Counselling in Gloucestershire

As a Clinical Psychologist I aim to to practically apply psychological theory and research to help people to achieve emotional well being and enhance their quality of life when they are facing challenging life circumstances. Since 2012 I have worked in a variety of NHS psychology services, offering talking therapy and emotional support to individuals, couples and families. Alongside my work with Heal.Feel.Connect. I continue to work part-time for an NHS hospital in Gloucestershire, working with staff to reduce work-related stress and burnout, and promoting a culture of compassion and psychological safety within the organisation.

I recognise that life is a journey that can sometimes be a struggle. Life in this modern world is often chaotic, stressful and moves at such a fast pace, yet our reptilian brains are still designed to deal with cave man threats. This can lead to our bodies being flooded with fight, flight or freeze responses. In time these can build and lead to conditions such as anxiety, depression and low level trauma if not dealt with correctly. Having the support to help you through is not always easy to find.

My aim is to help you achieve insight into what makes you tick, and for us to work collaboratively to develop strategies that assist you in living a complete, fulfilling life. While you will have some immediate pressing issues that bring you to therapy, we can also explore any longer-term, underlying issues concerning you. It is important to me that you feel comfortable to talk about your problems, experiences and personal thoughts.

As a clinical psychologist, I work with children, young people and adults to explore and develop a shared understanding of how their experiences and circumstances - past and present - may be contributing to current difficulties, before identifying possible solutions to help alleviate distress. By drawing on different therapeutic approaches, models and techniques, I am able to provide a flexible and tailored service where sometimes the process of talking openly can in itself be transformative as new meanings and stories emerge, while at other times specific skills and strategies are used to create positive change and difference.

As you are here reading these words, then you may be taking the first steps in seeking someone to help you in certain areas of your life. I am a qualified integrative counsellor and psychotherapist. I have trained and practiced in the major psychological therapies and am able to integrate them in a way that will best meet your needs. My experience has taught me that the greatest potential for growth develops within the therapeutic relationship. The foundation of this relationship is built upon you feeling safe, heard, understood and valued without judgement.

Life is full of challenges, and we can all struggle to cope with the impact of difficult events or circumstances. Therapy can be a useful support in navigating tricky periods and can help people deal with distress in a way that minimises its impact on quality of life. I work with individuals in a collaborative way, using a process of formulation to develop a shared understanding of psychological difficulties. The direction and content of our work will depend on an individual’s personal goals for the future and can range from exploratory work to a more structured approach focusing on the development of self-management skills.

We all have times in life when things seem to get on top of us. We may feel confused, anxious or depressed. Sometimes it feels like we are just going round in circles, getting nowhere in particular. Having someone to talk to can lighten the load and this is often easier with someone other than family or friends.

I have worked with many different presentations throughout my career in the NHS, Charity sector and HM Prison service. My experience and training can give you the confidence in my practice as I provide you with an individual approach; tailored to your specific needs and goals. Together we can explore how to improve your situation by equipping you with the necessary skills and techniques to move forward and maintain change.

As your therapist it is important to me that we work together explore the problem, understand how it developed and through psychoeducation, developing strategies and coping mechanisms we can understand, and work towards enabling you to reach your goal to wellness.

Are you struggling with your emotions, overwhelmed with anxiety, depression, grief, or relationship difficulties? Perhaps stuck in destructive habitual behavioural patterns, or addictive behaviours without understanding why? I offer a safe and empathetic environment to support your growth in developing self-awareness, through a range of therapeutic approaches, building a bespoke tool kit of coping techniques to support you work through your difficulties, develop emotional regulation and make the desired changes in your life.

Experienced and chartered Counselling Psychologist, who has over 15 years of experience working therapeutically with children, teenagers, and adults. I offer a range of approaches including EMDR, CBT and psychodynamic therapy. I’ve been fortunate to have varied experiences within my career, working with a range of clients and settings, including NHS Camhs, educational and residential settings. Despite my varied experiences, one thing remains the same: my passion to support people to overcome and heal from their emotional wounds or barriers so that they can live a more fulfilled and whole life.

I work with clients to help them to gain some insight into their feelings, thoughts and behaviours. We can sometimes feel that, somewhere along the way, we’ve lost a sense of what really matters to us, of how we want to live our lives. This can lead to a feeling of being stuck in habitual modes of thinking and feeling. Are you noticing the same patterns repeating themselves and would like somewhere to explore this further? It can be difficult to know how to make new choices for ourselves. Together, we can create the space to explore what is happening for you and to increase your awareness of how you are living your life.

I work with adults over the age of 18 to help people overcome the struggles that they are facing in life. It may be a past trauma, depression, anxiety, abuse, relationship problems… to name a few. I welcome you to come as you are and together we can explore what is going on for you.

Life provides experiences which we can enjoy or with which we have to deal – If you are searching this site, you are likely to be going through a period of time where the enjoyable is being outweighed by the difficulty and struggle that life can bring. Seeking help is a brave and important step in satisfying your own needs, so you are already creating a pathway towards yourself as you wish to be. This motivation is crucial to reaching any goal, so even if you feel lost or confused as to what comes next, you have already shown that you can think in new ways and adapt in order to change a situation which isn’t working for you.

I am a trained, accredited and registered (UKCP and UKAHPP) Counsellor, Psychotherapist and Supervisor, with over 15 years’ experience. Apart from six years’ training (humanistic, UKCP accredited) as a Psychotherapist, I have also done further courses in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Sex Therapy, Addictions counselling, Couples’ counselling and have specialised in working with domestic abuse survivors. Before training as a Psychotherapist, I worked in Higher education Administration. I am experienced in working with individuals bringing a whole range of issues from anxiety and depression to bullying and other abuse.

Do you find yourself going around painful and frustrating circles in your life and relationships? Do you feel stuck, overwhelmed and uncertain how to move forward? Sometimes, despite our best efforts, we just need another person to help us find a new path. Therapy can help us make sense of our feelings, thoughts and actions. It can support us to work through difficult emotions and memories and enable us to find the courage and compassion needed to forge a better life for ourselves. Choosing a therapist can be daunting, but having an initial chat on the phone can help you decide if someone feels like a good fit for you.

It can be hard to choose a therapist, harder still to reach out and make that first contact. I really get that. It might help to know that the people I work with are people like you: people struggling with anxiety, negative thoughts, depression, body image, sexual or gender confusion, childhood abuse, trauma, loss, lack of hope or meaning in life, work, relationships and addictions of all types. Whether you’re 18 and feeling angry, or 70 and want to live an authentic life - or don’t know where you fit, I’ll work with you towards a more fulfilling less stressful life.