Qualifications
My qualifications
NCFE Level 5 Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling
Open University courses:
Introduction to Psychology
Death and Dying
Understanding Children
Introduction to Counselling
Mental Illness in Society
Diploma in Homebased Childcare
I am a member of the BACP and adhere to their ethical guidelines.
Accredited provider for The Foundation for Infant Loss
A little about me
I worked in the City and West End of London around the banking industry, career recruitment and in property, before I became a mum. Management development training exposed me to many of the pressures faced by top level executives, often highly stressed and feeling insecure whilst at the pinnacle of their careers. Professional clients often say to me that other people would not realise how distressed they are feeling, because they project an air of being in charge and look as if they have control of their lives. One thing which really excites me in counselling is helping clients to achieve a better work/life balance and assisting them to find ways of enriching their sense of self, when they may have felt their career trajectory was at odds with where they wanted to be as a person.
Leaving the City I ran a childcare business for 11 years and became an advocate for my own child's complex SEN. Counselling training was yet another complete career overhaul at age 50, and I went on to receive an adult diagnosis of ADHD myself at 54. This made a lot of sense and fueled my avid interest in the effects of learning challenges both for children and on the adults who care for them. I realised that I have tips and hints around organisation that can help other ADHD clients in the workplace. There are few resources available to parents and guardians of those with complex needs, and I really like to help them with the relationship challenges this brings.
Neurodiversity comes hand in hand with creativity and I find that I also gravitate towards clients performing in the arts (and vice versa), I have worked young adults on the spectrum, and understand complex medical or educational needs. Having had repeated orthopaedic surgery myself , I know my way around a hospital and have first hand experience of the problems experienced by those in the medical profession, and clients coming to terms with disability. I enjoy helping clients with anticipatory anxiety; exams, driving tests, upcoming surgery, giving birth.
Any relaxation method I expose you to will have been personally road tested by me!
Ongoing Personal Development Workshops
As a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy I commit to doing a minimum of thirty hours each year of continuous professional development. This takes many forms such as background research and reading, peer supervision, watching documentaries and webinars and attendance at professional workshops. Here are of some of the topics I have gone on to develop further since being a counsellor.
- Bereavement Support training: St Christopher’s Hospice
- Families Experiencing Domestic Violence Workshop: Separation & Reunion Forum
- Capacity Building Project: Tavistock and Portman Trust; included modules on depression, anxiety and phobias, eating disorders, attachment, PTSD
- Emotional Intelligence Workshop: Lewisham Children’s Centres
- Working with Suicidal Clients: Andrew Reeves, BACP
- Cognitve Behavioural Therapy for OCD: Sally Ingram, BACP
- CBT for Procrastination: Windy Dryden & City CBT Coaching
- Negotiation Skills: Meaney, McConnell International
- Time & Work Effectiveness: Meaney, McConnell International
- Understanding Eating Disorders: Allie Outram, BACP
- Understanding the Impact of Childhood Abuse on Young People: Aqualma Murray, BACP
- Dealing with Difficult People: Nicola Martin, City CBT Coaching
- Supporting Children with ADHD: Bromley CAMHS
- LGBT & Psychotherapy - 35 Years of Change: Dominic Davies, City CBT Coaching
- Counselling Couples: Pam Nell, Associated Examining Board
- When Men Split Women and Why: The Madonna Whore Complex: Jacqueline Simon Gunn, Online Events
- Counselling and the Autistic Spectrum: Liane Collins, Online Events
- Cognitive Behavioural Coaching - The Key Concepts: Windy Dryden & City CBT Coaching
- Trauma Grounding Techniques: Olivia Djouadi, Online Events
- Supporting Miscarriage, Stillbirth and Infant Loss: The Foundation for Infant Loss
- The Psychology of Attraction: Colin Richards, Intimacy Matters
- Strengthening Families: Parenting Across Cultures . Race Equality Foundation
- Principles of Non-Violent Resistance with Young People on the Spectrum: Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
- Beyond Trauma: British Psychological Society
- Understanding Anorexia and Bulimia: Piece By Piece Recovery, Rochelle Craig MSc
- Sexuality and Gender Awareness: New Horizon Counselling
- Rewind Training: Dr David Muss
- Treating PTSD, Trauma & Phobias with the Rewind Technique: Dan Jones, Udemy
- Emotional Regulation, BACP CPD Hub