Counselling in Hove

Thanks for stopping at my profile. I'm a qualified Psychotherapist & member of the BACP, UKCP & EMDR Association UK, based in Hove, Worthing & Haywards Heath (and online). I offer a compassionate, non-judgemental & empathic stance, and challenge where appropriate. My role is to help you understand the issues you bring to therapy, including your past experiences, determining patterns that haven't served you well & the reasons behind your distress. I assist you in altering unhelpful patterns to alleviate your emotional pain & work towards making the life changes that you want, while gaining more positive experiences of the world.

I offer outdoor therapy and specialist mental health therapy. I have worked in mental health since 1995 and am an accredited cognitive analytic psychotherapist. I have a wide range of experience in NHS Mental Health Services and I am experienced with both adults and children, adolescents, couples and families in the delivery of evidence based psychological Interventions. I also offer clinic based therapy in my practice in Hove and online therapy

Many people feel lost and bereft in an ever-changing and challenging world, and some of you may also be impacted by significant issues from childhood or later interpersonal relationships. This can lead to feelings of 'stuckness', hopelessness or depression, and that you cannot escape or be free from past experiences. For others, you may find that you have anxiety, relationship difficulties or general stress and burnout. Some people may have experienced significant losses and you may find yourself questioning what you want from life and what is really meaningful to you.

The Therapy Clinic is a psychotherapy and counselling service in Brighton and Hove, founded to provide accessible, affordable, high quality services to those that need it in the community. We offer a range of approaches and affordabilities, and have a social enterprise ethos at heart. Whether you are feeling depressed, anxious, having issues in your relationship, or whether you are living with complex mental health needs, our team of clinicians, or our wider therapeutic network, can help. We offer individual, couple, and family counselling.

If you've got problems, I can help.. As a therapist I am happiest when I am genuinely able to make a difference to someone and help them feel better. I have had a great deal of experience of working with many different people, each one of them with their own unique story, and their own way of seeing the world, each one of them also with the problems that sometimes arise for all of us as human beings trying to live the best we can. Maybe you feel anxious and don't know why? Perhaps you've had things happen that are still affecting you?

We're living through a strange and uncertain time. Whether this is your first time in therapy or you're continuing on your journey with self-exploration, know that I am available to support you and that change is possible. I will sit alongside your most difficult and confusing feelings. My counselling practice comes from my belief in the unique transformative power that every human being possesses. I provide you with an open space for exploration and creativity, welcoming any distress, confusion or pain you may be experiencing. We will meet in an unjudging therapeutic space and form a supportive relationship.

I work with Couples & Individuals. You’re probably here because you need support around a problem and are looking to find a qualified professional you can trust with your story. I work relationally, which means that I place the quality and the value of our therapeutic relationship as paramount in our work. Balanced, mental health is vital for us to live satisfying and fulfilled lives. I hold deeply the value of truly being present with you and the work we are doing together. A healthy counselling relationship builds a safe and secure foundation for the work whilst also presenting challenge and opportunity for insight.

It could be you have recently hit a tough time in your life and need a space to make sense of it. It might be that a relationship has become difficult; with your partner, at work with colleagues, with your children or close family members. You may be suffering symptoms of anxiety and depression and you are finding it harder to function in daily life. It may be that you are transitioning from one stage to another in your life; leaving home, starting a family or approaching retirement and you need somewhere to work through some of the feelings of anxiety, fear and uncertainty that such a change can bring.

We all go through some difficulties in life. Asking for help can be difficult , finding the right support can be even more of a challenge. As an Integrative Therapist, I use different modalities to fit my clients' needs, learning curves and communications styles, personalities and states of mind. I also adapt to fit my clients' physical health, integrating body and mind work within the process of change. I believe we can all benefit from the therapeutic relationship. it can be helpful when dealing with difficulties and as a boost to reach our full potential. I can also be a place and time to manage mental hygiene and general health.

Having experienced at first hand the hugely positive impact counselling has had on my own life, I chose to train as a psychodynamic therapist to help others experience the same profound benefits. I now use an integrative approach, which has enriched my work with clients. Working with you, we will together examine and uncover often unconscious or repressed memories which in turn can drive unhelpful patterns of behaviour. We will explore the sources of your problems and aim to deal with the underlying issues, not just try to find a way to cope with them. Only by making peace with the past can you look forward to a happy future.

For individuals and couples, I bring compassionate, open enquiry to help make sense of the challenges you face, supporting you to find authentic pathways through life's difficult terrain. I work creatively, within an agile framework, that enables you to safely explore and find meaning in your individual needs, experience and relationships. We all find ourselves feeling isolated, stuck, maybe blinded by repetitive patterns or crisis at some time - by recognising this as the time to ask for help, you allow your healing journey to begin. A journey towards a greater sense of connection, integration and wholeness.

I specialise (17 yrs experience) in working with young people and adults particularly neurodiverse clients (Autism, ADHD, self-harm, OCD, stammer etc). Having trained and practised as a Speech & Language Therapist, I now focus on humanistic psychotherapy because it is my passion to support individuals in navigating their unique way of being in the world. As well as face to face and online sessions, I can offer animal therapy (I have a canine-concern registered black lab), assistance dogs are welcome and where needed I offer walking therapy as well as meeting clients in different locations to help with anxiety issues.

When we are facing difficulties in life, a compassionate, caring and confidential space to talk can be so helpful. I offer clients a safe and non-judgemental space for you to be discuss whatever is troubling you. You may be feeling anxious or depressed, especially due to Covid-19, and need some support. You may be feeling overwhelmed and need to find a sense of clarity about what you are thinking and how you are feeling. Counselling offers a regular space for you to explore and untangle what's troubling you so you can make sense of it and make any changes that are necessary for you to move forward with your life.

I hold a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Oxford University. I have experience of working with individuals, couples, families, adults, older adults, children and adolescents and people with learning disabilities, within a wide range of NHS health care settings. I specialise in working with couples and also supporting people who have long-term physical health problems such as diabetes, chronic pain and chronic fatigue. I wrote my doctoral thesis on adolescents’ experiences of going to boarding school and have an interest in the impact of boarding school on psychological wellbeing.