Who am I?

I am a psychological counsellor and have practised fulltime for over 7 years now.  Prior to this, I worked in a voluntary capacity for 20 years.

I did my original training at Clouds House (www.clouds.org.uk) as an Addictions Counsellor. A few years after this, I did a postgraduate generic counsellor training course at the University of Bristol in Counselling and Psychotherapy. I am completing a MSc in Counselling there, at the moment.

I am a registered member of the BACP, the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists and I adhere fully to their code of practice.  I am also an accredited member of FDAP, the Federation of Drug and Alcohol Counsellors

However, as important as qualifications and understanding the theories underlying human distress and development are, most of my ‘feel’ for this work comes from my own personal experience. I embarked on my own journey of discovery and recovery, renewal and redemption on 1st May 1982 and from that day forward, I have tried to change my mind and my moods; to refine my consciousness and transform unskilful behaviours into skilful ones. But above all, I have learnt to accept myself.

I believe that therapy is all about relationships and I understand relationship as the state of being related; a condition or character based upon this; as kinship.  It is the first condition of being human and creates bonds between people which is greater than the sum of the parts. This interconnectedness between two people has been significant in healing since the time of Hippocrates. The different relationships available in a therapeutic encounter are as follows:

Ø  The Working Alliance

Ø  The Real Relationship

Ø  The Transferential Relationship

Ø  The Developmentally Needed or Reparative Relationship

Ø  The Transpersonal Relationship

I strive to bring all of these into the therapeutic experience

The qualities I bring into the therapy room include, kindness, curiosity, respect, humour and compassion