How I Work
My approach to counselling is through compassion and integrity. I use the Person-centred Theory and its positive values at the centre of our work; with your individual uniqueness and personal experiences as the focus and centre of our exploration.
I am what's known as an integrative counsellor. Which means I draw on a broad selection of theories, such as Gestalt, Attachment Theory, Psychoanalysis and CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) amongst others, to help your exploration and encourage insights for deeper understanding.
My practice is situated in Exminster (and on occasion Exeter) in beautiful Devon - easily accessible with a regular bus service to the village; it is a 5/10 minutes drive from the M5/A38/A380 and 20 minutes from the centre of Exeter by car - with ample parking.
Our initial meeting will be to see how we get on and feel about working together. This is very important if we are to work together and trust one another, so the counselling process can have the best possible chance of effectiveness. We'll also agree our working arrangements, such as, regularity of sessions, payment method/amount, goal for therapy if there is one and whether you would like brief short term focus sessions or long term.
Once we have had our initial session and are happy to work with one another your sessions will be booked at the agreed location and time.
Payment for sessions can be made by cash, card or bank transfer (click the 'Session Costs' link for details and amounts per session).
Once we begin working together regularly, I aim to support you through our exploration of the issues causing you distress, so that you can find the strength from within to find the best way forward.
I specialize in working to help people with low self esteem, confidence issues and generalized anxiety. However, whilst working at the Margaret Jackson Centre in Exeter (where I continue to volunteer one day a week) I work with a wide and varied array of issues.
I also have a professional and personal interest in the impact on the emotional, thinking and physical body our mental health creates.
Below is a list of issues I work with. If you do not see within this list the personal area of distress you currently find yourself in, do not hesitate to contact me. As mentioned I work with individuals and their own personal experiences and feelings, so regardless of the label attached to the situation, your feelings are the focus and the thing that matters the most.
Areas of counselling I work with;
Abortion
Abuse
Domestic Violence
Emotional Abuse
Physical abuse
Sexual Abuse
Anger Management
Anxiety
Generalized anxiety disorder
Bereavement
Bullying
Cancer
Career counselling
Depression
Feeling sad
Post-natal depression
Pre-natal depression
Discrimination
Disordered eating
Infertility
Loneliness
Low self-esteem
Low self-confidence
Miscarriage
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Paranoia
Redundancy
Relationship problems
Affairs and betrayals
Family issues
Separation and divorce
Self harm
Sex problems
Sexuality
Spirituality
Stress
Suicidal thoughts
Work-related stress