Counselling in Bathampton

My clients are at the heart of every session, creating a welcoming, safe and relaxed atmosphere where communication can flow freely and openly. The most important thing is that you are comfortable, at ease and feel able to talk. I aim to help you see your challenges more clearly and to face the problems with less anxiety and tension. It can be an opportunity to think and speak your truth without fear of judgement. I am trained to incorporate techniques associated with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, Guided Visualisation, Psycho-dynamic Therapy and Transactional Analysis amongst others into my work.

If you are like most people, you are probably considering therapy because you want to change something. This might be the way you feel or behave; it might be how you believe other people see you, or how you see yourself. It might be things you think about or dwell upon, or the way you get on (or don’t) with others. Whatever it is, individual therapy provides a space to talk about what it is you want to change and to learn how to bring that change about. A space that is safe, confidential and non-judgemental. As your therapist I see myself as someone who can support you on all aspects of your life journey.

I am a qualified counsellor and complementary health practitioner and tutor. I studied counselling and addiction at the University of Bath and I also have wide ranging life and work experience. Most of us can have times in life when it seems as though we can't cope and we may feel worried, fearful or confused. At these times it can be helpful to give ourselves the gift of speaking to someone who is not a family member or friend, someone we can be honest with, without fear of judgement or opinion.

I am a compassionate trauma-informed integrative practitioner with my own deeply lived experience and personal journey. I live and work in central Bath. Alongside many trainings over the years, I am committed to my therapeutic practice and my own path of personal development, healing and spiritual enquiry. My personal experience in life has been extensive and rich. I’ve walked a diverse path so far through life and this has enabled me to bring understanding to working with many people. Development and practices that sustain and resource me on this journey are somatic meditation, embodied enquiry and the wisdom of the natural world.

I have practised as a Chartered Clinical Psychologist since 2002 in different clinical NHS settings (GP surgeries and hospitals), private healthcare (outpatient clinics and residential placements) and universities (therapist on randomised controlled trials). I have a wealth of knowledge, experience and specialist skills in psychological assessment, formulation, treatment and consultation. I am an accredited Cognitive-Behavioural Therapist. I am also experienced in using evidence-based techniques from Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Family Therapy, Schema-Focused Therapy, Mindfulness and Psychodynamic approaches.

I am a warm, honest and open counsellor with a flexible, creative, gentle yet challenging style. The relationship we develop will support you to explore and understand difficult issues; increase self awareness; and improve connection. Many clients come to me saying they feel "confused" "alone" "desperate" "lost". I will work with you to help you uncover and explore your truth, as so often we have lost sight of or do not even know what it is.

My goal is to work with you on what you want to achieve. This usually starts with exploring you and your life to identity what we're working with. Below you will find where I have experience, what I need from you is a willingness to work together, if you feel that I'm not the right fit for you after a session, that is quite ok!

Are you struggling with a relationship or juggling the competing demands of your private and professional life? Are you feeling stuck and uncertain about how to fulfil your potential? Have you recently lost someone close to you? I first sought help as a young mother and the benefits were so enormous, I chose to train as a psychotherapist myself. I work one-to-one and with couples, helping you to identify patterns in your relationship with others, and with yourself, and establishing ways of changing those patterns that do not serve you.

Thank you for taking the time to view my profile. I am a specialist Child and Adolescent CBT, EMDR and BTTI therapist. My background is in Educational Psychology and Attachment Therapy with 17 years experience supporting families. We will work together to build a bespoke treatment plan, I believe we all have the potential for positive wellbeing, I will work with you to uncover what this means to you. Weekly clinic held in the Chew Valley, Bath and Bristol. I look forward to coming alongside you on your therapeutic journey.

Do you feel like it is difficult to reach your partner emotionally, are you being stone walled, afraid of conflict or are you people pleasing for a quiet life? Do you have a pattern of being submissive, passive aggressive or unable to effectively communicate your wants and needs? Do you feel like you and your partner don’t understand each other or feel as if you have married your mother or father? Couples therapy aims to uncover reactionary aspects of yourself that lead to discontent and a loss of connection and intimacy in your relationship. We will examine unhelpful dynamics and behavioural patterns and explore where you are stuck

If you are reading this you may be feeling that something is getting in the way of how you would like to be, you may be feeling low, self-critical, anxious or sad. It is not unusual to reach a point of feeling unhappy, stuck in old patterns or confused. Whatever might be the reason you wish to seek counselling or psychotherapy, seeking support and reaching out can be hard, yet incredibly rewarding. I am passionate about therapy as a catalyst for change and supporting your emotional and psychological well-being, empowering you so you can better support yourself.

It can be hard to ask for help. You may feel confused, hopeless and as if no-one can really understand. I offer a warm, pragmatic approach to therapy in the belief that with the right support, we are all capable of making positive changes. I want to explore ways to help you better understand your own experience and to reconnect with what's important - empowering you to move forwards. I have many years experience using a variety of approaches including CBT, humanistic, emdr, schema therapy and biodynamic massage. But ultimately I see therapy as providing a respectful and accepting relationship, unique to each person.

I continue to be deeply interested in understanding the unique struggle each of us undergo throughout our lives, sometimes more than once. In providing a safe, facilitating environment within which a process of unfolding, unlearning and enabling new self-learning, then an exploration can take place between us. Through greater understanding of our innermost self, together we can begin to allow the possibility for change.