About Me

About Me

There's a first time for everything. Most newcomers to counselling and psychotherapy start out feeling a little intimidated by the idea of this rather mysterious process. I aim to demystify what I do clients often comment on what they describe as a down-to-earth and accessible approach. My aim is ultimately to help you understand yourself and your behaviour. I feel that goal is best achieved by working in a non-threatening, straightforward and inclusive way.


The Practice

Based in 2 locations (within easy reach of Ashford, Folkestone, Canterbury & Dover, as well as Faversham), I have developed a practice which the product of 25 years experience of person-to-person work in statutory, voluntary and commercial organisations as well as in private practice.

Derived from an integrative approach to psychotherapy and counselling, my aim is to shape my practice and methodology to the unique needs of each client, rather than attempting to shoehorn people into a pre-determined way of working. The formulation of an individual package based on feedback from the most recent research starts from the very first moment you contact me, when I begin assessing what you might require.

Integral to my work is the need to practise in the context of a real world outside the therapy room. I work with an awareness of the importance of identity and culture in helping to shape a sense of self and therefore welcome the opportunity help clients explore issues relevant to women, Black people, people with disabilities, lesbians, bisexual, gay and transgendered people.

Whether you are interested in working with me as a private individual or as an organisation, your first point of contact will usually be an email or telephone call. We will usually spend some time on the telephone discussing your needs in an attempt to establish whether we are the right people for the job. If I am are unable to help, I will do my best to refer you to a practitioner or service that can.
If I think I am able to provide the kind of service you are looking for, I will invite you to an assessment or consultancy session. This is not normally a session for I charge.


Assessment

I regard your initial assessment session as an opportunity for us both to assess whether counselling or therapy is something from which you would benefit, and if so, in what form. You will normally have completed a questionnaire prior to attending for your assessment this gives me some basic background information with which to work.

At the end of the assessment, I will offer some preliminary feedback about what I have observed during the session, and will advise you as to whether or not he or I believe therapy would be beneficial. Many clients who are deemed suitable wish to make an appointment to begin work there and then, while others prefer to go away and think about it. I'm more than happy that you should do this in fact I encourage you to visit more than one potential therapist before making a firm commitment, since your relationship with your therapist will be the most important element in the potential success or failure of the work you undertake.

Working Together

I would normally expect you to commit to an initial 6 sessions of work, usually (although not always) occurring once weekly. I find this often proves sufficient for those bringing relatively simple issues. For others, the six sessions offers a time-limited introduction to counselling and therapy, during which period I am able to assess needs and preferred style of working in more detail. For such clients, the review which takes place at the end of the initial period allows them to examine what they have achieved thus far and to consider what remains to be worked on. If we decide to continue, we will formulate a plan for continued work, usually in an open-ended contract.

I work with

• Companies
• Groups
• Individuals
• Private healthcare referrals

Special Interests

Like all UKCP registered psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors I can work with a wide range of issues, but here are some areas in which I have a special interest or additional experience.

Types of Therapies Offered

• Integrative Psychotherapist

What I can help with

• Abuse
• ADHD
• Adoption
• Anger Management
• Anorexia
• Anxiety
• Bereavement
• Bulimia
• Bullying
• Cancer
• Chronic Illness
• Cultural Issues
• Depression
• Domestic Violence
• Eating Disorders
• Employment Difficulties
• Gender
• Identity Problems
• Infertility
• Mental Health Issues
• Obsessions
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Online Counselling
• Parents
• Phobias
• Physical Abuse
• Post-Traumatic Stress
• Race Issues
• Relationships
• Sex Problems
• Sexual Abuse
• Sexuality
• Stress
• Suicide
• Supervision
• Training
• Transgender
• Trauma
• Workplace Counselling