A little bit about me

I am passionate about wanting to help people reach their true potential and live as authentically as possible. I believe this to be at the core of being happy.

I have always had a deep interest in psychology and our well-being. I am fascinated by the 'mind and body' connection and particularly interested in the impact the arts can have on our health and well-being.

I am also interested in other cultures and have travelled widely. Now in hindsight, I am grateful for my wanderlust as it enabled me to experience so many diverse cultures, people and places.

My decision to become a counsellor was further fuelled by the various 'people' focused roles I have had. My experience has involved working in a learning support setting with children with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder and ADHD. I have also worked in adult education and advice and guidance. I provided careers advice and guidance to adults who often had long term health conditions and mental health issues to find sustainable employment. These roles provided excellent grounding for becoming a counsellor.

My approach to counselling with you

I am an integrative counsellor. This means I am trained to work with more than one model. I find this gives more freedom to the counselling sessions, where I can shape the counselling experience to your individual needs and goals. 

The Person-Centred approach is at the heart of how I will work with you, with the core conditions and values of Person-Centred Counselling forming the basis of the counselling work. Once the therapeutic relationship is established and a solid foundation of trust has been built, I introduce techniques and theory from Gestalt Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and aspects of Mindfulness into the counselling sessions. This creative approach enables you as the client, to experience a new perspective on your life and develop a fresh understanding about how to resolve or cope with your issues.

My commitment to you is to provide a safe and supportive counselling space that will help you to feel at ease, listened to and never feel judged. While I am alongside you on your journey I will support you to connect with your ‘true’ self.  This will enable you to develop coping strategies, overcome emotional challenges, achieve improved well-being and become empowered to make important life choices. 

My counselling work

As well as private practice, I am a Counsellor with Counselling for Carers (C4C), offering low cost counselling to adult carers in Devon. There I have provided counselling support to carers for a range of issues to include: depression, self-esteem issues, family and relationship issues, bereavement, anxiety, issues with hoarding and letting go, problems at work and social phobia to name some of the issues that have been explored in the counselling room. 

I am also an Anxiety UK Approved Therapist. To ensure safe and ethical practice Anxiety UK regularly monitor my professional qualifications, insurance, supervision, continual professional development and professional body membership and my compliance with the ethical framework and professional standards of my registered governing body the BACP (The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy).

I am a Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). I am fully insured and have an up to date DBS check. 

My counselling service

I feel strongly that my counselling service should be accessible to everyone. I provide a counselling service that is affordable, friendly and professional. I offer a choice of locations where I can see you, one is in Exeter and the other is in Newton Abbot. Also, with the support of technology, my counselling service can reach far and wide across the country and provide both Skype and telephone counselling.

I can offer you counselling support for the following issues:

·         Anxiety

·         Panic attacks

·         Depression

·         PMS - self-care and coping strategies

·         Health issues

·         Lack of motivation

·         Insomnia

·         Social phobia

·         Loneliness

·         Hoarding

·         Loss and letting go

·         Bereavement

·         Low confidence and self-esteem

·         Relationship and family issues

·         Stress - to include exam related and work-related stress

·         Making difficult life choices

Another strand of my counselling service is Career Counselling.

I think it is important that we are as 'happy' and content as we can be in our chosen careers and employment choices. Otherwise the price we pay can be high and negatively impact on our well-being and potentially lead to anxiety, stress, health issues, insomnia or relationship problems.

Do you feel frustrated or ‘stuck’ in your current job/career?

Could you benefit from Career Counselling?

Would you like support to:

·         Explore other careers that will give you more job satisfaction

·         Change negative patterns of behaviour

·         Recognise your unique skills

·         Manage work related stress and difficult relationships at work

·         Overcome issues that could be affecting your work life

·         Understand how negative thoughts may be holding you back

·         Develop your CV and cover letter

I can support you with the following work-related issues

·         Work performance stress

·         Bullying or conflict with manager/ colleagues

·         Depression and anxiety at work

·         Confidence issues - low self-esteem at work

·         Redundancy concerns