Hello, welcome to my website. Here is a little bit about me to help you decide if I’m the right counsellor for you.
I have been a counsellor since 1994 and did my training at Harefield Hospital. At the time I was the deputy head of the tissue typing laboratory and was privileged to work extensively as a counsellor with pre and post Heart, heart – lung and lung transplant patients.
Post qualification I was one of the hospital counsellors and saw a diverse client group. This comprised of patients, and their families and staff members and their families. As a result, I have worked with a wide range of presenting issues. These include bereavement, loss of identity, survivor guilt, stress, anxiety, phobias, trauma, abuse, spirtuality and many other issues.
During this time I attended Regent’s College in London. Here I gained my Masters degree in Integrative Psychotherapy & Counselling, (my dissertation was on ‘Coping with a Heart Transplant’) and undertook further training in Existential therapy.
I am fascinated by the ways in which we respond to one another human to human. This translates also into being equally fascinated by human to non-human interactions. As a result of this I have often been assisted in my work by my Companion Animals Jasper & Freya, kooikerhondjes, which is a Dutch breed of dog of medium size and massive personality. They have now retired leading me to seek out a suitable replacement companion dog to train and work with me.
Running alongside my private practice, for nearly twenty years I have also been actively involved in counsellor training. On completing my counsellor training, I was invited to join the counsellor training team at Harefield Hospital. Subsequently I co-wrote a new certificate course delivered at Harefield.
I spent a short period of time as a trainer in Biopharmaceuticals. There I taught soft (communications/ counselling skills) and technical skills (current Good Manufacturing Practice – cGMP).
Following this I moved into Higher Education. I took over the role of co-ordinator and lecturer for the BA (Hons) in Counselling & Psychotherapy at the University of Southampton. I remained there until, along with many others, I was made redundant. I was then invited to set up a brand new BA (Hons) in Counselling at a local Further Education college.
I also provided counsellor training at another FE college in Southampton.
How I work: I respect and value your uniqueness as an individual and will work with you to identify what your counselling needs are in this moment. I aim to provide a warm and welcoming approach and environment and to provide an empathic, non-judgemental and confidential space. Here you can explore and begin to understand the issues that have brought you to counselling.
From experience, I have found it helpful to have an initial meeting to see if counselling can help with the issues that you are bringing, which is usually the case, and also whether we both feel I can help you in addressing these issues. I work with you to identify, explore and understand your concerns, and support you in finding your own solutions allowing you to lead a more satisfying life.
Who I see: I see individual adult clients of varying ages for long and short-term work according to individual needs and requirements. I also meet couples for Couple Counselling and teens and young people over the age of 12.
Location: My practice is based in Warsash near Southampton in Hampshire. Warsash is located approximately 2 miles from both Junctions 8 & 9 of the M27. There is free parking available.
Training, Qualifications & Experience
Qualifications & Courses
My qualifications are:
Diploma in Integrative Counselling
Masters Degree in Integrative Psychotherapy & Counselling
Diploma in Supervision
PGCE
Training in Companion Animal Assisted Interventions
Studying for Diplomas in Farm Animal Behaviour & Advance Canine Behaviour
Certificate in Tarot Therapy
Some of the courses I have attended:
Let’s talk about sex with Mary Clegg introduction to Psychosexual counselling
Working with the Elements with David Brown Shamanic spiritual counselling
What can I talk about in Counselling?
The issues I work with: these tend to be wide ranging. Some of the typical issues I specialise in are:
- anger management
- bereavement
- depression
- anxiety
- abuse
- low self-esteem
- relationship issues
- disability
- stress and work related stress
- low self-confidence
- post natal depression
- trauma
- asperger’s syndrome
- identity issues
- sexual identity
- sexuality and spirituality.
If you have read this far and you still have unanswered questions please feel free to contact me. I am usually able to respond by email or telephone within 24 hours and often much quicker than that.