My work background

With over 26 years’ experience working in mental health and 30 years in health and social care. I have significant understanding of the challenges faced by people with emotional and mental health problems, including those that have been through the psychiatric system. I have 13 years’ experience as a therapist and I completed further advanced training as a psychotherapist with the Minster Centre in London in 2018.

Specific areas of interest and expertise

I have training and experience supporting people who have suffered trauma or distress as a result of difficult early relationships – particularly childhood physical, sexual, emotional abuse and neglect.

I have over 30 years working with disabled people including people living with mobility, physical and sensory challenges, chronic health conditions, mental health problems including psychosis and complex trauma, and neurodivergence such as Autism/ADHD/Dyspraxia/ dyslexia.

I also have experience supporting people to come to terms with family estrangement or for those who are thinking of ending abusive or untenable relationships with family members.

I particularly welcome therapists and therapists in training as well as others working in the health and social care sectors.

How I work

I am interested in your understanding of your relationships with the significant others in your life and how you manage these. How are you with yourself and where are your stuck points. What health and well-being issues are impacting on you. Are there practical issues that need to be attended to for the therapy to be effective. From all of this we will find a place to begin the healing journey.

I work relationally, which means we will work together to forge a collaborative, and secure bond to help you to improve the important relationships in your life. I will help you to seek a better understanding of the way you relate to significant others. We will gain insight into how your past and current relationships may be impacting on your mental and emotional well-being.

What to expect

In the first phase of therapy we will work on understanding your needs and clarifying your goals. As part of this I will seek your feedback about how you feel the sessions are progressing so we can decide if the therapy is having a positive impact and meeting your expectations. From there we will decide on a way forward together which may involve working on a specific targeted goal or something less structured and time defined.

Therapy involves a significant investment of resources: time, energy and finances. It may become one of the most important relationships in your life, at least for a time. I take this very seriously and will make every effort to ensure that I am here for you at the same day and time each week. In my experience, for the therapy to be effective it will require a similar level of commitment from you.