Services

What can I help with?

People come to therapy for so many different reasons. Sometimes it may be a chance to reflect on life, significant changes, or to reach a deeper understanding of longer-term difficulties.

I support individuals facing mild to severe issues with their psychological wellbeing. This includes anxiety, OCD, sleep issues, phobias, depression, complex trauma, childhood abuse, relationship problems, domestic abuse, grief, traumatic loss and life transitions, pre- and post-natal mental health, intense emotions, difficulty with identifying and naming emotions (alexithymia), self-harm and suicidal thinking, eating disorders, substance misuse and addiction, physical health issues that have a psychological component, dissociative disorders and related difficulties such as depersonalisation and derealisation.

I have a special interest in complex developmental trauma, the symptoms of which can present in so many different and sometimes confusing ways. It’s not unusual for me to meet with people who have seen many other mental health professionals in the past but are still trying to figure out why they are struggling.

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and related dissociative conditions and experiences are a special interest of mine. This is not to say I am a specialist, but that this is an area of ongoing learning through training, workshops and specialist supervision. I have been trained to use the latest version of Marlene Steinberg’s Semi-Structure Clinical Interview for Dissociative Symptoms and Disorders (SCID-D) and am a member of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD).

I welcome people from any cultural background, ethnicity, gender identity, as well as the whole spectrum of neurodivergence, including people with a confirmed autism diagnosis.

If your difficulties are not listed above, don’t worry. It’s impossible to cover everything, so please reach out to discuss your specific concerns, and we can explore whether my skills might be helpful to you.

Therapies offered

  • Internal Family Systems (IFS)

    IFS is a powerful therapy focusing on increasing self-awareness and self-compassion. IFS provides a safe way of addressing traumatic life-events through mindful, creative exploration. This approach can be helpful for a wide range of difficulties, and I often use it in conjunction with other approaches. You can learn more about IFS here.

  • Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT)

    CAT is a structured but flexible therapy, where collaboration in understanding relational difficulties can lead to deep insight and natural change. The therapy relationship is an important component of this approach and can be a useful place to safely explore and understand complex relationship difficulties. You can read more about CAT here.

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

    ACT focuses on combining mindfulness-based skills with clarity about what you value most in life. Increasing present-moment awareness reduces avoidance of uncomfortable internal experiences (thoughts, physical sensations, emotions, memories, etc). This can support you in responding to all aspects of your life with flexibility. You can learn more about ACT here.

  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

    CBT is a practical and well-evidenced therapy aimed at identifying and changing stuck patterns of behaviour and thinking. I usually use elements of CBT to support other approaches. You can read more about CBT here.

  • Eye Movement Desensitation and Reprocessing (EMDR)

    EMDR is a well-researched therapy, developed originally for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), now used to treat a much wider range of difficulties, including anxiety and mood issues, phobias, and more. You can learn more about EMDR here.

The process

Get in touch

If you are considering working with me then get in touch, we can either book a free 15 minute phone call or schedule an initial assessment. I will share the most up to date information about waiting times for regular appointments, as well as my fees, and will also respond to any other questions you may have asked.

Before our consultation

You will be sent an email with links to my policies, a registration form and a link to complete some simple questionnaires (these are optional).

The first consultation

We will meet at an agreed time, either in-person or online, and spend an hour exploring your reasons for seeking therapy. You will be invited to share as much or as little as feels comfortable during this appointment, with the awareness that one of the main aims is to get a sense of whether you and I are a ‘good fit’ to work together. If not, I will advise you on where else you might be able to find more appropriate help. If we do decide to work together, we will explore ideas for things you might wish to do while waiting for a regular appointment time to become available.

Following the assessment, if you consider it helpful, I can write a brief summary letter outlining the assessment, including an interpretation of any questionnaires completed, and recommendations. Some people who wish to keep their GP or other professionals informed of their care find these letters helpful, other people prefer not to have one.

Regular sessions

Once you have attended an initial assessment and we have agreed to work together, we will schedule in regular therapy sessions.

Each appointment lasts up to 60 minutes, usually once per week, either in-person or online using Zoom.

Therapy FAQs

  • I do have a limited number of slots available for people on low incomes or benefits. Please get in touch to ask any further questions about this.

  • Currently the latest appointment time I offer is 4.30pm on a Monday and a Thursday. I work Monday to Thursdays each week and do not work on Fridays or the weekends.

  • This is a tough one to answer as there are just so many variables to consider. The duration of therapy is mostly influenced by the complexity of the difficulties you are experiencing, as well as your commitment and willingness to integrate new learnings and skills into your life in-between sessions. Sometimes there are other constraints on the length of therapy, such as financial or other commitments, and in these cases we can find a way to worth within whatever parameters we need to.