About me

I am British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited and Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registered Counselling Psychologist with over 10 years experience of working in the NHS with adults and adolescents with varying forms of distress. I am currently employed as a Principal Counselling Psychologist at Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust specialising in the needs of psychological therapy staff. I have previously worked as a Highly Specialist Counselling Psychologist for Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and a Specialist Counselling Psychologist in a NHS Secondary Care community mental heath service for clients experiencing severe mental health difficulties i.e. psychosis with trauma, depression and/or anxiety. Additionally I was invited by Blink Mental Health charity to support their campaign to offer psychological support sessions to festival goers at Camp Wildfire Festival 2022 and Howthelightgetsin 2023 and am a featured contributor to the Huffington Post Love Stuck column and Happiful magazine.

I am trained in the three core psychotherapeutic approaches, these being person-centred or humanistic therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) including third waves approaches, these being acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and mindfulness based approaches i.e. (MBSR) and eye movement densitisation and reprocessing therapy (EMDR). Regarding my educational background I completed an undergraduate bachelors of science degree with honors (BSc Hons) in Psychology, a postgraduate masters of science (MSc) degree in Clinical and Community Psychology and a doctorate in Counselling Psychology (PsychD). As much as I am trained to identify and understand medical diagnostic labels associated with mental health difficulties and their accompanying symptoms, such as those in the section below, my training is also very much embedded in understanding the personal experience of your distress and how it impacts your life; this is of paramount concern.

My Training

I specialise in working with individuals who identify with the following experiences:

DEPRESSION

Acute and chronic depression

ANXIETY DISORDERS

Generalised anxiety, social phobia and panic disorder

WORK RELATED STRESS

Managing the emotional and physical stress that accompanies certain high pressure roles. I have successfully worked with junior doctors, medical consultants and head of departments regarding this area.

TRAUMA

Emotional, physical and sexual abuse i.e. childhood sexual abuse, childhood neglect, adult sexual assault and domestic violence.

EXISTENTIAL CHALLENGES AND LIFE CYCLE CONCERNS

COUPLES THERAPY

SEXUAL AND RELATIONSHIP DIFFICULTIES

CHALLENGES WITH SELF-ESTEEM

CHALLENGES WITH PERFECTIONISM

IMPOSTER SYNDROME

HEALTH ANXIETY

Areas of Specialisation

Perhaps you do not identify with the labels above. Below are a few ways such challenges may present in your life:

Feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope

Feeling that you always have to put the needs of others before your own needs

Feeling unlike yourself but unable to discern why you feel such a way

Difficulty with seeking help or accepting help

Challenges with vulnerability

Fears of rejection and abandonment

Feeling that you are not enough and others are better than you

Fear of negative appraisal or judgement

Avoidance of confrontation and expressing ones disappointments, needs and desires

Feeling overwhelmed by work and that it is having a negative impact on your life and relationships

Feeling a loss of meaning and purpose in your life

Challenges with romantic relationships and emotional and physical intimacy

Challenges with life transitions i.e. marriage, parenting, divorce and aging

Challenges with coping with the emotional weight of past or current distressing events

Relationship difficulties with your partner, children, siblings, parents, colleagues and/or friends

Feeling resentful towards others and the need for constant comparison

Unshakable feelings of shame and guilt

Feeling unable to find peace within yourself

Ruminating about the past or future in a manner which leads to you feeling overwhelmed and helpless

Constant self-critical thoughts

Unable to see positive aspects of yourself

Feeling undervalued in your professional and/or personal life

Struggling with managing the physical and emotional impact of a health condition

Fears regarding you or those important to you becoming unwell