My own life experience has given me valuable insight and understanding in my practice and left me with the belief that post traumatic growth is possible. It has also given me the motivation to support others that are struggling to make sense of their world and influenced my areas of study post-qualification. My core training took place at Northampton University which involved working with a relational integrative model and obtaining a post-graduate (Level 7) diploma in counselling. This suited me as a person as my prior work experience in mental health, healthcare and public services taught me to value each individual as a ‘whole’. As an integrative counsellor I do not subscribe to a “one size fits all” approach, as we all experience and perceive the world differently.

I draw upon a number of post-modern theoretical approaches in my practice from person-centred, psychodynamic and third wave cognitive behavioural therapies (CBT) like ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), Compassion Focused (CFT), Mindfulness, Dialectal Behavioural Therapy (DBT) and other therapeutic models that I continue to integrate into my practice as outlined below.

My work with trauma work is slightly more directive than counselling due to the nature of it. I am currently working towards a post graduate (level 7) diploma in Trauma and PTSD.  In addition to this I have completed additional training in the Rewind Technique for PTSD symptoms and flashbacks,  Trauma-Focused CBT and am a ‘Becoming Safely Embodied (BSE)’ certified practitioner which you can find out more about at https://dfay.com/. Whilst for me training is ongoing through continued professional development (CPD), I feel in many ways I have been in training indefinitely via the school of life, as some experiences just cannot be taught, or felt in a classroom. Therefore, my work is focused on helping you reach an understanding of your difficulties and supporting you in reclaiming those parts that may feel lost, broken, unheard or discarded. It is a great privilege to work in a role where I get to share a part of someone else’s journey and I believe we all have the capacity for change, compassion, growth and recovery.