About me

My journey to becoming a counsellor

I have a broad and varied working experience, with both young people and adults. I have worked in the voluntary sector, supporting people’s mental health through art and gardening, and as a counsellor with adults in a centre providing low-cost counselling.

I worked for many years in a secondary school providing pastoral support and Thrive sessions for teenagers with trauma-based emotional and behavioural difficulties. Working in this context contributed to a growing desire to deepen my understanding and skills in counselling and to be able to support adults, as well as young people, to process difficult and traumatic experiences. I went on to complete the Advanced Diploma in Integrative Counselling from the Iron Mill College in Exeter in 2018. I now focus on working with adults.

I am passionate about the place of the Arts in society and in our lives and believe strongly that we need creative outlets. In 2007 I completed a Fine Art Degree, specialising in Printmaking. For many years I was a member of the Double Elephant Workshop in Exeter. A few years later I studied a Foundation Course in Art Therapy and this also motivated me to study counselling and understand more of how we process difficult and traumatic experiences, physically, mentally and emotionally. I enjoy working in a creative way in the counselling room when it feels right for the client.

I currently work part-time as a counsellor in a GP Surgery in Okehampton, providing free sessions to adults over 18. I also run my own private practice in Exmouth and offer sessions to adults aged 18 and over.

I am a registered member of the BACP (British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists) and I work to their framework of ethics. I am also registered with the Information of Commissioner’s Register of Data Controllers (ICO). I have regular supervision for my work and am fully insured. I keep accurate notes of my contact with all my clients, and adhere to GDPR in storing any data.

I am LGBTQ+ affirmative.

My training

Advanced Diploma in Integrative Counselling (Iron Mill)

Certificate in Counselling

Foundation Course in Art Therapy (Insider Art, Exeter)

BA Hons in Fine Art

BSc Rural Environment Studies

CPD

Transactional Analysis (TA 101) Iron Mill

Asist Suicide intervention Training, Pete’s Dragons

Workshops on trauma, shame, domestic violence, working with the inner child, working creatively, suicide

Understanding Domestic Violence and Abuse Levels 1 and 2

Certificate in couples and relationships training

Certificate in working well with LGBTQ+ clients

Areas of counselling I deal with

Anger management

Anxiety and depression

Couples counselling

Domestic violence

Emotional abuse

Grief and bereavement

Loneliness

Low self-esteem

Miscarriage

Relationship issues

Stress (including work-related stress)

Spirituality

Traumatic life experiences