About the Way I Work

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Change can feel challenging and difficult. To really understand ourselves it can help to talk about our experiences and feelings and our relationships with others. I believe I can offer a safe and secure space where you explore some of the blocks that are keeping you stuck. Counselling can give you an opportunity to look at how you can make changes and restore some of the hope that you may feel you have lost. 

The first time we meet will be a chance to talk about what you what to get out of counselling and how we can achieve that together. Change can be both challenging and exciting but I feel it is important to go at the pace of the person.

I would describe myself an integrative practitioner and this means that I have a core model which is a person-centred approach. The main aim of this approach is to treat a person with respect, be non-judgmental and be genuine and open. I use other approaches to fit the needs of  the person I am working with. These can be approaches such as Compassion Focused, Mindfulness, and Solution Focused. I have included a brief explanation of each:

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Compassion focused therapy: many of us have critical judgmental voices in our heads and this approach helps you to develop a more gentle and nurturing part of yourself.

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Mindfulness: much of the time we end up thinking about the future and the past and rarely do we allow ourselves to be in the moment and mindfulness is a way of helping us pay attention to how we are feeling in the moment. It has close ties to meditation.

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Solution focused therapy: this approach  aims to help you to identify your strengths and areas in your life where you are doing well and to build on these. As people we are changing all the time and it is important to  imagine how you can build the future you want first so that you can then make it happen.

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A Bit About Me: Training, qualifications & experience:

I have been a counsellor for six  years. For the past 4 years  I have worked part time as counsellor for  the NHS Improved Access to Psychological Therapies Service  undertaking counselling for depression and anxiety. Previous to this I have been a  volunteer counsellor at Share  (Sheffield), Nottingham Counselling Centre ,St Luke’s Hospice Sheffield, Leeds University and Sheffield University Student Counselling services. I have been a registered social worker for 26 years.

I have experience in both short term and long term work.

I am a member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (B.A.C.P.)and have a Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling at Manchester University. I am currently undertaking further post graduate study at York St John's University

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I have experience in working with the following issues: anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, shame, loss and bereavement, relationship difficulties, worry and stress, work related issues, child abuse, suicidal thoughts, domestic abuse.

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Member organization: B.A.C.P.

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Costs

Sessions last 50mins and cost £50. Some people come just for a short term therapy and  some longer and this will be discussed with you as part of looking at what you want to achieve through counselling.

Please note your personal details are treated with the utmost confidence and in line with the Data Protection Act 1998.

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