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My Healing Philosophy

"Connection is why we're here. It is what gives purpose and meaning to our lives....connection is the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued"
Brene Brown

When I contemplate what counselling or therapy is, I experience it as the meeting of two souls, human being with human being.  It is a space to create connection.  It is rooted in gentle, caring, deep conversation and careful exploration of both the seen and unseen aspects of life.  I listen deeply and tune into the subtle currents of your inner world.  I want to offer you a place where you can feel that your vulnerability is accepted, a place to pause, rest and reflect, a place of simply being, a refuge from perfectionism and pressure to achieve.  I want to offer a space to be deeply heard, nourished and meaningfully challenged to become more fully yourself.  I want to invite you to safely stretch the edges of your comfort zone, so growth can emerge. And to be free to express joy in your successes, and to acknowledge your most difficult moments without shame.

My counselling style has developed through decades of study, soul-seeking, spiritual practices, and learning with some of the best therapy and healing teachers around the world.  I have a deep curiosity about the life of the soul, the dream and imaginal realms and what flows within and through those places.  My hope is to help people to deepen their awareness of themselves and others, bring a sense of soul back to their life, find meaning and follow their purpose.

I hold a deep trust in our life's unfolding and the way that life speaks through dreams, moods, and symptoms, our longing for connection, intimacy, and beauty in life. In our modern culture that often prioritises perfection and achievement, parts of ourselves can be cast aside, including the tender, grieving, or imperfect aspects of our being.  These are the very parts of the soul that bring us closer to others, to life itself, and to our truest nature. Reclaiming these exiled parts can enrich our lives, leading us toward deeper meaning, self-compassion, and the fullness of who we are.

My professional training is diverse and spans 30 years of practice.  My core training is in Person-Centred Therapy, which embraces the fullness of being human. This approach invites us to explore the spiritual, creative, and relational dimensions of our experience, helping us bring awareness to your thoughts, feelings, and sensations with curiosity and kindness. This deepened understanding fosters healing, self-acceptance, and growth. Central to its philosophy is the understanding that with the right conditions, every person has the capacity to heal, realigning with their authentic self or envisioning the person they wish to become.

I recognise that therapy is not one size fits all which is why I use a trauma responsive integrative approach. This means that we can draw on wisdom and insights from indigenous and spiritual traditions, as well as my training in Compassionate Inquiry and Relational, Transpersonal, Existential and Psychodynamic therapies to create a personalised approach to your unique needs.  If you would like to know about what to expect in therapy please find some more information here.

If you’re really curious, you can check out my training and experience here.

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In the quiet moments of reflection, when we pause to listen to the whispers hidden within suffering, we begin to hear our inner wisdom. Whether through depression, anxiety, or other challenges, our inner self speaks, revealing insights often veiled by pain. By honouring this wisdom, symptoms soften, and healing can occur.

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"The soul doesn’t want fixing; it wants meaning."
Thomas Moore, Care of the Soul

When we follow the call of the soul, we often find ourselves stepping off the well-worn path and into the unknown—far from the consensus reality we’ve been taught to accept. This deeper way of living, though foreign to modern life, is ancient and essential.

Soul recovery is the art of reclaiming what is most human in us—our creativity, our uniqueness, our wildness, our wonder. It’s a remembering of who we were before the world told us to become someone else.  The dominant culture teaches us to fit in, often by suppressing the very things that make us who we are. This pressure to conform is a wound to the soul—one that often begins before we even know we’re making a bargain we’ll later want to break.

It’s usually not until much later that we notice what’s missing, or feel the ache of a life that’s drifted from its deeper purpose. What the world calls a life crisis, I see as a potential wake-up call. The call only matters if we answer it, if we allow it to change us.

My work is grounded in a revolutionary spirit, one that seeks to unravel oppressive systems, both internal and external, through soul recovery, cultural healing, decolonisation, and community-rooted care. Everything I offer is shaped by my working-class roots and values, as well as decades of spiritual seeking, inner work, and study in the realms of depth psychology, archetypes, history, philosophy, shamanism, and beyond.

I draw inspiration from al the people I work with and teachers like Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Gabor Maté, Hilma af Klint, Sobonfu Some, Brene Brown, Tyson Yunkaporte, Carl Jung, Joanna Macy, Michael Meade, James Hillman, Thomas Moore,  Mary Oliver, Bayo Akomolafe, and Bill Plotkin—as well as many unnamed ancestors, artists, healers, and truth-tellers who walk with soul.
 

