I have worked as a person centred counsellor and supervisor for 35 years, in a variety of counselling organisations, the NHS and in private practice. I worked for a decade in the drugs field, with people affected by HIV and then with young people dying from Creutzfelt Jacob Disease. I also have extensive experience working with women and girls who have experienced rape and sexual abuse.
I am a Clinical Associate at Pink Therapy and a Senior Accredited Sexual Diversity Therapist .
I co-tutored on the Pink Therapy Post-Graduate Diploma in Gender and Sexual Diversity Therapy, and Course Director and co-tutor for the Post-Graduate Diploma in Relationship Therapy with Gender, Sexual and Relationship Diversities.
I work collaboratively with the client to explore a wide range of emotional experiences and am conscious of the power invested in the role of counsellor/therapist and how much damage and distress has been caused in people’s lives through the misuses and abuses of power. Respect for the rights and authority of the client is paramount in my work.
I work with people from a diverse range of cultural backgrounds including individuals from queer, poly and kink communities, neurodiversity, asexuality, sex workers and people who identify across the gender spectrum. I am interested in the impact and the meaning of race, gender, sexuality and culture, as well as individual family history, on our sense of identity.
In my own life I have always straddled a number of different communities and so the concept of intersectionality and respect for intersecting identities is something I feel passionately about.
I established (and co-ordinate) an international, multi language counselling project supporting volunteers working with refugees.
You can also read my recent interview on Queer Counselling for DIVA magazine HERE.
-
Accredited and registered member of the regulating body, British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.
-
Fully insured and supervised in accordance with their guidelines,adhering to their Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy and to their complaints procedure.
-
Pink Therapy Advanced Accredited Sexual Minority Therapist.
-
Co-tutor on The Pink Therapy Post Graduate Diploma in Gender and Sexual Diversity Therapy.
-
Developed and co-tutored on the Pink Therapy Post Graduate Diploma in Relationship Therapy with Gender and Sexual Diversities.
I have extensive experience working with a range of issues which include:
Depression
Anxiety
Stress
Meaninglessness
Cultural displacement
Addictions
Anger and rage
Abuse and traumatic experiences
Domestic and sexual violence
Trauma
Life transition such as redundancy/career crisis, relationship break up/divorce
Bereavement and loss
Self esteem
Relationship difficulties
Fertility issues
Lesbian parenting
Questioning/exploring gender identity, sex and sexuality