I have over seven years' professional and academic training in psychotherapy and counselling, underpinned by a lifelong commitment to learning and personal development. Originally, my background was in research in the biological sciences followed by a career in accountancy. However, I have now spent many years in a variety of different settings, supporting people of all ages and backgrounds with their mental health and emotional wellbeing.
Although I now work full time with adults and young people in private practice, I previously worked in the third sector both in a community counselling service seeing clients for the NHS and as a school and youth service based child and adolescent counsellor. I also spent several years in a supervisory role for a national mental health crisis helpline, and have worked in bereavement support as well as in a social inclusion service.
I became interested in becoming a psychotherapist through engaging in my own personal therapy, and the years I have spent working with my own integrative psychotherapist has been a key factor both in my therapeutic training and personal development.
As well as giving me a deep appreciation for the complexity of the therapeutic process, partaking in my own psychotherapy has also given me a sensitivity to the courage and desire it takes to come to therapy and means I share the common experience of encountering difficulties, seeking help and figuring out how to thrive. Whilst this doesn't mean I will immediately understand your situation, it does mean I can vouch for the effectiveness of therapy and truly believe it can work for you as well.
Professional
Formal Qualifications
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MSc Integrative Psychotherapy (Distinction)
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GCert Integrative Counselling (Distinction)
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CPCAB certificate counselling skills for working with Children
My Core Training
My core training in psychotherapy was conducted through a UKCP-accredited, master's-level program spanning six years.
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This in-depth and comprehensive training required ongoing weekly personal therapy throughout, and extensive clinical practice and supervision far exceeding the requirements of many other professional bodies. These rigorous standards ensure high quality practice and underscore my commitment to maintaining ethical and effective care, ensuring you receive the best possible support.
Continuing Professional Development
In line with the ethical frameworks I follow, I undertake a minimum of 50 hours of CPD a year to ensure that my professional skills are up to date and continually developing. In addition to my core psychotherapy training, I have completed hundreds of hours of specialist courses in areas such as suicide, self harm, eating disorders, bereavement, trauma, sexual abuse, mindfulness, play therapy, using creativity in psychotherapy and working online.
My Competencies
My competences and practice standards are aligned with 'Column C' of the SCoPEd framework, representing the highest tier within this framework.
This categorisation recognises therapists who have undergone enhanced training and personal development, and who possess wide and extensive experience in the field. You can read more about SCoPEd here
Professional memberships
The BACP and UKCP maintain accredited registers, which contain the details of practitioners who have met the standards of professional competence deemed by the organisation as necessary to practise competently and ethically.
The clinical associations to which I belong are as follows:​
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UKCP (Accred): Registered and Accredited Psychotherapist with the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP). This can be checked on the UKCP's register of psychotherapists.
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UPCA (Accred): Registered and Accredited Psychotherapist with the Universities Psychotherapy and Counselling Association (UPCA), which is an organisational member of the UKCP. This can be checked on the UPCA's register of psychotherapists.
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​MBACP (Snr Accred): Senior Accredited Member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). This can be checked on the BACP's register of therapists. Being a senior accredited member of the BACP means that my professional experience, knowledge and personal development meet high standards as assessed by the BACP.
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Ethical Accountability
​I practice according to the ethical frameworks of the above organisations which includes meeting the requirement for continued professional develop and attending regular professional supervision for all my client work, which are designed to safeguard your welfare as a client. You can read more about my clinical supervision here.
You can view the ethical codes to which I adhere below:
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Insurance
I hold a valid Professional Indemnity Insurance - Please ask if you wish to view it.​
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GDPR
I am registered with the information commissioner.
For my complete privacy statement please see here
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Disclosure & Barring
I also hold an Enhanced DBS Certificate, and keep up to date with mandatory courses for safeguarding young people and vulnerable adults. Please ask if you wish to view.