference group for the BACP, co-writing the BACP Workplace counselling competence framework and I am the author of the supporting user guide for this framework.
I trained as a counsellor, following a career in HR and Marketing, as my compassion for people motivated me to work in a career that can bring solace, reduce feelings of loneliness and champion clients to engage in their own healing. and personal growth.
I worked within Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust for over ten years, progressing from Staff Counsellor, to Counselling Services Manager to Business and Operations Manager within an Occupational Health NHS Joint Venture. For eight of those years I managed counsellors and multiple counselling services, providing services to a variety of public sector organisations.
I am qualified in the approaches of Person-Centred Counselling and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Additionally, I am working towards certification in Imago Relationship Therapy, having completed the Foundation Course.
I deeply believe that you are the expert on your own life and I aim to provide the therapeutic conditions to enable you to explore, heal, grow, accept or clarify what you need to. This belief informed my decision to train in Person-Centred Therapy, where the therapy moves at the client's pace and is led by them, with room for supportive challenge, when the therapeutic relationship deepens.
When I had accrued years of experience as a Person-Centred Therapist I chose to train in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a value based approach, coined as "third wave" cognitive behavioural therapy. I find that ACT integrates well with a person-centred approach and adds the option of a more action based approach to therapy for clients who prefer to work with strategies and exercises.
While I can work in this integrative way, I explore with clients whether one approach or an integration of both could work well for what they are bringing and their own personality.
I began training in Imago Relationship Therapy, after reading extensively about the approach and admiring the way the session structures support a respectful exchange, creating potential for the relationship to flourish.
To read more about Person-Centred Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy or Imago Relationship Therapy please click here.
I have practiced in the specialisms of domestic abuse, obstetrics and gynaecological and workplace counselling.
I trained as a Clinical Supervisor following enjoying managing and mentoring counsellors within the NHS. I practice in a cyclical model approach. To read more about Clinical Supervision please click here.
Research has shown that the relationship between counsellor and client is more instrumental to counselling outcomes than the model of counselling used. I work hard to offer you a safe, supportive relationship you can utilise to achieve therapeutic change. I received extremely positive client feedback throughtout my NHS service and understand the importance of the client and counsellor relationship.
I commit to regular continuous professional development and clinical supervision to support maintaining my ability to provide you with a supportive, non-judgemental, accepting environment. In your counselling sessions I aim to make your experiences, successes and needs the most important focus in the room.
Please contact me if you wish to discuss what I can offer you and so you can decide if I am the right counsellor for you.
