“It is only when shame reaches the light of day that the healing process can begin. The presence of others allows in that light of day.”

- Patricia DeYoung -

My Approach

Everyone has an inherent wisdom within themselves towards healing and transformation through the struggles or difficulties of life. My role is to facilitate this journey, give it a nudge in the right direction.

When we initially meet, I will apply gentle curiosity to explore what brings you to therapy and together we can have a look at what you might want to gain from the process. My aim is for you to feel seen, heard and warmly accepted.

I value the 3 A’s as a rough guide for what can emerge from the issues you choose to bring:

• Awareness through exploring thoughts, feelings, responses, behaviours and patterns. You will come to recognise how these have been shaped by life experiences. 

• Acceptance expands from awareness, of different parts of yourself, your story, your identity, your past, the present, the other people in your life. 

• Accountability strengthens with acceptance and awareness, an increasing sense of empowerment, choice and freedom in how you want to move forward and live your life with resilience. 

Whether it is anxiety, relationship difficulties, depression, low self-esteem, grief, trauma, abuse, major life changes, addiction or feelings of shame, anger, overwhelm, confusion and loneliness, you don’t have to struggle alone with these issues.

About me

I have experience engaging with a wide range of relational, psychological, and emotional issues through NHS Talking Therapies, community counselling services across South London, and support work with clients who have clinical diagnoses.

In previous years I have worked in residential care and educational settings with young people who have additional needs, plus social/outreach care with adults in the Deaf community, and prior to that, in architecture.

Areas of interest

I am interested in the challenges that come with ‘being different’ and having more than one identity, balancing the tension between individual freedom and a sense of belonging. It is an area that includes feelings of not ‘fitting in’, anxiety, roots of shame in early experiences, oppression, masculinity, queer identities, and disability.

I am also able to offer sessions in British Sign Language (BSL) and Sign Supported English (SSE).

Training and professional qualifications

I have a Diploma in Humanistic Psychotherapeutic Counselling from the Metanoia Institute, one of the leading therapy training institutions in the UK and am currently in advanced clinical training to complete the MSc in Humanistic Psychotherapy.

The Humanistic approach integrates three main theories, Person-Centred, Gestalt, and Transactional Analysis. I use each of these, as well as wider psychological theories and methods, in different ways to best suit the needs of my client.

As a registered member of the BACP, the largest professional body for counsellors in the UK, I abide by their Ethical Framework, which includes confidentiality and non-discriminatory practice. I am a neuro-affirmative and LGBTQ+ affirmative counsellor, clinically supervised for all clinical work I undertake.

I am also registered with the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) and follow their guidelines for GDPR.