I often work with anxiety, anger and sadness based around issues concerning loss and/or relationship problems with friends, family or teachers.
I frequently work with children and young people, providing counselling services throughout Kent where I see a diverse mix of clients ranging in age from 6 years upwards.
I can help young people deal with the strong feelings and physical changes linked to the various life stages they go through, as well as issues around gender and identity, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, poor self-esteem, bullying, loss of motivation, exam stress and eating disorders.
Through my student counselling work and English As a Foreign Language hosting and teaching, I have accumulated valuable experience working with children and young people from diverse backgrounds and in a range of settings that include primary and secondary schools, as well as further and higher education environments.
I have a special interest in autism spectrum disorder and have undertaken training in understanding ASD and the various co-occurring conditions.
I also specialise in working with Carers as I have direct experience of being a carer myself and understand and appreciate the stresses and strains caring for someone with a physical or mental health problem can involve.
I practice Mindfulness Based Stress
Reduction and use elements of these techniques to help my clients.
I qualified as a counsellor in 2017 and gained an additional Level 6 Diploma in Counselling Children and Young People in May 2019. I also work with other therapists, mental health professionals and trainees. I undertake regular CPD, including Child Protection Training with Kent County Council for School Counsellors; and the Royal Society for Public Health's Connect 5 mental health training programme.
To get the most out of your counselling, sessions should be regular, once a week preferably, for an open ended period. However, a more short term approach can be agreed upon at our initial meeting. Clients normally find a review of the working relationship at around the 6 and 12 session stages allows them to reflect upon how the therapy is working out for them.
Previous to becoming a counsellor I spent many years working in the media, mostly within television and theatre production, but also as a freelance copywriter and journalist.