Prior to becoming a therapist, I travelled widely and worked overseas, encountering diverse people, cultures, and ways of interpreting the world.

But it was the exploration of my own inner world, through therapy, that brought me the self-awareness and compassion necessary for a more balanced and contented life.

My experience of both sides of the therapeutic relationship informs my trust in the value of counselling and its potential to heal and galvanise.

I am a qualified and experienced counsellor registered with the BACP.

I hold an Accredited Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling.

I run my own international private practice online, and have a therapy room in Portslade Village for face-to-face appointments with local clients.

My therapeutic approach draws on my person-centred and experiential training.

person-centred

Your life is unique. I can never know you or the path you should follow better than you do.

I believe that we each have within us the resources to live a healthy and fulfilling life. However, these abilities can sometimes get blocked or distorted by our personal circumstances and relationships, past and present.

We will explore your issues, feelings, beliefs, behaviours, and worldview to help deepen your own understanding and self-awareness.

I believe that the key to enabling another’s potential lies in consistently offering acceptance, empathy, and kindness.

experiential

This approach works with the knowledge that emotions are felt, experienced and stored in our bodies.

For example, for some of us anxiety may be felt as a constriction of the chest and shortness of breath, for others it might reside in the gut.

An emotion may be triggered by thoughts in our head, but it is felt in our bodies.

Paying attention to the wisdom of our body can give us insight into our emotional state, helping guide us towards better understanding.

These are the cornerstones that inform and guide my work.

Initial contact

It takes courage to seek out support. I recognise this can be a big step.

introductions

I offer a free, no obligation 20-minute telephone chat. This can be an opportunity for us to explore what you need from counselling and address any questions you might have before booking a session.

Exploratory Session

What has been going on for you and what brings you to counselling?

Our first session is a chance to explore these questions and for you to get an idea of how we might work together.

While there is no commitment to continue further, if you feel a sense of ease and rapport, this suggests potential for an effective therapeutic relationship.

If I do not think I am the best person to support your specific needs, I will let you know and can offer a referral.

Ongoing sessions

The content and pace of our sessions will be set by you. You might want to talk about a particular issue, share difficult or painful feelings or deal with what is arising in the present moment. My role is to act as a supportive and understanding guide and help you make sense of what’s going on.

During a session I will give you my complete attention, listening deeply with acceptance, empathy and kindness. When appropriate I might:

• Seek to clarify your thoughts and feelings
• Help you explore new or alternative perspectives
• Notice ways in which you relate to yourself and others
• Help you to make connections and see patterns in your life
• Invite you to notice sensations in your body to gain insight into your emotional state

I encourage regular reviews so we can assess how therapy is helping you. We can decide together when to continue and/or when to work towards completion.