Why did you choose to become a therapist?

My mum faced a 15 year struggle with her heart that sadly led to her death aged 54. She found strength to have all the difficult conversations about death, she felt empowered to fight on even when it seemed hopeless and, most importantly, she found peace through counselling.

I also went to counselling after a bad car crash and during my mum’s illness and it just clicked, I wanted to enable clients to feel empowered and find their strength; to have support when life was at its hardest; to be their person that meant they were not alone, someone was beside them not judging them, not fixing it, just enabling them to find their way, to feel what they felt.

What type of therapy do you practise?

I am a humanistic counsellor, also trained in stress management, CBT, mindfulness for health, NLP and TFT. The combination of all these evidence based techniques is a proactive approach tailored for each individual client’s needs.

How does that help people?

Clients’ feedback to me is that they feel more in control, able to cope, with reduced stress. They have the ability to see things differently, that they feel empowered, heard, supported and great when using the techniques to stop a panic attack.

What sort of people do you usually see?

I see adolescents and women mainly

What do you like about being a therapist?

It’s a privilege to share in this small part of a client’s journey through life. I am constantly in wonder of the difficulties clients overcome, learn to live with, decide to walk away from, find strength they never knew they had. After 20 years I still wake up happy to do my job, I enjoy learning new skills that will benefit myself and my clients.

Do you ever suggest books or apps to clients?

I do suggest APPS I love the CALM APP and particular stories, or meditations, all ones I have tried myself first. Some clients prefer Headspace and the Netflix Headspace series is good too.

Some books I suggest:

  • When the body says no by Garbor Mate.
  • Where ever you go there you are Jon Karat-Zinn
  • Mindfulness: Finding Peace in a Frantic World by Jon Karat-Zinn

What do you do for your own mental health?

  • I meditate every day
  • I do mindful breathing every day
  • I walk everyday with my dog come rain or shine, dark or light, with a friend at 6.30 am gets my day off to a good start, me time!
  • I take a cold shower at the end of my shower every morning and have am currently setting up an ice bath/barrel in the garden
  • I often listen to the calm app at bedtime
  • I love an audio book
  • I love walking on a beach in any weather
  • I like to laugh often as possible and since lockdown one thing is to Facetime my friend every morning whilst doing my hair and makeup, we catch each other out at the funniest of times
  • I love planning big adventures!

What’s your consultation room like?

My room is small but cozy with a light bright feel with pictures of beaches and waves. It has a lovely calm energy about it.

What do you wish people knew about therapy?

  • It’s good for you
  • It’s self care
  • Everyone can benefit from it
  • You don’t have to be NUTs to do it..
  • It can be fun!
  • It’s an adventure that’s just for you, precious in these strange old times we are living through right now.

BOOK PSYCHIATRY & THERAPY