Experience
As well as working privately, I'm a Macmillan Counsellor, based at a local NHS Hospital Based Counselling Service, since 2017.
I work individually with a diverse client group each experiencing their own issues/challenges and I also run an Anxiety Management Group.
I believe that emotional difficulties arise when our internal world becomes "out of sync" with our external world. Examples of such "inbalances" are below. Please note, my work is not limited to these areas.
Traumatic changes to our environment or circumstances, for example:
- Covid-19 and the restrictions/requirements that have followed.
- Changes brought about by serious illness; this could be for yourself or a loved one
- Change in family dynamics e.g. birth of a child, child leaving home, caring for parents
- Lifestyle changes e.g. redundancy, retirement, move away from home
- Loss through bereavement
- Managing labels and stereotyping
- Support with cross cultural issues
Symptoms that you might experience:
- Anxiety
- Confidence or low self-esteem
- Depression
- Difficult relationships with food
- Difficulty with relationships
If my approach sounds like what you need,
Anxiety UK Approved Therapist
I'm also an Anxiety UK Approved Therapist providing therapeutic support to the charity’s members and partner beneficiaries.
I'm subject to Anxiety UK’s regular monitoring of my professional qualifications, supervision, continual professional development, insurance and professional body membership in addition to complying with the ethical framework and professional standards set down by my registered governing body.
Full details of the Anxiety UK Approved Therapist scheme can be found at www.anxietyuk.org.uk/get-help/access-therapy/.
Details about becoming a member of Anxiety UK to be able to access therapy via the charity can be found here www.anxietyuk.org.uk/get-help/become-a-member/.
Other Experience
I have been a volunteer for the Stroke Association, since 2016.
Prior to training as a Counsellor, I spent 14 years working in the Professional Services industry in Central London, first as an International Human Resources Consultant then as a Manager.
Why I'm a Counsellor
My experiences in the corporate world taught me a lot about myself and also the impact that stress (work related and other), anxiety and other mental health issues can have in the workplace. Additionally, I learnt the value of having a work life balance.
This understanding, along with my own experiences of counselling whilst at University and in early adulthood, prompted me to take an Introductory course on Counselling. It was then that I found my passion for the professional but also empathic understanding of others as well as myself, as I became aware of the judgements and criticisms we face from ourselves and the world around us.
My focus is on ensuring that I am providing accessible mental health support particularly for those that might feel sidelined, labelled or stereotyped by wider society.
I continue with to keep my learning up to date by attending online courses and ensure that I am providing my clients with the best possible support by having regular supervision.
