Profile
Background, Training and Approach
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Background
Formally a youth worker, outdoor instructor, and development trainer, I went on to study Creative Expressive Therapies (BA Hons) following which I trained as a Arts Therapist, registered with the Health Professions Council. More recently I have trained as a Lifespan Integration Therapist.
My work has always involved working with people to support and develop areas of growth. I have 20 years combined experience working with children, adolescents and adults individually and in groups.
My Approach
Fundamentally, I am a relational therapist, which means I place the importance of 'relationship' in the centre of my work with clients. I favour an Humanistic approach, which acknowledges the needs of the client, allowing their individual pace to be respected. In practice this means the methods applied are in direct response to the individuals needs. Because different needs present themselves at different levels I work integratively, using psychodynamic, behavioural and developmental models. Additionally, attachment theory (how people bond with others and manage emotional states) accompanies all of my work.
As a therapist, I offer my clients the opportunity to work cognitively (through verbal discussion) as well as creatively. The role of imagination and creativity in counselling is very powerful in its ability to heal and, where words aren’t enough, to express oneself and find new perspectives. This can be done using images, story and metaphors.
I recognise that counselling allows people the opportunity to increase their self-awareness, attend to unmet needs and re-examine any unhelpful values/behaviours. It is essential that for therapy to work the client must experience a confidential and non-judgemental environment in which they can feel safe, trusting and receive respect and empathy.
As an Arts Therapist and Health Professional, I am a member of the British Association of Dramatherapists and am registered with the Health Professions Council, registration number: AS06278. I am therefore bound by their professional codes of conduct and ethics. Details of both organisations and their codes of conduct can be found on their websites. Please go to ‘Links’ to find their web addresses.
My interest in working as a therapist grew slowly from my late teens through my 20’s. I found my early work with children and young people led me to be intrigued about working more deeply with them. I therefore trained as an outdoor development trainer. Although, in this role I was able to engage more meaningfully with the young people and their development, I was becoming aware that I was increasingly hungry to know more about the psychological processes that were going on that we were only able to scratch the surface of. I attended a weekend workshop in Dramatherapy for development trainers and the rest is history!
Training and short courses
2011 Infant Diagnostic Classification, School of Infant Mental Health, London
2011 Lifespan Integration Therapy, Sheffield Women's Counselling and Therapy Service
2006 Brief Solution Focused Therapy, NHS
2006 Adult protection course, NHS
2005 Dramatherapy PG Dip, University of Derby
2003 Creative Expressive Therapies BA Hons, University of Derby
2005 Systemic Family Therapy course, Sheffield
2003 ‘Artrain: Learning into Action’, Arts & Business, University of Derby
1999 Child Protection Training, Social Services, Fairbridge, Bristol
1997 Self-harm Awareness Training, Fairbridge, Bristol
1997 Reviewing Skills for Development Trainers, Fairbridge, London
1997 Basic Counselling Skills, Fairbridge, Bristol
1996 Drug Use Awareness, Fairbridge, Bristol
1992 Anti-racism Training, Cambridge City Council
1992 AIDS Awareness, Cambridge City Council
1991 Dealing with Difficult Behaviour, Cambridge City Council
Formally a youth worker, outdoor instructor, and development trainer, I went on to study Creative Expressive Therapies (BA Hons) following which I trained as a Arts Therapist, registered with the Health Professions Council. More recently I have trained as a Lifespan Integration Therapist.
My work has always involved working with people to support and develop areas of growth. I have 20 years combined experience working with children, adolescents and adults individually and in groups.
My Approach
Fundamentally, I am a relational therapist, which means I place the importance of 'relationship' in the centre of my work with clients. I favour an Humanistic approach, which acknowledges the needs of the client, allowing their individual pace to be respected. In practice this means the methods applied are in direct response to the individuals needs. Because different needs present themselves at different levels I work integratively, using psychodynamic, behavioural and developmental models. Additionally, attachment theory (how people bond with others and manage emotional states) accompanies all of my work.
As a therapist, I offer my clients the opportunity to work cognitively (through verbal discussion) as well as creatively. The role of imagination and creativity in counselling is very powerful in its ability to heal and, where words aren’t enough, to express oneself and find new perspectives. This can be done using images, story and metaphors.
I recognise that counselling allows people the opportunity to increase their self-awareness, attend to unmet needs and re-examine any unhelpful values/behaviours. It is essential that for therapy to work the client must experience a confidential and non-judgemental environment in which they can feel safe, trusting and receive respect and empathy.
As an Arts Therapist and Health Professional, I am a member of the British Association of Dramatherapists and am registered with the Health Professions Council, registration number: AS06278. I am therefore bound by their professional codes of conduct and ethics. Details of both organisations and their codes of conduct can be found on their websites. Please go to ‘Links’ to find their web addresses.
My interest in working as a therapist grew slowly from my late teens through my 20’s. I found my early work with children and young people led me to be intrigued about working more deeply with them. I therefore trained as an outdoor development trainer. Although, in this role I was able to engage more meaningfully with the young people and their development, I was becoming aware that I was increasingly hungry to know more about the psychological processes that were going on that we were only able to scratch the surface of. I attended a weekend workshop in Dramatherapy for development trainers and the rest is history!
Training and short courses
2011 Infant Diagnostic Classification, School of Infant Mental Health, London
2011 Lifespan Integration Therapy, Sheffield Women's Counselling and Therapy Service
2006 Brief Solution Focused Therapy, NHS
2006 Adult protection course, NHS
2005 Dramatherapy PG Dip, University of Derby
2003 Creative Expressive Therapies BA Hons, University of Derby
2005 Systemic Family Therapy course, Sheffield
2003 ‘Artrain: Learning into Action’, Arts & Business, University of Derby
1999 Child Protection Training, Social Services, Fairbridge, Bristol
1997 Self-harm Awareness Training, Fairbridge, Bristol
1997 Reviewing Skills for Development Trainers, Fairbridge, London
1997 Basic Counselling Skills, Fairbridge, Bristol
1996 Drug Use Awareness, Fairbridge, Bristol
1992 Anti-racism Training, Cambridge City Council
1992 AIDS Awareness, Cambridge City Council
1991 Dealing with Difficult Behaviour, Cambridge City Council
