Background
My initial background is in medical science and I gained an MA in Psychology, Philosophy and Physiology at the University of Oxford.
Later I completed a Humanistic Postgraduate Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling which was more holistic and person centred, followed by a masters degree in Psychotherapy which was integrative with psychodynamic and some systemic ideas. I have worked for charities such as As You Are (Southwick) and Cruse Bereavement Care settings as a therapist for group, couples and individual work and for Sussex Partnership Foundation NHS Trust as a Psychological Therapist in a crisis team. I have worked face to face, over the phone and over video call.
I further have an interest in body psychotherapy, embodiment and yoga therapy and have completed and massage training and yoga teacher training. I use body focused therapy for clients who are interested in this in a non-esoteric way.
Continued Professional Development
To adhere to the registration to professional associations, I undertake a minimum of 50 hour CPD each year to continue my learning and ensure I am adhering to best practice and an up-to-date evidence base.
Below are some examples of my recent CPD:
▷15th – 16th Sept & 14th October 2022 – Schema Informed CBT– Informed therapy: Schema Therapy School – 24 hours
▷27th & 28th July 2022 – DBT Groups Facilitation – Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust – 16 Hours
▷8th June 2022 – 9th September 2022 – Supervision Training for PWP and CBT Trainees – University of Surrey – SPFT- 40 Hours
▷19th February 2021- 7th November 2021– Mindfulness-Based Interventions Course – Sussex Mindfulness Centre – 100 Hours
▷15th May 2020 – 3rd July 2020 – Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy – 8 week course- SPFT– 64 hours
▷28th February 2020 – Mental Health Emergencies: Breakthrough Strategies for Crisis Intervention- PESI: 6 Hours: Tim Webb- 6 Hours
▷29th January 2020 – Advanced Cognitive Behaviour Therapy: CBT for Your Most Challenging Clients- PESI: Donald Meichenbaum- 6 Hours
▷5th May 2019 – 10th May 2019 – ‘Embodied Yoga Principles’ with Mark Walsh- 40 Hours
Approaches
I am an integrative clinical psychotherapist, and an example of the psychological modalities in which I have training and experience include:
▷Attachment/Relational Therapy
▷Body Psychotherapy
▷Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
▷Compassion Focussed Therapy (CFT)
▷Dialectic Behavioural Therapy (DBT) Skills
▷Existential-Humanistic (Person-Centered/Transactional Analysis/Gestalt)
▷Mindfulness-Based Interventions
▷Motivational Interviewing (MI)
▷Psychodynamic
▷Psychological Testing and Evaluation (eg. Pre-screening tools for ADHD, ASD, Bariatric surgery)
▷Schema-Informed Brief Therapy (SFBT)
▷Systematic
Human Experience
I am also a human person who has had their own life experiences. A key part of my practice is that I value being a human alongside you. I am open to share my experiences, if asked, and we deem this sharing to be appropriate and beneficial. I am also a parent, in an ethically non-monogamous relationship, identify as a female, attended a boarding school, have a sibling with neurodiversity, and have been diagnosed at various times in my life with anxiety and depression, PTSD, BPD, and have taken medication for these. I believe there is no shame in experiencing mental health issues, but also have felt the shame and understand the stigma of experiencing mental health issues and the challenges of navigating the mental health services. I have experienced how hard it can be to ask for support and how elusive change can seem: but also how possible it is.
If you are interested in using me for your therapy, click the button below to contact me or book an appointment.