About My Journey into Counselling
Like many people, there have been experiences in my life that have shaped who I am today. My journey into counselling began through the experience of addiction within my own family. At the time, I didn't fully understand addiction and often found myself questioning why someone would continue with something that was causing so much harm.
As my understanding grew, I realised that addiction is rarely just about the addiction itself. There is often a much deeper story—one shaped by emotional pain, trauma, relationships and life experiences. That realisation changed not only the way I viewed addiction, but the way I understood people.
It inspired me to pursue a career in counselling and has continued to shape the way I work ever since. Over the years, I have had the privilege of supporting individuals and families affected by addiction, trauma, PTSD, anxiety, relationship difficulties and a wide range of mental health challenges.
My aim has always been to look beyond the symptoms or behaviours and understand the person behind them. I believe that when people feel heard, understood and accepted without judgement, meaningful change becomes possible.
My approach to therapy
A personalised approach, shaped around you
I believe therapy works best when it is collaborative and tailored to the individual. Everyone’s experiences, challenges and hopes for therapy are different, so I draw on a range of therapeutic approaches to help you find a way of working that feels right for you.
I am trained in Gestalt therapy, an approach that focuses on developing greater awareness of our thoughts, feelings, emotions and experiences in the present moment. Gestalt therapy recognises that sometimes we can become disconnected from parts of ourselves, particularly following difficult or painful experiences.
Gestalt therapy can also include creative ways of exploring experiences when words alone may not fully express what someone is feeling. This can include techniques such as drawing, imagery and chair work, allowing us to explore emotions, relationships and different parts of ourselves in a safe and supportive way.
Understanding the mind and body through psychoeducation
I also believe that understanding what is happening within us can be a powerful part of the therapeutic process. Many clients find it reassuring to learn how the brain and nervous system respond to stress, trauma and overwhelming experiences, which may lead to burnout or ignite old trauma wounds
Through psychoeducation, I can help you develop a clearer understanding of why certain thoughts, emotions, physical sensations or behaviours may occur. For example, we can explore how the brain processes difficult experiences, why the body can remain on high alert after trauma, and why certain triggers may continue to create strong emotional responses even when we know we are safe in the present.
Developing this understanding can help reduce self-blame and create a greater sense of compassion towards yourself and your experiences.
EMDR therapy
Alongside my counselling approach, I am trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing). EMDR is a structured therapy that can help people process distressing memories and experiences that may continue to affect them in the present.
Depending on your needs, EMDR can be integrated into wider counselling work as an intervention, or it can be offered as a standalone therapy approach. Together, we can explore what feels most appropriate for you and work at a pace that feels safe and manageable.
My aim is not to tell you what you should do, but to help you better understand yourself, make sense of your experiences and develop the confidence to move forward.
Qualifications and Experience
I have worked within the care setting for over 20years working in various environments.
I have worked in substance misuse and mental health residential rehabilitation which has been extremely rewarding.
As well as counselling i have worked with community drug and alcohol services, which include adults and young people.
I have spent many years working with families impacted by a loved ones addiction.
I have worked in sexual trauma services and currently still work for a local charity counselling victims of sexual abuse.
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BA (Hons) Counselling Humanistic/Integrative - Middlesex University
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Dip HE Counselling Humanistic (Gestalt) Counselling - Winchester University
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Member of FDAP (Federation of Drug and Alcohol Practitioners)
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Pre Trail Therapy
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EMDR Qualified
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Level 3 Certificate in Counselling
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Introduction to Counselling
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Mental Health/Dual Diagnosis
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Group work Trained
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Motivational Enhancement Therapy
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Mindfulness for Distressing Psychosis
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Intervening with Deliberate Self Harm
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Integrated Risk Taking With Yong People
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Alcohol Awareness
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Understanding Attachment in Adults and Children
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Working with Suicidal Clients and Self-Harm
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Positive Behavioral Change
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Working with Trauma
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Working Creatively
