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About me and how I work
Hi...
I believe deeply in trust, safety, and the importance of feeling truly heard, knowing that every person’s story is unique to them. My work is shaped by special interests in neurodiversity and trauma, and I’m mindful of how each of these experiences influence the way we move through the world. I also hold a deep curiosity about what the body may be communicating, recognizing that embodied responses often offer valuable insight into how we are truly feeling. This understanding sits quietly within my work, helping me offer a space that feels attuned, steady and respectful of the different ways people think, feel and process their emotions.
I also specialise in walk‑and‑talk therapy, alongside in‑room and online sessions, offering you the freedom to choose the environment that feels most comfortable and supportive.
You might feel hurtled into a sudden whirlwind, or perhaps a storm has been following you for a long time. It may be that you have lost who you are or who you want to be and through this confusion you feel stuck. Or you may have noticed that how you feel holds you back or makes you feel out of control. Perhaps you are grieving the loss of someone important, navigating a major life shift, or mourning the loss of a beloved pet—a quiet pain that others don't always understand.
Whatever has brought you here, whether it built up over time or hit you out of the blue, I am here to help you make sense of it. Together, at a pace that feels safe for you, we can explore what has come to light, untangle unhelpful patterns, and find a path toward self-acceptance. It is with this that you can feel better equipped to make choices that are right for you moving forward, so that life can feel lighter, comfortable, and more manageable.
Qualifications
I am a BACP accredited Counsellor, Psychotherapist, and Supervisor with a Master's in Counselling from York St John University and I am a member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists.
I hold an Advanced Certificate in Clinical Supervision (Including Online and Telephone Working), recognised by the NCPS as Advanced Specialist Training and mapped to the BACP Supervision Competence Framework. This means I’m trained to offer safe, ethical and effective supervision whether you practise in person or online.
I also hold a certificate in online and telephone counselling, which is accredited by the BACP.
Additional Qualifications:
I also hold a Postgraduate Certificate in Education and a degree from my first career in Secondary Teaching.
I have a Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Autism
I am also an IAB accredited book-keeper.
Experience
Work and Life Experience
Alongside my private practice, I have a strong background in community mental health. I previously worked as a volunteer counsellor and trustee for 1-2-1 Counselling in York, a charity who offer short-term therapy to people in the York area who may otherwise not be able to afford it. Within my role, I also mentored fellow counsellors, supporting their ongoing development while contributing to the charity's governance and clinical work.
I also work part time as a book-keeper, around my counselling practice.
A little about my life journey...
I have over twenty years of life experience having begun my working life as a secondary teacher where, for ten years, I enjoyed caring for and guiding students.
However, in my early 30's, I came to a crisis point in my personal life and I found myself as a client in a counselling room. I was feeling disorientated and disconnected but with the help of therapy I began to understand how my story had gone and how different I’d wanted it to be. Through the support and trust in the relationship with my counsellor I felt understood and able to find courage to make different choices moving forward. It is the warmth in the relationship that I had with my counsellor that informs my own work now.
I hope that by having a snapshot of me and my life it can put you at ease making the difficult step to reach out. I believe it to be hugely important that when you sit with me, you can trust me, feel safe and supported so that you feel able to share and make sense of those things that bring you distress in your life.