About Me
Why am I a Person-centred counsellor?
I am a Person-Centred Counsellor because I see it making a difference for the clients I work with. This type of counselling suits me as I enjoy working in an equal partnership with you, the client.
Person-Centred Counselling allows you as the client autonomy in a way that other counselling modalities often don’t. I won’t give you a check list of improvements to “fix” you but will listen to what your life is like and what you what you want from counselling. I’ll be with you offering empathy and trying to see the world through your eyes.
I won’t ask “What is wrong with you?” I’ll ask “What has happened to you?”
If you’d like to know more about the Person-Centred Approach you can click on the link to the Person-Centred Association at the bottom of the page.
Creativity
Working with creative materials can be really helpful in the therapeutic process. I have found that when I focus on creating something it frees my mind so that I can become more aware of my feelings. (I sometimes notice this same effect when I exercise.) Sometimes elusive emotions show up in the collage or picture I have created.
I’m not talking about artistic expertise here – I’m still scarred from never getting my paintings on the wall at school – just using paints, crayons or dough to express some thoughts and feelings. Some people like to use their non-dominant hand to remove their own expectations of pristine results and allow them to work without judgement.
I encourage you to explore but as always you know what’s best for you and I will never push you to use the creative materials available.
experience
Counselling is my second career so I have varied life experiences. I now work in private practice but I have also worked for agencies and organisations to help develop my work and my experience of counselling.
Both as a trainee and as a qualified counsellor, I enjoyed working in a women’s centre. I worked with women of all ages. I found it very satisfying to work with women as they found their feet and explored the possibilities open to them, sometimes creating space for themselves for the first time in their life.
I also worked with bereaved adults and children in a bereavement counselling service. We all have different experiences of bereavement and there may be pressure to see the deceased through rose-tinted spectacles. The people around us sometimes make judgements about the way we should grieve and for how long we are allowed to show our grief. These expectations from other people can make our loss harder to cope with.
My first paid counselling role was in a secondary school working with both students and staff and I particularly enjoyed seeing students empowered by my lack of judgement. As we build trust between us young people realise that this is a space where they can be open and look at the challenges facing them in a new way and with an advocate at their side.
I now work in private practice but also use my skills as a volunteer for a crisis telephone helpline. I find great satisfaction in being a warm, caring voice when someone has nowhere to turn.
qualifications
- Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling CAPB Level 4 (2019)
- Certificate in Counselling Studies CAPB Level 3 (2017)
- Certificate in Counselling Skills CAPB Level 2 (2017)
Recent further training/courses include:
- Introduction to person-centred expressive arts therapy
- Queering the therapy space
- Integrating artwork into your counselling practice
- Working at relational depth
- Societal rape myths and traumatic reactions
- Working with Bereaved people
- Using creative resources with adults children and young people
I am a member of The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and follow their ethical framework.
I am a member of The Person-Centred Association and meet regularly with other therapists to maintain my high standards.
You may find the answer to your question by clicking on f.a.q. If there is anything else you need to know just contact me. I welcome comments and queries.