I am a Registered Counsellor, an Accredited Member of BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy). I gained my Diploma in Counselling in June 2008 after two years of part-time study and placements in the north east of England. I gained BACP Accredited status in February 2012. In 2013 I studied to be a Supervisor of counsellors and other health care professionals on an Advanced Professional Training course at University of Strathclyde in Glasgow (see below). I am now offering counselling for couples as well as individuals, having recently undertaken professional training in Couples Counselling. I offer short and long-term counselling depending on the client needs.
I have wide experience of counselling adults and children with issues such as anxiety, depression, low self esteem, work/personal relationships, grief and loss, and domestic and sexual abuse, in a range of settings including: GP practice; Women’s Aid organisations; Barnardo’s Bridgeway Project; Tees Valley Counselling Trust working with adults and children with chronic illness and/or disability and their carers; workplace counselling and private practice. I work within strict ethical guidelines; client confidentiality (with limited exceptions) is fundamental to the process.
Working with individuals
Counselling supports you to come to terms with or make life changes at your own pace in your own way. I place great importance on the connection and relationship of trust that builds up between the Client (you) and Counsellor (me) to help you feel empowered and valued, which can lead to powerful learning and new awareness. I am guided by the Person Centred theory that, given the right conditions, individuals have inner resources to resolve their own issues. My role is to provide a safe environment to support you to explore and make decisions for yourself.
Working with couples
My aim in couples counselling is to offer a safe, neutral space in which a couple can explore ways to resolve the issues that have brought them to this point. I will support the couples to listen and speak to each other without fear of judgement, blame or criticism and to explore their thoughts, feelings and behaviours. We will try to find shared goals and ways forward that are right for both people and recognise that some things cannot necessarily be changed but can be understood and accepted.
What to expect
Before counselling can begin we have an initial meeting for you to tell me a little about the issues that are worrying you, for me to explain the counselling process and for us to decide whether we could work together. Counselling can seem scary or daunting so it’s important for you to feel comfortable. I will explain about confidentiality and its limits, we can decide the frequency and number of sessions, and I will try to answer any queries. I will also ask why you have chosen to come for counselling and what you might hope to gain from it. However, it is not always necessary to know exactly what you want or to have a definite goal. With a couple, we would look at the different issues you both bring and find a common theme that both partners would feel safe to work on.
Counselling can be hard work – it can be emotionally draining, and there are no guarantees, so it is important to consider your desire and commitment to work towards your own development. Counsellors encourage open and honest dialogue.
Supervision for Counsellors and Health Care Professionals
I see the supervisory relationship as a supportive and collaborative partnership. As a supervisee you will decide what you need in the session, whether it is a place to explore specific client issues, your reactions to client material, a space to reflect on particular interventions, etc. I will provide a safe, non-judgemental space for you to explore your client work. Counsellors undertake regular supervision as required by their professional body. However, professionals working in health care or other settings may also feel the need for and benefit of external supervision (as opposed to organisational line-management supervision) to work through and process issues arising from their work. Please contact me to discuss your requirements.