Counselling

I am a warm, compassionate counsellor with particular experience of supporting women survivors of domestic violence, sexual abuse, adverse childhood experiences and toxic relationships. I offer a calm, non-judgemental space to help to you to explore and understand the impact of your experiences and begin to navigate a way forward.

I am trained as a person-centred counsellor, which is a humanistic approach to therapy, rooted in the idea that within the context of a safe and trusting relationship, a person can begin to heal from painful experiences and re-build a sense of self-worth, safety and trust in themselves and their interactions with others.

Counselling can be understood, not as ‘fixing’ or diagnosing anything, but as a way of making sense of our experiences and exploring the ways we learnt to cope, or even survive. By telling our story in our own words, we can begin to understand ourselves better, which can help to reduce a sense of isolation, shame and self-blame that abusive experiences can result in.

I believe that something profound happens when we are truly listened to, and counselling offers a unique space for a person to feel seen, heard and understood as they explore their inner world, without judgement. When we understand and accept ourselves, we can begin to feel hope again.

I believe that we all have the inner wisdom and resources that we need to heal from painful experiences, but trauma can mean that we stay stuck in survival mode, where we repeat patterns or unhelpful coping mechanisms, or struggle to cope with new situations, or even face the day.

Counselling can help us to makes sense of what we have been through and understand the strategies we used to keep going which may no longer serve us. It can help to unravel and reframe certain narratives and the stories that we tell ourselves, such as that we are to blame or that something that happened to us was our ‘fault’.

A therapeutic relationship can guide you towards a path where you understand and accept yourself, and offer compassion towards the part of you that was hurt and still hurts. When we do this, we feel more self-determining and able to face life’s challenges. We are less likely to repeat unhelpful patterns, and feel more empowered and equipped to move forward.

“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change” – Carl Rogers.

With years of experience directly supporting survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse, I have a deep understanding of the complexities and long-term impact of relational trauma, as well as the profound and lasting effect of feeling unsafe or unseen in any relationship.

What to expect

In our first session we will discuss any previous experience of counselling you may have had, and what you may/may not have found helpful.

We will explore your expectations for our work together and identify the main areas of your life that you would like support with.

We will look at your support network and current coping mechanisms and anything else you could put in place to help you to feel supported during the counselling process.

We would arrange to meet on a regular day and time and agree when we will review our work together so that you feel fully in control of the situation and whether it is meeting your expectations.

My approach is narrative-based; you tell your story where you want to begin and I will be alongside you, offering a therapeutic perspective and theoretical framework, where it seems appropriate, based on my training, professional experience and understanding of relational trauma and adverse experiences, which may help to bring a fresh perspective on things and deepen your understanding of youself and your resilience.

Qualifications and Experience

I have a Post-Graduate Diploma in Person-Centred Counselling from Brighton University as well as a BA in Sociology and an MA in Women’s Studies from Sussex University.

I have further training in Transactional Analysis (TA), Attachment, Trauma and Loss.

Throughout my career I worked for many years in the charity sector; for Rise, a Sussex based domestic abuse charity, I had roles as a support worker in a women’s refuge, as a young people’s worker and as an outreach worker for older people at risk of abuse.

I have also worked as an ISVA (Independent Sexual Violence Advisor) at Survivors Network in Brighton and as a residential social worker for young people in care.

I am a qualified yoga teacher with a specific interest in therapeutic and somatic yoga, which explores the embodiment of trauma and unprocessed emotions and the incredible power of listening to our bodies to help us to heal. I have a particular interest in compassion focussed therapy and its effectiveness in over-coming shame and a sense of unworthiness.

I am an adoptive mother to two children, who inspire me and teach me something new every day. Preparing for this particular role in life guided me towards researching attachment and its influence throughout life and relationships, the impact of trauma on the nervous system, the consequences of separation and loss, and the formation of identity and a sense of belonging.

I also have clinical experience within the NHS.

I am currently available on Tuesday evenings and can be contacted here.