"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear. "
Nelson Mandela
I am an integrative psychotherapist with thirty years experience in wellbeing and mental health. I started my journey as a Yoga and Mindfulness teacher. I then trained as a counsellor, followed by a Master in Integrative Psychotherapy and, after almost two decades in practice, I have become a Supervisor.
I have worked in a variety of settings from education (Goldsmiths University and a large secondary school in Dorset) to the NHS (Kings College Hospital), to charities (Victim Support and currently Axminster and Lyme Cancer Support), as well as in my own private practice. This means that I have had the opportunity to support a variety of clients: university and teen students; in-patients and out-patients recovering from devastating accidents, and their relatives; adopted children and their parents with a specialist post-adoption team; adults in private practice; etc.
I weave together my varied experience and theoretical background with a warm and curious approach which has helped me support clients with a wide range of life challenges including stress, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, ADHD, relationship and family difficulties, abuse and relationships with partners with Narcissistic Personality Disorders fertility, parenting, low self-esteem, anger management, life changes and transitions, redundancy and career choices, bereavement, abuse, personal development, cancer, ME and other health concerns, etc.
While still living in London, I set up a network of therapists and midwives, who specialised in working with women and men dealing with issues regarding fertility, pregnancy and parenthood. I was the psychotherapist in the group and counselled individuals and couples at any stage of the emotional roller-coaster that was their often difficult journey to becoming a parent and beyond.
As a psychotherapist I work with adults, couples and young people, and I feel privileged to be allowed into my clients' worlds while accompanying them on their journeys. I never fail to be touched and changed by these encounters. I am very passionate about this work.
As a supervisor, I offer the same personal qualities, professional experience and theoretical framework to my work. My intention is to create a safe and welcoming environment for you to discuss and explore what you want to bring to our sessions, and where I can guide and support you in your work with clients in a way that fosters your increased self awareness, potential and growth.
Through my integrative psychotherapy backgroung, I offer a range of psychological theories which I blend with flexibility and creativity into the supervisory theoretical frameworks of the Seven Eye Model and the IDM (Integrative Development Model). This provides us with a comprehensive toolkit to help you develop an understanding of how you are working with a client by exploring your own feelings; the triad of relationships between client, therapist and supervisor; any ethical issues which might arise; theories that are relevant to the work; self care considerations; and the wider context of your work.
I offer a kind, compassionate and understanding relationship so that you can feel comfortable to explore your work with your clients. We can be curious and analytical together without fear of judgement and criticism, especially if you experience doubts, challenges, concerns and ethical dilemmas. We also focus on your own emotional responses to the clients.
Supervision can be a path of self-discovery for you as a professional, which involves taking time and space to slow down and explore, with honesty and courage, who you are as a practitioner; how you arrived at the present moment and whether you are stuck in habitual and unhelpful ways of thinking, feeling and behaving which affect your work so that this awareness can help you be more effective in supporting your clients.
I am a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
I work in SE London and Lyme Regis, Dorset.
But mostly, I now work online. The flexibility and creativity of an integrative approach has facilitated a smooth and effective transition into working online and both myself and my clients have been positively surprised by how the work in the digital realm can still feel authentic, carry depth and foster growth.
I hold full insurance and I work within the BACP code of Ethics.