About Me : My Experience
I offer space to share what is changing for you, so you can explore your experiences with my professional support. I am interested in who you are, how you want to be, how you want to live with what is happening and / or what comes next for you.
Every person is different, so I am open to hearing from you. Some areas of interest and professional experience are shared below. I have worked long and short-term and with a range of issues, so please get in touch. Here are some things clients and colleagues have said about me.
Life Changes and Transitions
People often find me to be warm, friendly, non-judgemental and easy to talk to. My experiences and training equip and motivate me to support people who are going through change and finding it challenging, in particular if you are:
in a life transition - becoming a parent, a new stage of parenting, (peri)menopause, ageing, career change or relationship change
adjusting to or processing news of an autism or other diagnosis, for yourself or for a neurodivergent child or loved one
a young adult - perhaps starting or struggling at university, adjusting to living alone or away from home, embarking on a career / education / training
experiencing societal pressures or expectations - struggling with how you ‘should’ feel (about a new relationship, divorce, pregnancy, childbirth, promotion) or perhaps finding heavy the burden of wider global change
leaving, joining or changing within a religion - you may have experienced coercion, abusive behaviour or your beliefs and spiritual identity may be changing
Counselling helped me to process changes I have been through. I understand that counselling can feel daunting or mysterious at first.
If you are seeking psychotherapy for depression, grief counselling, autism counselling, noticing changes in your mental health - or something else - I would love to hear from you.
Professional Experience and Training
I am a qualified Integrative Counsellor*, accredited by the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society and a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. I trained with The Academy SPACE.
I have worked for Sheffield Carers, Sheffield’s Adult Autism and Neurodevelopmental Service, Barnsley’s Recovery Steps Service, The University of Sheffield’s Counselling and Mental Health Service and Space to Breathe. I have worked with survivors of abuse.
*Integrative Counsellors have working knowledge of several counselling approaches, instead of in-depth expertise in one. I use a range of tools in my work, depending on what you need and communicate to me. I pay close attention to the therapy relationship - the way a counsellor and client relate strongly influences whether or not the work is experienced positively.
I am inspired and influenced by the Person-Centred Approach to counselling, and so endeavour to prioritise:
genuine contact between myself and my clients
striving to ensure clients feel understood and experience empathy
unwavering acceptance of the client, without judgement
my self-awareness and congruence (authenticity)
In a session, I take care to listen, contribute, respond, ask questions and offer suggestions. I might suggest activities, share knowledge or resources.
