Diploma in Integrative and Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy (Ellesmere Centre)

Diploma in Integrative and Transactional Analysis Psychotherapeutic Counselling (Ellesmere Centre)

Diploma in Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling (East Kent Rape Crisis Centre)

We can explore anything that matters to you.

Anything you bring will always be treated with care, kindness and compassion - I know how hard it is to talk about sensitive things.

You can also trust that I will be genuine with you, offering different perspectives and reflections that I believe could help you on your journey.

We might talk about things like feelings, thoughts, goals, bodily sensations, childhood, difficult experiences, relationships, losses, culture, habits, identity and things that are stressful at the moment.

Sometimes talking is hard, or not the best way to express ourselves. I can also use approaches such as emotion cards, creativity, relaxation, written communication and guided meditation.

It's really important to me that you don't need to leave any part of you outside the room. I take your whole self into account - your story, what's happened to you, your identities, the context you grew up in and how your body has been impacted by your experiences.

I believe strongly that finding your power is a key part to healing. I'll share with you the frameworks I'm thinking of when we're working together if you enjoy learning about these.

Everything that happens in your session will always be with your permission and at your pace.

I describe my theoretical approach as Trauma Informed and Integrative.

Many different frameworks have played a part in my journey to understand myself and others. My approach is grounded in the following models:

Transactional Analysis

I like this approach because it’s very accessible, and gives us powerful and effective ways of figuring out what’s going on inside you and your relationships.

Integrative

Working in an integrative way means two things - one is helping you find all the different parts of yourself, and allowing them to be experienced, seen, heard, accepted or healed. Having space for all of ourselves can help us feel more peaceful and whole.

It also means that I learned to create an individual way of working with each person, by integrating different approaches in a safe and coherent way. Depending on what’s relevant to you, I might draw on approaches such as:

• Attachment Theory - how our early relationships form the basis of how we view ourselves and others.

• Internal Family Systems - how we all have different parts, which formed at a difficult time, to help us get through something overwhelming.

• All our parts have a purpose, something to tell us, and something they need, even the ones which feel ‘problematic’, such as an angry, anxious or addicted part.

• Intercultural Therapy - how external realities such as financial difficulties, racism, sexual diversity discrimination, refugee status and ableism impact us.

• It also recognises the differences and similarities of various aspects of culture between people, and gives room for the impact of this in the therapy relationship.

• Trauma-Informed Approaches and the Mind-Body Connection - the many ways trauma impacts us and how to move towards feeling calmer, safer and empowered.

• Being trauma informed also means not approaching people's difficulties from the position of 'what's wrong with you', rather from the position of 'what happened to you'. It means not viewing distress as a disorder, but as a perfectly natural human response to difficult experiences. I believe people who are experiencing difficulties deserve help, support and understanding, not pathologising.

• Person-Centred - how everybody has the ability to move towards whatever is right for them so they can achieve their potential, if the environment is safe, accepting, genuine and empowering enough.

  And more...

Therapeutic Relationship

Ultimately, although my approach is very much grounded within theory, the most important thing to me is the therapeutic alliance that is built over time.

Studies show that it’s not the approach used that makes the difference, its the quality of the relationship. In other words, if you felt heard, seen, understood, safe, valued and welcomed. These things will always come first in our work together.

I am accredited by the NCPS (National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society).

You can find me on their accredited register here.

The NCPS's Accredited Register offers a way to identify counsellors who have been vetted and approved as competent and meeting NCPS’s high standards.

I am registered with the UKCP (UK Council for Psychotherapy).

I adhere to the UKCP's Code of Ethics and Professional Practice. This code of ethics provides boundaries for clients and therapists, which are important in building a safe, professional and trusting relationship.

Although I remain a member of UKCP, I strongly disagree with their boards' decision in 2024 to withdraw the UKCP as a signatory of the Memorandum of Understanding on Conversion therapy, without consultation with the UKCP membership, and signed an open letter petition in regards to this.

I believe that everyone should be able to explore their gender and sexuality in an open, non-judgemental space when accessing therapy services, and that no gender or sexuality is inherently better than or preferable to any other.

I receive regular supervision, where I discuss my current client work with my supervisor, and reflect on how best to support people towards their goals.

Supervision is a valuable resource to ensure safe, informed, effective and competent practice.

The content discussed is anonymised and confidential.

I hold a current Enhanced DBS check.