If you feel that something has been bothering you for a significant period of time, and you are having trouble working through it on your own then counselling may be right for you. A counsellor will listen to you, and help you to to find a clearer way forward.

Counselling may be beneficial if you feel that things are getting on top of you, or you are feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, low mood, grief or anger, or feel that these emotions are having a negative impact on your relationships, work or studies.

If it is hard to talk to family members because they are involved in your difficulties, then it can help to talk to a counsellor who is removed from the situation.

Counselling may help if you find that issues from the past are having an impact on your present daily life.

If you are unsure, it may help to have an initial session with a counsellor. This can help you to find out more about how counselling works and if it would be useful for your particular situation.

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I am a person-centred counsellor. This means that I work in the way that best suits my client.

Person centred therapy is a talking therapy, but I also offer creative ways of working including: inner child work; working with symbols and pictures; and story-telling.

I also offer psycho-education, exploring ideas around neurodivergence, neuroscience, especially in relation to anxiety, good sleep hygiene and self-worth.

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Sessions are usually 50 minutes long.

The number of sessions will vary from person to person. I usually recommend a minimum of six sessions, but often work long-term with clients. This is something which we can decide on together and we will have regular reviews, to ensure we continue to work therapeutically in the right way for you.

Face to face sessions will always be my preferred way of working. However, I can offer online sessions if that works best for the client, or if circumstances require it.

Because I work to client need, rather than a standard number of sessions, sometimes there may be a wait to be seen.

If I cannot offer you an appointment straight away, I will always offer to add you to the waiting list or give you details of how to find another therapist, as I believe it is important that clients are seen at the point of need.

If you choose to be added to the waiting list, I will keep you as informed as possible about how long you may have to wait.

I do not offer sessions at the weekend and have limited evening availability.

Sessions are currently £50. I do offer a discretionary discount to counselling students and to those in receipt of benefits.

Payments are made via bank transfer and need to be be paid within 24 hours of the session.

A late cancellation fee may be applied if less than 24 hours’ notice is given.

Yes. I am registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and work according to their Ethical Framework.

Working with a therapist who is registered with a professional body means that they have met the standards of training and experience required by that organisation.

The Counselling Directory offer support about what to do if you are worried about someone’s mental health.

If you think a person is seriously thinking of ways to attempt suicide, you are advised by the NHS to do the following:

*Contact your closest A&E department and ask them to put you in touch with a crisis resolution team (CRT). CRTs are teams of mental health care professionals who help those experiencing serious psychological distress.

*While waiting for treatment, remove any possible suicide methods from the room.

*If you think a person might try to complete suicide before there is time to get help from a CRT, dial 999 and ask for an ambulance.

If you are concerned about your mental health, please do speak to your GP, a trusted friend, family member or colleague, or speak to a counsellor.

If you need immediate help and are worried you can’t keep yourself safe, please:

*Go to your nearest A&E department

*Call 999 if you can’t get to a hospital

*Ask someone to take you to A&E or call 999 for you

If A&E isn’t an option, or you just want to talk to someone, call the Samaritans on 116 123.

Yes. I usually offer a parent/carer session prior to meeting the child. This allows parents to speak openly about their concerns, as well as allowing me to get an overview of home and school life. It also allows us to go through any practical issues e.g. payments, appointment scheduling, and any paperwork.

When I begin a counselling journey with a young person, we contract to maintain confidentiality. This allows us to build a trusting, safe, therapeutic relationship, in which they can talk about things they may not feel safe to share elsewhere.

In this contract, I am clear about limits to that confidentiality, as regards safeguarding and risk.

I explain that the young person is welcome to share information about the sessions with their parent/carer, and that we can do that by including you in a session, or they may ask me to share information with you on the phone or via email if they do not feel able to talk to you themselves.

If you have concerns about your child during the therapy journey, you are always welcome to call or email.

Yes. I hold an Enhanced DBS and am registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Parents often want to know how they can support their child whilst they are on their counselling journey. Firstly, I would always suggest that you work with a therapist that you and your child feel comfortable with and that you trust.

I would usually offer an initial appointment for parents only, where we can talk through parents’ concerns, what to expect from therapy and how parents can help.

Try and keep regular appointments and be prepared for change to take time. It takes time to build a therapeutic relationship and for children to begin to work through any difficulties they may have, learn new ways of coping, etc.

I have some ideas here for helping to support your child’s emotional development, and advice about how you can help calm an anxious child.

It is important to be clear and honest with your child about coming to see a counsellor, so that they can be confident there is nothing to be worried about or afraid of. If they ask a question you don’t know the answer to, be honest and say that is something you can ask together.

You could explain that many children have problems that affect how they feel, think, or behave. Counselling, or therapy, is a way to get help with these difficulties.

*Tell them that they will meet with a counsellor who will help them with their difficulties, especially those they are struggling to manage by themselves.

*Explain that counsellors help lots of people with tricky feelings such as sadness, anger, worry or grief.

*Counsellors can help with lots of different problems to do with home, school, bullying, loss or health problems.

*Counsellors use different activities to help people. They may invite you to talk, to draw or play, and will try and help you find solutions to your problems. They might teach you some activities to help you feel calmer, if this is something you struggle with.

*Counsellors are not there to tell you what to do, but will listen and help you believe in yourself.

It can be incredibly hard to see your child in crisis with their mental health.

Talk with your child about sadness and depression. Children might not know why they are so sad and why things seem so hard. Let them know you see that they're going through a hard time and that you're there to help. Listen, comfort, offer your support, and show love.

*Contact your GP, school nurse or health visitor (depending on their age). Let their GP know if low moods or distress seem to go on for a few weeks. Inform them of any changes in your child's sleep, eating patterns, energy, or motivation. Tell them if your child is dealing with a loss, a big stress, or significant life event.

*NHS urgent mental health helplines are for people of all ages. You can call for 24-hour advice NHS, to speak to a mental health professional, to ask for an assessment to help decide on the best course of care.

The Anna Freud Centre also has a Crisis Messenger text service: a free, confidential, 24/7 text message support service for anyone who is feeling overwhelmed or is struggling to cope. If you need support, you can text AFC to 85258.

If you need immediate help and are worried your child is not safe, please:

*Go to your nearest A&E department and ask for someone for the mental health team

*Call 999 if you can’t get to a hospital