About

I began training as a psychotherapeutic counsellor in 2020 and have been working with clients since 2022.

I qualified with a Level 6 Diploma in Transactional Analysis (TA) and I am an Accredited Registrant member with the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS) and I am a member of the United Kingdom Association for Transactional Analysis (UKATA). TA is a Humanistic Integrative psychotherapy. In practice, this means my work is founded on the principles that:

each person is worthy of dignity and respect;
each person has the right to decide how they want to live;
each person is capable of change.

I have worked extensively with the LBTQIA+ community, disabled people (including those affected by sight loss) and their unpaid carers.

My professional interests include:

complex/developmental trauma and C-PTSD;
relationships, attachment, sex and sexuality;
the ways in which trauma and stress impact physical health including autoimmune illness and psychosexual issues.

Aside from working as a therapist, I have been a manager in the voluntary sector for 8 years, including managing mental health and social care services for the NHS during the COVID-19 pandemic.

I’m from Scotland originally but live in London now. I love Scotland for its natural beauty and I love London for the diversity of its people and its arts and culture scene.

In my spare time, I enjoy being active, being in nature and being creative.

What to expect from therapy

My approach isn’t about diagnosing what’s ‘wrong’ and trying to ‘treat’ or ‘fix’ it. Therapy is a process of discovery that requires you to invest your time, courage and commitment in the process. The reward can be a transformation of yourself, your relationships and your overall wellbeing and satisfaction in life.

The therapeutic relationship is based on mutual respect, trust and collaboration. It is also bound by a contract and ethical framework. Unlike any other relationship in your life, the therapeutic relationship doesn’t require you to gloss over or minimise your issues for fear of being judged or told what to do. As your therapist, I offer you my full attention and skilled professional insight while honouring your autonomy to choose how you want to live your life.

Initial sessions

The first couple of sessions will focus on understanding what has brought you to therapy at this time in your life. I will ask questions to understand key details about you and your history. You can expect these sessions to feel like having a conversation with a curious listener and to leave with some fresh perspectives.

Building a therapeutic relationship

Once we have a shared understanding of what’s brought you to therapy, we will continue to build a collaborative, working relationship while working towards your therapeutic goals.

This might involve:

learning theories about personality and communication that can help you understand the issues you are facing;
exploring experiences from your past and how they have shaped your life today, so that you can make new decisions that help you move forward;
practising emotional regulation skills;
identifying unconscious patterns that are keeping you stuck;
developing awareness of your somatic experiences – the ways your emotions show up in your body;
paying close attention to the relationship between client and therapist to gain insight on other relationships in your life;
experimenting with new ways of interacting both during and between sessions.

As you build self-awareness, you may face some uncomfortable realisations or feel challenged. You may also grieve what is lost as you make changes to your life. Progress is rarely linear — it often looks messy and confused. This is why it is important to build a therapeutic relationship which will help you address your issues safely at the pace that suits you. As your therapist, I will walk alongside you, providing reassurance and encouragement to help you create lasting change.

Reflecting and reviewing

Maintaining an open dialogue and taking regular moments to review is an important part of the way I work. It strengthens our therapeutic relationship and allows you to recognise and celebrate the changes you have made. It also helps you to see if there’s more work you’d like to do, or if you are feeling ready to take a break or end therapy.

Curious to learn more? Find out about my fees and availability, or get in touch to book an intro call.

Statement on values

I seek to create a safe space for marginalised people and to avoid reinforcing harmful power dynamics in my work. Therefore, my work is:

Anti-racist
Anti-ableist
Class-aware
Neurodiversity-affirming
LGBTQIA+ inclusive and affirming
Inclusive of open relationships, ENM and polyamory
Sex-positive

Qualifications

Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling with Transactional Analysis (Level 6), Connexus Institute

BA (Hons) Humanities (Art History & French), Open University, First Class

Advanced professional training

Certificate in Counselling for Relationships, Sex and Sexuality, Jonathan Lake

Certificate in Counselling for Trauma, PTSD and Critical Incidents, Jonathan Lake

Certificate in Relational Psychotherapy, Helena Hargaden, Connexus Institute

Professional memberships

National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS) – Accredited Registrant Member (MNCPS Accred.) no. NCPS953
United Kingdom Association for Transactional Analysis (UKATA)
European Association for Transactional Analysis (EATA)

I attend regular professional supervision and I adhere to the NCPS Code of Ethics.

I maintain professional liability insurance and I am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).