My Approach

I work with families and individual members, sometimes on their own or as couples or sibling groups. I am down-to-earth and friendly. I use ordinary language and value human connection, genuineness and being real. People tell me they really like how I work and that they quickly feel at ease. I am used to working with people who might find it hard to talk or open up, and I am experienced in working with families where at least one member might not want to come to therapy. That is often absolutely fine. We can still make progress. Therapy can create ripple effects of change, even to people who don't directly take part. I am used to working with interpreters and using other ways of communicating, such as play.

I try to have open conversations with people about what I might do that could be helpful or unhelpful. For example, some people might need movement breaks during sessions or something to fidget with or might need me to ask more concrete questions. I tend to check out how our work is going and am really open to feedback - therapy needs to be helpful for you, and I need to know if I should do something different. I consider how power and oppression impacts on peoples lives and see it as my responsibility to sensitively raise this in therapy and supervision - this includes thinking about how our working relationship is influenced, for example by a range of diversities such as gender, ethnicity and disability amongst many others.

I can be practical and hands-on when needed. This is especially the case when working with parents who are experiencing violence or aggression from their child, where we might be using NVR (Non Violent Resistance). I also think about life outside of therapy and how to navigate other systems such as education, social care, health and work.

About Me

I am an experienced Family and Systemic Psychotherapist, currently working as a Clinical Lead in the NHS. I am also a Registered Mental Health Nurse and have a wide range of skill and experience gained over the last 20+ years. I have worked in mental health hospital settings, in the community, in schools, homes and children's centres. I have worked with children, adults and older adults. I have undertaken additional trainings and incorporate other research-based models into my practice, especially Non Violent Resistance (NVR). When stressful life events happen they can impact on the whole family and on so many other aspects of life, such as work and school. Often the additional pressures, for example from children not being able to attend school like they were before, or a parent struggling to juggle work, home, family and their own wellbeing, can make life feel so much more difficult. I recognise how much other factors such as discrimination, poverty and social factors can impact on people lives.

I have a love for the NHS, but I also feel incredibly sad at how much it is becoming fragmented and is in crisis. I never thought I would venture into independent practice, mainly due to my values around social justice and being able to work with people who may be marginalised in society, whether that's through financial struggles or experiences of oppression. So this has been a tough step for me. I have hopes of setting up a Community Interest Company (or similar - needs a lot of working out yet!) in the future so that I can offer therapy and therapeutic interventions not just to those that can afford to pay. I'm not there yet, but I endeavour to live and work in a way which is socially just.

I am also a qualified and experienced Systemic Supervisor.

I work with

• Children and young people
• Companies
• Couples
• Families
• Groups
• Individuals

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

• Family and Systemic Psychotherapist
• Family Therapist
• Systemic Family and Couple Psychotherapist
• Systemic Psychotherapist