Couples Counselling in Stroud

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.

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.

I am a 'Human Givens' Psychotherapist (www.hgi.org.uk). Whilst my HG journey started in 2009 my work in the field began 20 years prior. I have since taught on a counselling diploma, worked as a therapist with adults, staff within organisations, teachers, parents, young people and children overseas as well as in the UK (particularly Sri Lanka). In private practice my strengths lie in flexibility and creativity - tailor-making my approach to each client. I use an eclectic approach within the Human Givens framework, knowing exactly why each varied and different technique can be effective in accordance with current neuroscience.

Everyone needs a little help from time to time. Perhaps you feel you ought to be able to cope with your feelings but are finding them too much. You may be feeling overwhelmed, sad, anxious, angry or confused. The demands of work, relationships, families, caring for someone and finances can all make it difficult to cope You might have experienced bereavement or another loss. You might be struggling with your sense of identity, self-confidence, health or direction. Are the effects of lockdown are still resonating for you? Perhaps you're ready now to take the first steps to in seeking help to make a positive change for yourself.

Life can be very challenging at times and it can be difficult to make sense of things and find a way forwards on our own. Therapy aims towards increasing our self-knowledge and attaining clarity over our feelings, intentions and tendencies. By becoming more aware of the challenges we experience, and how we respond to these, we also become more able to identify alternative ways of looking at them and addressing them. I offer a safe space to facilitate this exploration and promote insight and personal growth. Everyone is unique and so everything that is brought into therapy is treated with care, respect and confidentiality.

I can provide you with a warm, supportive, safe space which can allow you to explore any difficult issues you may be experiencing in your life. This could be emotional turmoil due to a life situation, or perhaps a traumatic event that has happened to you, causing feelings of overwhelm. I will always listen and endeavour to understand you, free from any judgement. Allowing you to share your story at your own pace. I have an integrative approach which means I draw upon different modalities of counselling through my experience and training. This will help me meet your needs in the best way I can whilst working with you.

Anyone can feel the need to talk through what is troubling them; the past two years have proven tough for a lot of people. From worries about getting angry to feeling like you aren't heard - therapy can help. Perhaps you want to move forwards but feel stuck, or maybe a change is proving tough to navigate. If your past won't let you go, therapy allows you to explore this and loosen the grip of the past on your present. Sometime you just need a calm, safe space to think about what really matters for you and therapy offers this opportunity to sit with someone with no agenda other than to help you.

For most people, caring for children and young people is a complex mix of high and lows. Sometimes we need help from outside the family to support mental health and wellbeing and help us find our way. If your family is struggling to navigate life, you have a child or young person in distress or you are experiencing difficulties with a new baby, psychotherapy can help make sense of thoughts, feelings and problematic behaviour, allowing a move towards better relationships, healthier behaviours and achieving potential.

I offer a reliable, confidential and non-judgmental space to help you explore your inner thoughts and feelings and support you in times of transition, distress and emotional need. We all have the right to be heard and seen, sometimes we can get stuck along the journey of life and encounter challenging thoughts and emotions. Counselling is a hard journey but there is freedom in living authentically and being your true self. I offer counselling sessions face-to-face, online and via telephone and there is no minimum or maximum limit on sessions, full autonomy is given.

Sometimes it can feel like no one understands what it is like to be you, and it may always be this way. Life can be difficult, full of hurdles and unexpected challenges. Although we cannot change life events or others, we can change the way we relate to ourselves. I am passionate about helping you find a way through your psychological distress. I offer a safe nurturing space for you to explore in your own time and to deeply understand what it is like to be you.

Life is not always easy. The fact that you are looking at my page suggests that something feels stuck, painful, maybe hopeless or unreachable and that you want something different for yourself – that you want things to change. Perhaps you want to free yourself from repetitive patterns of behaviour, depression, anxiety and self-limiting beliefs or the impact of trauma. Maybe you want to deepen your connection to yourself so that life feels richer and more rewarding and you can find a more authentic sense of yourself. Whatever your reason, I offer you a safe, empathetic and thoughtful space to explore whatever you want to bring.

I am a fully qualified and highly experienced art psychotherapist, parenting consultant clinical supervisor. I provide evidence-based therapeutic services to children, families and adults through art psychotherapy, VIPP-SD (Video feedback Interaction to promote Positive Parenting and Sensitive Discipline) and the Incredible Years Parenting Programme. I have over 12 years of clinical experience working for CAMHS/NHS, charities and within educational institutions with parents, children and adults with varied abilities including neurodiversity. I am passionate about helping others discover inspiration and a fulfilling life.

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.

You may be finding it difficult to cope, and feel alone? You may be struggling after a trauma or bereavement, separation, or with ill-health? Or maybe feel that your life is stuck, or lacking purpose? At times like these, counselling offers a space for you to explore your thoughts and feelings, with someone who will strive to understand without judgement, & help you make sense of your feelings, find clarity, or make decisions. I offer all my clients Empathy, Congruence, and Unconditional Positive Regard. I also offer play, sand-tray, art and creative therapies to my younger clients. Home visits are available.

I have worked in a variety of settings in the field of mental health services: HMP Prison services in specialist addictions units & rehabilitation, Community drug services NHS Primary Care with IAPT and the Priory Hospital Bristol with inpatients and outpatient services.Each of these positions has built skills of understanding, therapeutic alliance, compassion and commitment to each of the people that trust me to support them. I believe in the ‘art and science’ of CBT and the therapeutic value and benefit of those coming together.This requires effort and personal investment, and it can feel hard, so let’s take a breath together .

Experienced Clinical Psychologist previously in a lead NHS adult therapies role, now a trauma lead within CAMHS (children and young people), offering CBT and EMDR within a holistic, person-centred and integrative approach.