More Info
How am I qualified to work with you?
Whether you choose me or someone else its important that you check the person is qualified in counselling. Once qualified counsellors should be a member of a regulatory body who have a code of practice that we follow to ensure the best practice and has followed a course that meets the training requirements of these associations.
Knowing about my background is important, you want to know you are seeing someone with the training and skills to work with you.
I am trained as an Integrative Therapeutic Counsellor, and continue to update my training focussing on anxiety, trauma and ADHD and anxiety. I also teach the diploma in counselling. I am an accredited member of the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS) and a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.
I qualified as a Nurse before returning to university to undertake a biology degree and then a post grad in teaching. I have a Diploma in Clinical Hypnosis, and trained in Thought Field Therapy and Past Life Regression Therapy. I am a trained Well-being Coach, having completed NHS Personalised Care Institute accredited training. I am a qualified Meditation Teacher and Reiki Master Teacher
Coaching or counselling?
Cognitive coaching uses many of the skills and techniques used in counselling.
One of main the differences is that coaching is forward looking and solution focused with the aim to make change happen. Sometimes we will need to work out what patterns, beliefs or previous experiences may be holding you from reaching your full potential and how you are able to change the negative thought patterns (this is the cognitive bit).
Coaching is about change and action. The core purpose of coaching is to increase self-awareness so you can make choices that close the gap between potential and how things are now.
There is a lot of crossover between counselling and coaching, however coaching is more appropriate when you feel stuck and need support to move forward rather than addressing issues that are affecting your mental wellbeing.
Working with young people
Having worked in education for so long I have a real passion for mental health and well-being of young people.
The most common referrals I get for young people are anxiety and overwhelm, relationship/friendship group problems and just a feeling of 'not coping' (especially with school and the pressure to be everything to everyone).
I genuinely believe that if we can work with young people to explain where their thoughts are coming from, help them understand how they feel then help them develop mechanisms to deal with negative thoughts they can use these skills right throughout their lives.