"Trauma creates change you don't choose. Healing is about creating change you do choose." - Michelle Rosenthal

Hello

I am a qualified, BACP accredited counsellor who works with adult individuals of all ages. I am passionate about the work I do and regard it as a real honour to work alongside my clients as they improve their sense of themselves, their relationships and make peace with issues that may have been a lifelong problem. I find it can be helpful to explore stories and themes from a client's past as this often unlocks understanding of certain patterns of behaviour or relationships that are causing the client difficulty in the present. We can then work together to find a way forward that suits the client better.

Alongside my private practice I worked as a counsellor for a national cancer charity in a hospital setting for 6 years. In this role I worked with a highly diverse client group experiencing a wide range of difficulties from needing emotional support through cancer treatment to bereavement and palliative patients. In my hospital role I offered mindfulness workshops for patients and staff and co-facilitated a longer in person mindfulness course. I also taught courses designed to help clinical staff with communication challenges.

I am a qualified mindfulness teacher and will be teaching 8 week mindfulness courses one to one and in groups, and a more informal community based mindfulness drop in group from September 2024. Click HERE for further information on my mindfulness teaching. Training in mindfulness has developed from my personal mindfulness practice and how helpful I found it in my own life as well as with client work and staff and patients in my hospital role. I can offer 1-1 mindfulness to my counselling clients but if we are currently working together you would not be able to participate in my groups as this might complicate our therapeutic alliance. If you are interested in the groups after you finish counselling sessions with me we can discuss how that might be for you and plan a way forward.I am also co-facilitating creative mindfulness and art workshops with an artist and art teacher, take a look at www.createyourselfcalm.art for further information. 

I also work part-time as a primary school teacher where my focus is on teaching wellbeing. I facilitate a children's wellbeing council in a local school and we run workshops for the other children. I have written content for a wellbeing curriculum. During the pandemic I offered a weekly online support and wellbeing sessions for staff. I have also run an in person a self-care workshop for a local WI group. Improving self-care and wellbeing runs through everything I now do. 

My experience

As a counsellor I have worked in private practice, hospital, and hospice settings with clients who have experienced a wide range of difficulties which include:

• Loss and change
• Life Transitions
• Burnout
• Bereavement and grief
• Caring responsibilites
• Cancer and life-limiting illness
• Depression and Anxiety
• Relationship issues

My work as a therapist also includes experience of the following issues:

• Parenting issues
• Self Esteem and confidence
• Stress and coping skills
• Chronic illness and chronic pain
• Behavioural issues
• Family conflict

Counselling with me

• I describe myself as an integrative therapist. This means my approach is flexible and that each therapeutic relationship is unique and tailored to suit the individual I am working with. I am a  BACP (British Assosciation of Counselling and Psychotherapy) accredited counsellor, which means I have undergone rigorous assessment to meet their higher standards as a competent, ethical and independent practitioner. 
• I will work with you on an open-ended basis or for an agreed time period, in person or online, with the aim of enabling you to learn how to deal with difficulties, enhance your wellbeing and live life more fully on your terms. 
• Approaching a counsellor can be nerve wracking but be assured I know this and will try and make the process as comfortable as possible for you.
• I have links with several other therapists in the Essex area so if my practice is full I am happy to refer you on to other professionals I have worked closely with. Alternatively I operate a waiting list if you really feel I am the right therapist for you.
• Click HERE  to see my FAQs page for further detail

My Qualifications

• BACP Accredited member
• Mindfulness Now Teacher Training Certificate, UK College of Mindfulness
• CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
• CPCAB Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies
• CPCAB Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills
• Post Graduate Certificate in Education
• BA Hons English, German and Psychology

   

• I hold full professional indemnity insurance.
• I am registered with the ICO (Information Commissioners Office) conforming to the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR (General Data Protection Regulations)
  

   

Continual Professional Development Courses

• Mindfulness Now Teacher Training, The UK College of Mindfulness
• How to help your clients manage overwhelm, Online Events
• Recharge: Journalling for nurture and self care, Online Events
• Mindful Self Compassion, Macmillan professionals online 6 week course
• Introduction to Walking Therapy
• Moving Your Practice Online, The Online Therapy Institute (short course)
• Going Online in Times of Crisis, Open University
• Using Drawing Pictures and Fairy Tales in Counselling, Deep Release
• ACT 100 Key Points and Techniques,
• Working Creatively with the Inner Child in Counselling, Deep Release
• Attachment Behaviour in the Counselling Room, Deep Release
• Supporting People Bereaved by Covid, 8 week course, Online Events
• A Day on Behaviour Change, The Weekend University, University of Greenwich
• Attachment & Psychotherapy, The Weekend University, University of London
• End of Life Care Conference, St Luke's Hospice
• Trauma, the brain and recovery, Mind Body Breakthrough
• Mindful Compassion 8 week course, Macmillan Counselling
• De-Mystifying Mindfulness by Leiden University, Coursera, online.
• BACP Private Practice Conference. Loss: what does life mean for me now?
• Introduction to Art Therapy Workshop, St Francis Hospice
• Bereavement Service Volunteer Training, St Francis Hospice