I am a Registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and have 9 years' experience working as a qualified Person-Centred therapist. I have experience working with children, young people, and adults in a variety of different settings, including schools, charitable organisations, and the NHS.

I have also completed training within Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and have worked with a number of different mental health difficulties such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic distress.

I work with individuals using an integrative approach, drawing on different therapeutic models such as the Person-Centred approach and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which means I can tailor the therapy to fit your needs.

Qualifications

PGCert Psychological Therapies Practice Level 7 (High intensity Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) validated by University of Exeter

PGCert Psychological Therapies Practice Level 7 (Low Intensity Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) validated by University of Exeter

BA Hons (TOP UP) Level 6 in Social Care management validated by Plymouth University

DipHE in Person Centred Counselling & Psychotherapy validated by Middlesex University

Dip Relationship Counselling validated by Marriage Care

FdA Creative Arts Therapy Studies validated by Plymouth University

As a registered member of the BACP, I adhere to their ethical framework and code of professional conduct, which assures confidentiality. Any information that is obtained is stored in line with the Data Protection Act. Due to this, I am registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

I attend regular supervision as part of working within a safe and ethical way. My supervisor will also adhere to a professional body and follow a code of ethical standards.

I am fully insured and have my own Professional Indemnity Insurance.

The person-centred approach to therapy is one of the humanistic approaches founded by Carl Rogers (1902-1987) who believed that given the right conditions of unconditional positive regard otherwise known as UPR which encompasses acceptance, caring, and support for clients in therapy, Congruence which encompasses honesty and transparency in the therapeutic relationship and empathic understanding, an ability to see things from the individuals perspective can support individuals for growth.

Within this approach there are no expectations on the client and sessions are not structured. This is a non-direct from of therapy where the role of the therapist is to support the client in having greater understanding and acceptance of themselves through reflection and clarifying meanings, without offering advice due to the therapist belief in the client knowing themselves best.

Person-centred therapy can assist client self-exploration and promote the clients self worth aiming to improve self-esteem, incisions increasing the clients trust in their ability to make decisions which feel in line with who they are as an individual.

As Rogers states ‘ The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change’

CBT is a type of talking therapy that can support clients to feel better able to manage difficulties by exploring the relationship between unhelpful thoughts, behaviours and emotions that can all impact on each other causing unhelpful cycles to occur.

The therapist aim within this approach is to help the client to break out of the cycle by using certain techniques to support provide insight and management of the difficulties.

The first step within this approach would be to gain understanding of the problems that are creating the difficulties by evaluation and modification of unhelpful thinking to more adaptive and healthier ways of viewing the problem.

Exploration of behavioural patterns and the use of active experiments can support challenge problems. Some examples of what CBT might initial could include exposure to situations that cause anxiety such as interactions in social situations.

CBT can work well with supporting a range of common mental health problems such as depression, anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

CBT is a very active form of therapy in which the therapist and client would be working in collaboration together. Within this approach the client may need to continue to practice and engage in techniques outside of the therapy sessions to gain the most benefits.

I work in 2&6 Therapy Rooms which is a purpose build building that offers holistic therapies and is set up for individuals to feel safe and secure when receiving therapeutic interventions.

2&6 Therapy Rooms has secure entry for clients safety and provides free parking facilities for easy access.