About Me
I am an integrative counsellor, which means I have been trained to work with a variety of Therapeutic Theories and am able to utilise the most appropriate theory depending on the needs of my client.
Counselling is learning about oneself and how we got to where we are now which helps us bring about change to avoid repeating ineffective patterns of behaviour. We all have our own preferred way of learning, and no one style suits all, for example, some people may find CBT a bit too regimented and others may find Person Centred a bit lacking in direction. I do not believe in time-limited counselling as it may be that more sessions are needed than have been offered, but counselling ends and the client may feel abandoned, and pushed aside and old coping strategies may return. Counselling works best if the client feels really listened to, accepted and safe and I feel that by offering a ‘tailored made’ therapeutic style, greatly assists the client to feel really heard and therefore accepted and safe.
Training, qualifications and experience
I hold a BSc First Class (Hons) degree in Integrative Counselling. I am a registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and therefore abide by their code of conduct and ethics. I have recently completed a course to work with families of sudden infant death syndrome and stillborn babies. I am a trained McKenzie Friend which means I am able to assist those who are not able to afford a solicitor and are not eligible for Legal Aid and therefore have to represent themselves in the Family Court I have experience working as a Samaritan volunteer, a Lay Hospital Chaplain, and a school counsellor with a Children’s Association working with young children and their families and an alcohol addiction agency. I have a private practice in Paignton, Devon.
Areas of counselling that I treat
I work with
alcohol,
gambling and
pornography addictions, depression,
anxiety, OCD, phobias, bereavement, domestic abuse and violence,
trauma and general mental health problems. I work with individuals, couples, families and children. I also offer Skype counselling for individual adult clients.
Fee structure
My fee is £40 per fifty-minute hour, but this is open to negotiation in some circumstances