Prior to life as a counsellor, I chose to work with local communities in the public and third sectors. I believe that my love for helping others came from having to be a young carer. I lost my mother to Hodgkin’s Lymphoma when I was young and so I learned the skills of compassion, empathy and nurture early on.
I spent a lot of time working as an advocate. I found it easier to give a voice to people who might have been struggling due to a mental health condition or those that had perhaps been disregarded, marginalised, or discriminated against. I got an insight into how anxiety and depression can develop, manifest and impact a person's life. Poor mental health can adversely impact our performance at work, our personal and professional relationships and overall feelings of self-worth and I wanted to help people to feel better.
I have worked for charities such as Westmeria Counselling Service, Counselling Matters Bexley, Mind, Shelter UK and the Citizen's Advice Bureau. I have always felt passionate about supporting people and it was this type of work that led me to want to train as a counsellor. I learned to see that anxiety is a symptom rather than a root cause. It signals underlying issues such as unresolved emotions, trauma, stress, or unmet needs and I wanted to help people to be able to understand this so that they could start to manage their mental health, enabling them to feel more confident about living a true and authentic life.
Throughout my training, I experienced personal therapy, and I found this process to be life changing. I have never looked back. I finally found my own voice and could begin to confidently advocate for myself too. I would encourage anyone that is thinking about embarking on the therapy journey, to have a go.
I am an accredited member of the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP) and I work within their Ethical Framework for Good Practice. I also have indemnity insurance and a DBS.
I have on-going clinical supervision and regularly attend courses, and keep up to date with research to enhance my knowledge and professionalism.
My Qualifications
I bring over ten years of therapeutic experience, having worked with clients in a variety of settings, including private practice, mental health charities and I have supported families in a variety of charity settings as an advocate and support worker. This breadth of experience means I’ve supported people from all walks of life, with a wide range of challenges.
My academic background includes:
- Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling, CPCAB
- Level 3 Certificate in Counselling, CPCAB
- Level 2 Certificate in Counselling, CPCAB
- Certificate of Proficiency BACP
I am a Registered and Accredited Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), which means my work meets recognised professional standards of training, ethical practice, and ongoing development.
Training & CPD
I am committed to ongoing training and professional development to deepen my practice and stay up to date with research and best practice in therapy. My CPD reflects my particular interest in neurodiversity, anxious attachment, self-esteem and the therapeutic relationship, alongside essential skills in safeguarding.
Some recent CPD training workshops have included:
- How to work creatively with your clients,
- Attachment - development of identity in Childhood
- AI - exploring the ethical impacts of AI
- Endings as Thresholds
- Navigating self-doubt and caregiver burnout in private practice
- Recognising and challenging the obstacles to work interracially
- How to work effectively with neurodiversity
Professional Membership
