Qualifications
PG Dip Integrative Counselling, CBT Certificate (BPS approved) for Children & Young People, Certificate in Couples & Relationships Therapy, Dip Supervision of Counsellors and Psychotherapists, ILM Fellow Dip Executive Coaching and Leadership Mentoring
Therapeutic Approach
TA, Integrative, Psychodynamic, CBT (General)
Membership body
BACP (Accred.)
Years practicing
11 years
Issues worked with
Attachment issues, Bereavement, Drugs, Autism spectrum disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Personal growth/wellbeing, Social anxiety, Spirituality/Religion, Insomnia, Loneliness, Physical health, Stress, Suicidal thoughts, ADHD/ADD, Alcohol, Family issues/relationships, Fertility and pregnancy, Addiction, Anxiety (Worries, Fears, Panic), Depression, Disordered eating, Parenting, Sexual matters, Grief/Loss, PTSD, Phobias, Romantic Relationships, Confidence/Self-esteem, OCD, Trauma, Gender identity (incl. dysphoria).
Special interest areas
My specialism is Transactional Analysis (or TA). This is a form of therapy whereby I work with my clients to help them understand their behaviors and where these come from and most importantly how to change them.
Personal Statement
I am currently undertaking my training towards becoming a Psychologist and am completing my Masters in Psychology. From here I will undertake my Doctorate in this area. I currently work as a clinical supervisor to other therapists and counselors which provides me with a varied and in depth view of the issues patients face day to day and how to best support them. I am keen researcher into the personality and have several papers on the subject. I am also currently undertaking research in the personality of men namely in how we are understood.
As a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management and Chartered member with the Institute of Personal and Development I am well placed to support individuals on their style, approach and development in the workplace as well as support them with workplace issues such as bullying and managing difficult relationships.
When working with client issues my specialist interests and work is with trauma, addiction and the impact this has on ones ability to function in what I call “everyday life”. I have trained in trauma stabilisation and work with an area termed as “parts” This is unique to each of our personalities and helps me to give clients the methods to fully understand what part they are being dominated by and works to release this.
As a family therapist I run clinics for couples and families struggling to communicate.
You can find more information on my personal website: www.lifeinaction.co.uk
How I work with couples and relationships
As I have a special interest in the reason for disagreement in romantic relationships, this is part of my research areas in Psychology I take a particular approach when working with couples in my practice and use the couples satisfaction index (CSI) and work with you both to look at the components of love. This theory (R J Sternberg) focuses on 3 main areas including:
Intimacy
Passion
Commitment and decisions
Within each area are sub areas whereby I work to help you understand how each areas bought you together and most importantly what is happening now. This is a nice simple but structured way of supporting you both to understand how to improve your relationship.
As I believe the case formulation is of upmost importance early on with couples, I take the following approach when I take on new couples in therapy.
1. Initial assessment session with you both
2. Session with one side alone
3. Session with the other side alone
4. Session 4 we all meet again together, and this is where we agree on the aims and objectives of the therapy and how to move you forward together as a couple.
As I believe there are always different sides to the feelings and thoughts you both have it is important, I see you separately, so you have time with me to talk about your feelings without the other person present. This is a very effective way of hearing what is happening from both sides.