ABOUT ME AND MY APPROACH

One of the most important factors in whether or not your therapy will be successful is your relationship with your therapist. It’s really important that you find the right fit for you, and I recommend that you speak to a few therapists with this in mind. I hope this website gives you a sense of who I am.

Like most therapists, I’ve had a tonne of therapy myself, and the difference it made in my life is the reason that I changed career. I like the fact that, in therapy, you (the client) are in charge, driving the car, so to speak, but I am the co-pilot - I can help you understand the landscape and make the adjustments you need to live a better life.

My APPROACH

I trained as an integrative counsellor and psychotherapist, which means I trained in a few different approaches. However, when I was working at the Priory, I realised that, although clients were feeling better, sometimes there were remaining issues that we couldn’t quite resolve through my usual approach. Speaking to colleagues revealed a different type of therapy, EMDR, might be helpful.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) was discovered in the late 1980s is considered more effective than many traditional therapies for certain issues, particularly trauma and deeply rooted emotional distress, because it directly targets the brain's natural healing processes. Unlike talk therapy, which focuses on discussing and exploring issues, EMDR works by reprocessing distressing memories and reducing their emotional charge, often in a shorter time frame. It allows the brain to heal by desensitising these memories and experiences, leading to faster relief from symptoms like anxiety, flashbacks, or phobias. Many clients find that EMDR helps them achieve lasting results when other therapies have not fully addressed the core issues. I know, it sounds really ‘out there’ - but EMDR therapy is recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as an effective form of therapy.

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about me

Before becoming a therapist, I worked in the financial sector, in government, and then at director level in the international not-for-profit sector. I spent a number of years living overseas in Europe, sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia. I loved that work, but wanted to work in something where I had a more direct connection with people, fewer pointless meetings, and less jet lag. I now live in Surrey, in the UK, enjoy spending a lot of time with my dog, am a keen (if slow) runner, avid reader, expert Netflix-er, and a teetotal vegetarian (but I still know how to have fun - really).

My CREDENTIALS

  • I am BACP-Accredited, which means that I have met my professional body’s higher standard as a competent, ethical and independent practitioner. I am also a member of EMDR UK, the EMDR membership association.

  • MA in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy (University of Roehampton).

  • Qualified EMDR practitioner. EMDR Parts 1, 2 & 3, Richman Accredited EMDR training.

  • Certificate of Higher Education in Counselling and Counselling Skills (Birkbeck University).

  • MSc in International Development, Birkbeck University.

  • BA (Hons) French and Italian, Durham University.

  • I have an enhanced DBS.