About me
Before qualifying as a counsellor, I worked for many years in specialist further education and as a Community-Based-Artist and Arts Producer. I was and continue to be interested in creative expression for psychological wellbeing, by providing creative and non-judgemental spaces for others to communicate their experiences and develop a deeper understanding of themselves. Through this work, I developed an interest in understanding different cultural and neurodivergent identities and what it means to live well and authentically, in the UK.
I align myself with the social and ecological model of understanding cultural and neurodiversity, which is not about solely focusing on struggles or deficits, but about deeply valuing natural human variation and carefully considering the impact of social, emotional and environmental factors.
I am an accredited member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), trained to diploma level – on a core person-centred course. I also have a full and up to date DBS certificate. I regularly undertake clinical supervision and additional training, to improve my skills, knowledge, awareness and understanding, as a counsellor. Alongside my private work, I am also a Counsellor and Team Leader for Listening Post counselling agency in Stroud. I have previously worked for Footsteps Counselling and Care in Gloucester, which supported people through pregnancy and birth related trauma and loss. I have completed additional training around complex emotional needs, working with shame and trauma and am familiar with The Autism Dialogue Approach.
