AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Abuse, ADHD/ADD, Addictions, Anxiety, Bereavement, Boarding School Syndrome, Cancer, Depression, Eating Disorders, Health Related Issues, Identity Issues, Loss, Life Transitions, Low Self-Esteem, Lack of Clarity and Direction in life, Men’s Issues, Mood Disorder, Neurodiversity, OCD, Relationships, Self Esteem, Self-Harm, Sex-Related Issues, Stress, Trauma, Technology Addiction, Work Related Issues
ABOUT ME
I am a Psychotherapeutic Counsellor trained in the person-centred and experiential approaches. Prior to becoming a therapist, I travelled widely and worked overseas, encountering diverse people, cultures, and ways of interpreting the world. But it was the exploration of my own inner world, through therapy, that brought me the self-awareness and compassion necessary for a more balanced and contented life. My experience of both sides of the therapeutic relationship informs my trust in the value of counselling and its potential to heal and galvanise.
I have an active interest in philosophy, nutrition, history and anthropology, all of which help to enhance my practice and enrich the service I offer my clients.
MY EXPERIENCE
I hold an accredited Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling. I see clients in private practice both online and face-to-face at my clinic in Hove, Sussex. In addition to this, I volunteer with a charity that provides low-cost counselling to my local community. I have experience in counselling adults and young people with a variety of presentations from differing backgrounds and cultural identities.
My areas of interest include, but are not limited to, anxiety, depression, substance use and abuse, men’s issues, life transitions, boarding school syndrome, OCD, bereavement and technology addiction.
MY APPROACH
Clients often come to me feeling overwhelmed, struggling to cope, and unsure of how to navigate life’s many challenges. My aim is for us to gently unravel and untangle your thoughts and feelings, working together to make sense of what’s going on for you. Each person’s therapeutic journey is unique, yet our common desire is simply to feel better. It is important to me that from our first session together, we are working towards this goal.
My approach aims to help you reconnect with yourself, even if you are still discovering who that is. In so doing, we will start to uncover what has brought you to the place that you find yourself in. No matter how overwhelming the pain or the challenges you may feel, we will face them together in a safe and empathetic space. My role is to act as a supportive and understanding guide; enhancing your ability to draw upon your internal resources.
As a person-centred therapist, I believe that we each have within us the resources to live a healthy and fulfilling life. However, these abilities can sometimes get blocked or distorted by our personal circumstances and relationships, past and present.
I also incorporate an experiential approach, which works with the knowledge that our emotions are felt, experienced and remembered in our bodies. For example, for some of us anxiety may be felt as a constriction of the chest and shortness of breath, for others it might reside in the gut. An emotion may be triggered by thoughts in our head, but it is felt in our bodies. Paying attention to the wisdom of our body can give us insight into our emotional state, helping guide us towards better understanding.
During a session I will give you my complete attention, listening deeply with acceptance, empathy and kindness. When appropriate I might:
- Seek to clarify your thoughts and feelings
- Help you explore new or alternative perspectives
- Notice ways in which you relate to yourself and others
- Help you to make connections and see patterns in your life
- Invite you to notice sensations in your body to gain insight into your emotional state
MY QUALIFICATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS
Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling (BACP Accredited)
BACP Registered Member (MBACP)