ABOUT ME
In 2021 I moved to the west coast of Scotland from ‘middle England’. I enjoyed discovering new people, places, food and a new climate.
I enjoy being outside (when it’s not raining), gardening (I find weeding very therapeutic!), cooking (I make a mean paella) and walking – Bentley and Barbie, our standard poodles, often accompany me. I had thought about training them as therapy dogs, but they are just too excitable – don’t let the photos deceive you!
I am a registered member of the The Association of Christians in Counselling. I also hold personal indemnity insurance for my counselling practice and a DBS certificate.
All counselling offered by me is non-religious, unless you would like this to be part of your therapeutic process. If so, please view the Christian Counselling section.
Continuing professional development
As a lifelong learner I am committed to ever-growing my counselling knowledge and experience. As a member of the ACC I must undertake at least 25 hours of professional development every year.
I read extensively around counselling and therapeutic practice and undertake training courses and CPD to better help my clients.
There are two areas in which I have a growing interest and am reading widely and seeking out further relevant training. Firstly, the area of spiritual and religious abuse and trauma. Here, clients may have experienced a spectrum of hurt and pain, within a Christian setting. This can have a significant impact on how someone subsequently experiences their own faith and the community of the church family.
Secondly, I have a growing interest in IFS, Internal Family Systems. I have found this beneficial in understanding myself and clients have found it helpful in looking at their various ‘parts’ and how they relate to each other.
The pandemic led me to develop and hone my video and telephone practice and I took a number of courses to develop my skills in this area to better serve my clients. Initially these platforms may not have seemed as ‘good’ as face-to-face counselling, but the majority of my clients have been via this method for the last two years and they have found it just as beneficial. It also allowed them to better schedule counselling around my clients’ busy work and family life.
Counselling qualifications and experience
CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (2021)
CPCAB Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies 2019
CPCAB Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills 2018
I began my counselling training in September 2017 and I qualified in summer 2021. Throughout my two-year Level 4 training, I volunteered as a counsellor at a Christian counselling agency. My clients were diverse in their needs and presenting issues and this prepared me well for my own private practice, which began in January 2022.
Prior relevant qualifications and experience:
Pastoral and academic teaching and management roles held within the education sector from 1994 until 2019
PGCE Religious Studies (Birmingham University) 1994
BA Hons Religious Studies with English (Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education) 1991
My career as a secondary school teacher for 25 years included positions in the state sector, the independent sector and internationally. As such, I encountered many diverse people from various cultures and situations. In my teaching, I always believed that relationships with students, that allowed them to express their feelings and beliefs honestly and without judgment, was the best learning environment.
This approach underpins my and indeed all, therapeutic counselling – Providing a safe space for a person to explore their feelings and experiences, combined with an empathic listener and unconditional positive regard – this basically means I won’t judge you!