Biographical Info:

I have been working in the high pressure environment of prisons since 1978 and as a trauma informed integrative counsellor (extra to that) since 1989. Currently I work in the South of Scotland as a therapist, this includes Edinburgh and several large towns and cities. My work has centred around many variations of trauma source, be it post incident, work related, stress and/or violence. My specialism is in supporting survivors of every kind of abuse be it experienced in adulthood or childhood.

I currently work part of my time for a specialist agency called Open Secret which is based in Central Scotland. I practice an integrative approach to counselling as well as The Comprehensive Resource Model (CRM) therapy. This is to ensure that the technique I used is tailored to the individual client.

CRM is especially effective with long held post traumatic stress disorder but can also be used for any other issues. With extensive experience of life gained through working in prisons I have far more to offer than I would have if I had chosen to work solely as a therapist and there are no life experiences that I haven’t worked with. My history of employment coupled with broad training and teaching experience I can offer a rounded, well informed approach that enables me to support people most effectively. I look forward to using my experience to support people through the most important life changes they can make.

Specialties:

Addiction, ADHD, Adolescents, Anger, Anxiety, Autism Spectrum, Bipolar, Child Therapy, Depression, Dissociative Identity Disorder, Eating Disorders, Grief, OCD, Parenting, PTSD, Relationships, Sex, Sleep Disorders, Stress, Trauma

I practise as a Integrative psychotherapist, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, CRM Practitioner, and am a lifelong explorer of Franciscan spirituality – of universal inclusion and that ‘everything belongs’ and is interconnected.

I fit my practice round the needs and constraints of clients. Many clients suffer from chronic acute anxiety, life-depleting shame, a pervasive sense of helplessness to find joyful life – its roots often lie deep in early years developmental trauma. Some suffer additional single incident, medical, relational, work related, and other traumas.

CRM and SE are fantastic models for working with clients, particularly with those who like or need to understand what is happening and why they react as they do. They work with the whole person and how all parts of us continually mutually influence each other. The aim is to restore a sense of control to the client in their own life, to build a sense of vitality and pleasure in being alive, and to find a new way of connecting with self, others, and the wider world.

About me
I am a trained registered Integrative Psychotherapeutic Counsellor. I work from a relationship model, which considers how our past can influence our present, relationships, meanings we have made and how this effects our current relationship to ourselves, others and our world.

If you are looking for help, support and change in your life psychotherapy/counselling/trauma psychotherapy offer an opportunity to explore in depth; relationship issues, presenting symptoms of anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, abuse, addiction and mental health issues. To enable you to work towards a greater sense of integrated self and choice in your life. I offer to work with you to the best of my capacity to find what it is you need from therapy.

Training, qualifications & experience
level 2 counselling skills
level 3 counselling studies
level 4 Dip therapeutic counselling
level 5 Psychotherapeutic counselling
CRM Comprehensive Resource Model training
CRM Comprehensive Resource Model training. I chose to do the training twice to encapsulate the model at a deeper level.
DBR Deep Brain Orienting for further details please visit https://deepbrainreorienting.com/

Placements and organisations I have worked within are as follows:
SAND Survivors Alliance North Devon CIC A specialist agency for any adult who has experienced sexual abuse or rape.
NDADA North Devon Against Domestic Abuse
Clarity (mental health charity) offering low cost counselling for mental health
NHS Devon Partnership Trust Psychology department, Breaking Free program (historical sexual abuse) and Historical Trauma Programme.
Inclusis family Assessment Centre.
Devon County Council/DPT NHS I worked as a mental health support worker for the Link Centres for 2 years. I found the work gave me a good understanding and appreciation of the structure of the mental health services. And a very in-depth experience of working creatively with a mixed client group.

Sessions info-
CRM Sessions are 1 and half hrs long, at a cost of £55.00.
payable by cash or BACS before the session. Session are pre-booked in advance.
Online, and face to face sessions are available (face to face sessions require a risk assessment for suitability regarding covid risk/ I hold a covid agreement when working face to face)

Member organisations
BACP
Accredited register membership
British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy