About Me & How I Work
I am a counsellor working in the Oldbury area. I have been counselling since 2008. I currently work in private practice.
I previously worked as a bereavement counsellor at a local hospice and for several years as an addictions counsellor working with clients who had addictions to alcohol, drugs and gambling and also with their families and significant others in their lives. I then worked as a student counsellor at Worcester University.
I am an integrative counsellor drawing on theories that include Person-Centred, Gestalt, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). I also use Somatic Psychotherapy and Energy Psychotherapy techniques in my work as well as Mindfulness.
Throughout my time as a counsellor I have developed a special interest in working with trauma and I have adapted my model to reflect this. I work with many clients who have experienced trauma in its different forms from traumas such as road traffic accidents, armed robberies and terror attacks to domestic violence, sexual abuse and neglect.
I offer one-to-one counselling on a time-limited or ongoing basis. I also do a lot of work for different employee assistant programmes (EAPs) including supporting staff from local schools, emergency services, hospitals and hospices.
I am an accredited member of the (BACP) British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy and as such adhere to their code of ethics and practice.
I have great faith in counselling and believe it can help us reach our full potential in life and help ease emotional pain.
Below are some of the problems I have helped my clients with in the past:
Addiction - alcohol, drugs and gambling OCD
Anxiety Problems from childhood including emotional, physical, sexual and relational trauma.
Bereavement and loss Stress
Bullying Trauma
Depression Work related issues
Eating disorders
Emotional neglect
Low self-esteem / self-confidence
Qualifications:
NCFE Diploma in Counselling 2008
NCFE Certificate in Counselling Skills and Theory 2005
Workshops:
Emotional Neglect - Working with Developmental Deficits (2023)
An Introduction to Energy Psychotherapy (2023)
Vagal Toning for Therapy / Therapists (2022)
Healing Sexual Trauma and Abuse - Awakening Through Breathwork (2022)
Obsessions, Ruminations and Intrusive Thoughts (2022)
DBT (Dialectic Behaviour Therapy) Essentials (2021)
Trauma - Stabilisation and Creating Safety (2021)
Counselling Online - A Coronavirus Primer BACP (2021)
Vagus Nerve Regulation and Trauma Recovery (2020)
OCST Webcam & Voice Only Online Counselling (2020)
Coronavirus : Considering our responses and Responsibilities Series (2020)
Personality Disorders and Affect Regulation (2020)
Theraplay - Therapeutic Play (2020)
Integrating Somatic Psychology into Evidence Based Trauma Treatment (2019)
Sleep Workshop (2019)
Suicide Prevention (2019)
Resilience and Post Traumatic Growth (2019)
Mind-body Approach to Treating Chronic Trauma (2018)
Disclosure, Safeguarding & the Criminal Justice Process: Obligations to Survivors of Abuse (2018)
Inner Child Workshop 2018
Foundation in Solution Focussed Practice 2018
Drugs, booze and smart pills 2018
Working with Medically Unexplained Symptoms 2017
Transactional Analysis (TA) 101 2016
Right Here Right Now (Working Relationally with Clients using Applied Improvisation 2016
Working Therapeutically with Survivors of Sexual Trauma 2015
The Rewind Technique for Post Traumatic Stress with David Muss 2015
Mobilising Compassion in Group Psychotherapy 2015
UK/European Symposium on Addictive Disorders 2015
Focussing as a way of Working with Trauma 2014
Transforming Shame and Self Loathing 2014
Working with Relational Trauma 2013
Understanding Bulimia from an Attachment Perspective 2013
Trauma and the Body 2013
Living and Working with Dissociation 2013
Mental Health Training 2010
Motivational Interviewing 2009
Legal and Illegal Drugs 2009
Cocaine and Crack 2009
Heroin and Treatment 2009