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About me

I am a Person-Centred and Integrative counsellor with eleven years experience of working with both adults and adolescents and over 5000 counselling hours. I have helped clients with a wide diversity of issues ranging from relationship difficulties, feelings of depression and anxiety, to more complex issues such as eating disorders, self-harm or trauma. It is my belief that psychological distress occurs when a person becomes unable to trust their own judgement, and becomes reliant on others to know what is  right for them. This can result in confusion and anxiety and lead to the manifestation of symptoms commonly associated with mental health conditions.

I have a particular interest in mental health and wellbeing, and the power that a mindful awareness of our own internal state can have in providing us with self-knowledge and the ability to regain a sense of control in our lives. I believe that counselling can help to foster this awareness as you allow yourself the space to listen to your emotions and understand your response to them.

 

My core approach as a therapist is Person-Centred, and as such, the focus of our work together will be on your own experience and your understanding of what is right for you. I believe that everyone has within them the information they need to understand themselves more deeply and to find the solutions which are right for them rather than following the advice of others as so many of us feel obligated to do.

 

Within a Person-Centred framework, I seek to integrate elements of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) where appropriate to help you if you feel stuck in negative cycles or ways of thinking. This can help you to understand ways in which your negative thinking patterns are creating difficulties in your relationship with yourself and others, and find practical solutions to challenge these.

I may also introduce ideas from Transactional Analysis (TA) as a way for you to identify issues which continually repeat themselves in your relationships with others and which you wish to change.

 

Training, qualifications and experience  

Qualifications:

  • Registered member of the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)

  • Graduate Member of the British Psychological Society (BPS)

  • Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (South Gloucestershire and Stroud College)

  • BSc (Hons) Degree in Psychology (1st Class)

Experience:

  • Five years working in Private Practice

  • Senior Counsellor with Teens in Crisis (TIC+) working as a school based counsellor

  • Experience of working within the NHS 2gether Trust as a Person-Centred Counsellor

  • Worked for Evesham & district Mental Health Support Services as a Person-Centred Counsellor

  • Counselling adolescents at Cotswold Counselling as part of their Young Person's Service

  • Offering listening support to clients at Suicide Crisis in Cheltenham

  • Support group facilitator at the Brownhills Eating Disorders clinic in Cheltenham

Training:

  • Seminar programme in working with Young People

  • Assist Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training

  • KUF Personality Disorder Awareness Training

  • Compassion Focused Therapy for Shame based Trauma

  • Post Qualifying Advanced Certificate in Working with Eating Disorders

  • Introductory Transactional Analysis 101

  • Advanced Specialist Training in Counselling Children and Young People

  • Certificate in Couples Counselling

  • Diploma in Eating Disorders

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