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We are all walking our own soul path.  Your task is to find out where yours is asking you to go.  And because this path is rarely on the map, it helps to walk with someone who knows how to travel without one.  Together, we’ll listen for your soul’s call.  Together, we’ll uncover your medicine, the healing you need, and the healing you are here to give.

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What to Expect in a Therapy Session

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Perhaps this is your first time seeking therapy, and you're unsure of what to expect.

Or you’ve had experiences that didn’t feel quite right. I understand how important it is to feel a genuine connection and I’m committed to creating a space where you feel both comfortable and respected.

Building trust, together

Therapy is a collaborative journey, and building trust takes time. We’ll move at a pace that feels right for you, working through challenges in a way that honours your needs and experiences. My aim is for you to feel heard, understood, and supported.

A brave space for authenticity

In our sessions, my intention is to create a space that is strong enough and brave enough for you to feel free to be you, to express yourself openly, and release the fear of being fully seen. In this kind of environment, free from judgement, blind spots can be revealed and growth and healing can unfold naturally and at your own pace.
 
Focusing on self-connection

We will work together to connect with your feelings and emotions, building self-awareness, and fostering kindness and compassion toward yourself. Having this way of being as your foundation can help you to navigate challenging emotions and experiences more effectively.

Grounding and growth

Grounding and self-care are at the heart of my approach. Together, we’ll work to help you find your sense of inner calm and safety, allowing your confidence to grow. As your awareness and confidence grows, you may find that you are able to release trauma, deepen your awareness of your needs, and move closer to your potential.  My intention is to help you to feel more rooted in yourself and equipped to face life’s challenges. 

Creating new possibilities


Our therapeutic relationship will provide a foundation for healing the parts of you that long to be heard and integrated. Together, we can open the door to new ways of relating to yourself and others, moving toward a life of greater meaning, connection, and fulfilment.
 

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'Anybody whose calling is to guide souls should have his own soul guided first, so that he knows what it means to deal with the human soul'.

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Carl Jung

My training and experience

I am an accredited counsellor and registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and an accredited member of the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS).

For over 30 years, I have enjoyed offering individual therapy, clinical supervision, group supervision, group therapy and bereavement support groups in a variety of settings, including hospices, Women’s Aid, Rape Crisis Centres, voluntary organisations, education, and NHS secondary care mental health services.

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Today, I work independently through my own private practice, choosing to be outside dominant mental health systems, where I now feel most aligned.

What you won’t find on my CV are the life experiences that have shaped me the most, the kind that come from facing real challenges, working hard through setbacks, and growing through both pain and joy.

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It’s these lived experiences that have deepened my ability to show up with compassion, stay present with others, offer genuine encouragement, and bring humour into even the hardest moments.

Relevant Education        

Recent Training

  • MA Ecology and Spirituality – current study

  • Complex Trauma Training Certification Level 1 & 2

  • Diploma in Diversity, Cultural Competence, Race & Anti-Discrimination Practice (2024)

  • Advanced Certificate in Clinical Supervision (2023)

  • Certificate in Online & Telephone Counselling (2023)

  • Certificate in Somatic Trauma Therapy (2013)

  • PTTLS Adult Education qualification (2012)

  • Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) (2000)

  • University of Manchester Diploma in Counselling (1996-1998)

  • Certificate in Counselling (1995- 1996)

  • Certificate in Counselling Skills (1994 - 1995)

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  • Rooted Healing – Deepen your Roots Spiritual Ecology 13-month slow study course – current study

  • Modern Medicine Woman Shaman training – Soul Retrieval (2024)

  • Soulcraft training module - Bill Plotkin Schumacher College

  • Compassionate Inquiry training

  • Internal Family Systems training for healing complex trauma, PTSD and anxiety - Frank Anderson

  • Trauma Informed Stabilisation treatment

Professional Memberships

  • Registered Member British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (82136)

  • Accredited Member National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCS22-02702)

Post qualification counselling hours (in person, online and telephone) – over 14,000 hours.

I have current, valid insurance for my counselling, psychotherapy, supervision and teaching for work in the UK.

NCPS Individual Accredited Registrant Logo
Registered BACP membership logo and registrant number
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