My counselling practice is based on creating a safe and trusting relationship with my clients so that they feel able to express and explore whatever is happening in their lives. It can be difficult to take that first step and ask for help and I am always mindful of this. I offer a safe, non-judgemental, genuine and empathic space in which we work at the client's pace and with the issues the client brings. My focus is on developing a therapeutic relationship that can facilitate the changes that my client wants. Sessions with children are child-centred and, as well as talking, aim to provide children with ways of expressing themselves creatively through play and art when they can't find the words to talk about their difficulties or say how they feel. In this safe space, the child can begin to make sense of his or her feelings and find ways of coping with and managing them. I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and work to their ethical framework. I am fully insured and DBS checked and receive regular clinical supervision in line with BACP guidelines. Sessions are generally weekly and last for 50 minutes. BA (Honours): French with Psychology
Diploma (of Higher Education) in Counselling
Postgraduate Diploma in Psychological Studies (Child and Adolescent Development)
Working Creatively with Children: The Centre for Child Mental Health in London
I also engage in Continuing Professional Development and have undertaken many shorter training courses including Safeguarding and Child Protection (level 1, 2 and 3), Self Harm, Play Therapy, Eating Disorders, Relationships, Sexual Abuse, Domestic Violence, Brief Solution Focused Therapy, Grief, Loss and Trauma, Working with Anger, Working with Families with Complex Needs, Mental Health Issues, Childhood Abuse, Sexual Exploitation and Anxiety. I have extensive experience, alongside my private practice, of working as a schools counsellor in both primary and secondary schools, as a child therapist in the private sector, as a counsellor for Barnardos, Relate and Family Mediation Service and (currently) as Senior Family and Young People's Worker for South Gloucestershire Council where I also lead on and facilitate parenting groups.
