| Certified By: | BACP |
| From: | Brighton, East Sussex, United Kingdom (UK) |
| Type of session: | Via Skype, Secure Video Call, Secure Text Chat, Via Phone |
| Also speaks: | English |
| Specialty: | Abuse, Anxiety, Depression, Family, Grief, Relationships, Self - Esteem, Stress, Trauma |
| Target Age Group: | Teenager, Adult, Me and my partner |
| Therapist Since: | 1989 |
I’ve been counselling since 1989, and since then have been inspired by the resilience, bravery and sensitivity of the many adults, young people, families and couples I have worked with. I have extensive experience of working with sexual abuse and trauma, parenting and attachment difficulties, identity and relationship issues, depression and anxiety, bereavement and loss. I am committed to collaborating with you to find the resilient, hopeful part of yourself that becomes expert in managing your challenges and is motivated by the smallest signs of progress towards your preferred future.
I originally qualified as a Person-Centred counsellor, and have completed additional training in Transactional Analysis, Systemic Family Therapy, Attachment Based Therapy and Online Counselling. In 2007 I qualified as a Solution Focused Practitioner and this is how I prefer to work now. I have found the Solution Focused approach to be extremely effective in my personal life as well as in my work with clients.
Rape Crisis Centre
Survivors’ Network
Youth Counselling Services (online and face to face)
Women’s Mental Health Charity
Family Support and Parenting Social Worker
Adoption Counsellor
Hospice Counsellor
Private Practice
Family Group Conference
Family Group Conference Co-Ordinator
Essential characteristics of the Solution Focused approach include: seeing a person as being more than their problem; looking for personal resources rather than deficits, exploring possible and preferred futures; exploring what is already contributing to those futures and genuinely treating clients as the experts in their lives. Clients have valued this approach for a variety of reasons:
Because Solution Focused conversations do not require us to delve into the past, the number of sessions is typically fewer than with other forms of therapy and therefore provides good value for money.
Because of the emphasis on noticing small steps towards your preferred future, you are likely to begin feeling better very early on in therapy, which is highly motivating and will encourage you to continue.
Because you will learn some helpful techniques which you can apply to all aspects of your life, without the ongoing need of a therapist. You are in control and can decide when to end – you can always come back for a ‘top up’ session if you think it would be helpful.
Because small changes to one part of a family system or relationship can have a knock-on effect on other parts. If your partner or family member is unwilling to come to therapy, you may still be able to make helpful changes to your relationship.
Because there is no ‘normal’. I hope you will experience me as non-judgemental, welcoming and genuinely interested in your experience of all the things that have made you the person you are, the person you hope to be and the life you hope to lead.
Because it’s not about ‘looking on the bright side’, but instead aims to balance an acknowledgement of how challenging things are for you at the moment with identifying how you would like things to be in the future, and working towards that.
