WHY COUNSELLING?

Usually individuals choose to have counselling because they are experiencing difficulties and distress in their lives. Sometimes people can be isolated but at other times, even where an individual has the most supportive family and friends, they can find it difficult if not impossible to explain why, for example, they may be feeling anxious and or depressed. Or it may be easier to talk about personal, family, or relationship issues with a person who is independent of friends and family. Other life issues and events which can be very difficult to deal with include bereavement, divorce, redundancy, health issues, bullying and so on. However, you do not have to be in crisis or on the verge of one, before choosing to have therapy. You may be experiencing underlying feelings of dissatisfaction with life in general, or be seeking balance in your life and spirituality.

All of these reasons and more will bring individuals to therapy (BACP website).

A B O U T M E

I am a Person-Centred counsellor and supervisor living on the Lizard peninsular in Cornwall.

I see private clients, both adults and young people, at my home in Mullion, near Helston.

As part of my private practice, I work two mornings a week as a school counsellor in a local secondary school where I support students as well as the pastoral team, teaching assistants and TIS practitioners.

Qualifications and Experience

I am fully qualified with a Diploma in Person Centred Counselling and Therapy and am an accredited member of the BACP (the professional body representing counsellors and psychotherapists). This means that I adhere to the guidelines laid down in their ethical framework, see USEFUL LINKS, and have regular supervision.

I also hold a Post-Qualifying Diploma in Counselling Adolescents and Children and a Certificate in Somatic Attachment Therapy.

I am fully insured, registered with the ICO and DBS checked.

Previously I have worked as a creative therapist for:

CLEAR (a Cornish charity working with young people who have experienced abusive relationships

CRASAC (Cornwall Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre)

Students Services at Cornwall College

Penhaligon's Friends, a local childhood bereavement charity

I have experience of working with adults, young people and children on a variety of issues including: anxiety, depression, bereavement, bullying at school and in the work place, self-harm, post-natal depression, pregnancy and birth, parenting, relationship difficulties, sexual, emotional and physical abuse and neglect, domestic violence, trauma, suicidal thoughts, intrusive thoughts and OCD, living with long term illness and disability, CFS, learning difficulties, work-related stress and redundancy.

During the course of my professional training I have completed:

Grief Training - Level 1: The theory of Childhood Loss and Grief
Grief Training - Level 2: Therapeutic Skills and Practical Applications of Theory
Training on working with clients who Self-Harm and on building Resilience
West Cornwall Women's Aid Domestic Violence and Abuse awareness training
Cornwall Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre 20 week courseFGM awareness
Mind and Body together - Emotional Wellbeing training
Training in understanding dissociation and complex dissociative disorders
Depth of play training - using Sandtray to experience symbolism and metaphor in play
Counselling and Autism
ASIST - Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training
Identification and Brief Advice with Alcohol Users
MindEd - elearning for professionals working with children and young people