My role as a counsellor is to get to know you and for you to develop a greater understanding of yourself in a safe, confidential, supportive and jargon-free environment. Therapy may include exploration of how you feel, think and act. Working at your own pace, I offer guidance and support so fresh ways of seeing yourself, the options and making choices become available. Alongside the issues you bring to counselling, we may look at where you would like to be in your life and what prevents you getting there, so far.
For the range of issues go to Counsellor Session Details, Issues / Symptoms

I recognise that no one theory holds the truth, and that deep and lasting change is possible at any stage of life. Counselling is not an exact science, we are infinitely complex, and I do not hold a “one size fits all” approach. My experience and training as counsellor includes working with a range of approaches and strategies. Most people have found that our way of working together and the quality of the therapeutic relationship is the most important factor. Many also value talking to a counsellor as someone independent, who isn't too close, can hear you without a vested interest or preconceptions.

As a counsellor I have both a professional and human approach, focusing not so much on techniques or analysis and more about exploration and reflection, providing an external perspective, helping to shed light upon the obstacles in your life, so insights can be gained to change the areas you want to change or manage your life differently.

I value each person's uniqueness and respond in an individual way to your circumstances, and at the same time appreciate what we human beings hold in common - that beneath our differences are fundamental shared experiences and concepts, that the human heart and suffering are universal. I welcome and respect people's diversity. My experience includes working with men or women, old or young, who are straight, bisexual, lesbian or gay, white, black or mixed race, of many nationalities and cultures, those who are religious, hold spiritual beliefs, atheist or agnostic. What I have found clients value the most is feeling comfortable with the therapist.

My affirming approach is to be alongside you, and the issues you bring to therapy, so the choices you make, enrich rather than limit life. I hold the view that each person takes responsibility for the way they use therapy in their life, so the outcome is in the individual’s hands.

I aim to bring clarity and sensitivity to my work with warmth and humour, together with my passionate beliefs of self-determination and responsibility.

One key aim of counselling is to assist people in managing any transitions in their life. Another aim is to help a person to talk about emotions and thoughts that they may not have been able to express before. New perspectives may emerge. Therapy also helps enable people to manage difficult feelings, without avoiding them or acting them out. This can bring a sense of relief, so we can understand our current situation. Counselling is also about freeing ourselves, moving away from what we don't want, towards what we do want.

The therapy can include exploring how you re-create situations; looking at what’s in your control, what’s reactive, what’s choice. Holding that each of us are more than the impact of our history, we’ll look at what works in your life, what doesn’t and why some problems may continue. This may include exploring what matters in your life, your feelings, beliefs, the way you perceive reality and fears as well as your hopes, dreams, aspirations and values.

There may be something worthwhile you want that’s not working; how you see yourself getting there and the journey itself may also be important. Besides resolving or accepting conflicts, the process of therapy is successful when we are freer to choose, living our lives less automatically, resourcing our own clarity of thought, strengths and inner wisdom.

Counselling can also provide the opportunity to look at the obstacles in our life, those we are conscious of and others we are not. With fresh insight we can understand our life differently, and a new meaning may emerge.

One common obstacle may be how we interpret our conscious and unconscious belief systems, where we may mistake our personal view as the reality. We may also assume that a crisis is negative, because it is difficult and painful. However, it may also be a sign that needs paying attention to, and opportunity for change. A further challenge may be a need to feel more authentic or living life from our core self, a place that is calm and centred, less affected by external influences.

For some people, knowing that they will be seeing a counsellor on a regular basis can help relieve the sense of being on their own. This can help some people to manage their life more easily.

The process of counselling is further outlined in the section
Our Life Now

My interest in therapy developed in 1982. A qualified Counsellor and Psychotherapist, in my practice I bring together over twenty-five years experience of working with people at points of change in their lives, both in the voluntary sector and privately. Over this period I have valued listening to people’s life stories. I acknowledge and aspire to share what I have learnt from others.

I have completed 7 years training in psychosynthesis counselling and psychotherapy in London, drawn to it because it was described as a psychology of the soul.

My training combined the physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, and spiritual aspects of a person and help me gain a broader understanding of myself and others.

Adhering to their codes of practice and ethics, as a counsellor and psychotherapist I hold registration with the main UK counselling and psychotherapy professional and regulatory bodies, namely:
United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) - I am a Registered UKCP Counsellor - a national body of psychotherapists and psychologists
British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) - I am a Member and Accredited BACP Counsellor - a national body of psychotherapists, counsellors, and psychologists
National Council of Psychotherapists (NCP) - I am a registered member of NCP - a national association of psychotherapists in private practice
Association of Humanistic Psychology Practitioners (AHPP) - I am an Affiliate Member of AHPP - an organisation of humanistic psychotherapists, counsellors, and psychologists

Alongside self-referrals from clients, I accept referrals from doctors, other Counsellors, Psychotherapists and Professionals. Potential clients will be offered an assessment as soon as possible. They will need to have an interest in thinking about themselves and desire to change.

I charge a set fee and I have a limited number of reduced rates for those on a low income. It is usual for the full fee to be charged for missed sessions.

My Counselling and Psychotherapy practice is based in central London, Camden Town. It has a range of easily accessible and frequent tube, bus and rail services with available parking nearby.