Welcome to my therapy page; I realise it can be a daunting step starting your search for a therapist and a minefield trying to make sure you pick the right person. I hope this will help answer some of your questions but please do feel free to contact me should you want more information on how I work.
I hold an MA in Counselling and I am an accredited registered member of the BACP working in Manchester. I work within the BACP’s Ethical Framework and I have comprehensive insurance to provide therapy. I adopt an integrative approach to therapy, which means I can tailor my approach to best meet the needs of clients. I am committed to ensuring my practice is up to date and evidence based and engage in continuing professional and personal development.
I believe that the therapeutic relationship is the key within any counselling approach so it is vital that you feel comfortable with the therapist you chose. I offer an initial telephone consultation to discuss your needs and if you are comfortable, we can book an appointment to start our work together.
I have extensive experience of supporting people with a wide range of mental health difficulties. I have over 10 years experience of working in the drug and alcohol sector. I have a sound working knowledge of supporting individuals who have a history of complex trauma, particularly those who have experienced abuse and have a specialist interest in working with men. I have worked at Survivors Manchester and volunteered at Manchester Rape Crisis as well as running a busy Counselling and Psychotherapy service in a local Women’s Centre. I have also worked with athletes from a range of sports so understand the unique pressures of being in such an environment. I run a busy private practice and have worked with couples and individuals experiencing a vast range of issues.
Trauma Informed Work
I specialise in working with individuals who have been affected by trauma; particularly those who have experienced childhood sexual abuse or rape. I work with both men and women and recognise that everyone’s experience is unique.
I work with clients to support them in gaining an insight into their traumatic experiences and to develop an understanding of how the legacy of abuse impacts on their ability to function in relationships and how they view their self-identity. I recognise that for some people, they may not want to explore the trauma they have experienced so will work with them to develop robust coping mechanisms and build their resilience.
EMDR (eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing)
I am a qualified EMDR practitioner and I am currently working towards accreditation; EMDR (eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing) is used for the treatment of psychological problems such as depression, anxiety, bereavement and loss, addictions and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. EMDR is recommended by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) as one of two treatments for PTSD. EMDR focuses on any negative experiences, which may be hindering an individual’s current life and reprocesses them to allow people to have a more positive and fulfilled life.
Substance & Alcohol Misuse
I have a number of years experience of working within drug and alcohol services, supporting clients to gain control over their addiction or dependency and to be able to effectively live their lives.
I understand that there are many complex reasons that drive people to use drugs or alcohol problematically and often this can build up over time, having an impact both on the individual and those around them. I work with individuals to support them to gain an insight in their behaviours and to empower them to work towards their goals; be this total abstinence or a reduction in consumption.
I also have experience of working with people who have wider issues of addiction such as gambling and will support people to help them gain an insight into their behaviours and how they can start to make changes.
Both my work in trauma and substance misuse has given me a unique understanding in to the impact these issues have on family and friends. I am able to support individuals to understand their family member or friend’s behaviour and come to terms with the impact this has had on their relationships.
Baby Loss
I have a specialist interest in working with those who have experienced baby loss; regardless of gestation or circumstances. Again, working from a trauma informed perspective, I can support people to understand their grief and build continuing bonds, as well as helping them navigate the next steps in their fertility journey, be this trying again, exploring fostering and adoption or opting to move forward without a child.
Relationship Counselling
I hold a certificate in Couples Counselling and am able to support couples to manage and work through any relationship issues they are experiencing. I can support you to develop positive communication strategies to address changes in your relationship and will work collaboratively with you to help you find a constructive way forward.
What to Expect
I offer both face to face and remote sessions, depending on your preference. My office is based on a quiet residential street, with ample parking and good public transport links. Remote sessions can be done over Zoom, Teams, FaceTime or What’s App, based on client preference. Sessions are charged at £75 for individuals and payment can be made by bank transfer; I do also offer a limited number of spaces at a concessional rate to work towards therapy being accessible to everyone. Sessions last for 50 minutes and we will generally meet on a weekly basis. I do offer both short and long term work and ensure that we regularly review the work we undertake to ensure we are moving towards mutually agreed goals. I am able to provide invoices for those who have private medical insurance and I also take referrals from Employment Assistance Programmes.