MY APPROACH
I understand that everyone is unique, and everyone has their own experiences and understanding of the world we live in, our relationships and the things that have happened to us.
My humanistic training emphasises our in-built capacity for autonomy, growth, and the freedom to shape and give meaning to our lives. My approach is influenced by theoretical teachings such as Person-centred, Existential Psychotherapy, Focusing, Transactional Analysis, Internal Family Systems, and Trans-personal psychology. My therapy is inclusive and affirming of gender, sexual and relationship diversity, and LGBTQ+ identities.
You would be free to choose how you use your therapy sessions and whether you prefer short-term solution-focused counselling or longer term psychotherapy. I will be alongside you as you explore and make sense of your thoughts, feelings and experiences in any area of your life, and I aim to bring compassion, acceptance, attentiveness and honesty in our work together.
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At the centre of your being, you have the answer.
You know who you are, and you know what you want. - Rumi
HOW COUNSELLING CAN HELP
Realising that you might need to talk to someone is the toughest, and also the bravest first step. Therapy can provide some much-needed calm and space in our busy lives and fast-changing world.
You might want to use this space to navigate through a difficult time, continue personal development, seek emotional healing, set yourself some goals, or simply see what comes up. You might wish to improve ways of managing trauma and distress, increase self-compassion, or replace old patterns of behaviour or relationship dynamics that are no longer working for you.
Therapy can also help you to recognise or re-discover your beliefs, strengths, resilience, and sources of healing, support and joy.
Starting therapy is making an important investment in yourself, and it can become a potent resource for personal exploration and growth. Therapy may not always feel easy, but bringing your curiosity and a commitment to engaging in the process can help you to get the most out of it.
INTEGRATION AND PREPARATION FOR PSYCHEDELIC EXPERIENCES
There is a lot being written about the potential of psychedelics for healing and psycho-spiritual exploration. However, psychedelics are powerful substances, and people’s experiences can sometimes be challenging, overwhelming or disappointing, as well as potentially healing and transformative.
I provide support in preparing for a psychedelic experience, and/or for integrating an experience afterwards,from a harm reduction approach. For preparation sessions I emphasise valuing someone’s autonomy, respecting their values and preferences, and working to help them engage in careful individual decision-making, exploring risk and goal setting. Psychedelic integration sessions can help to process and accept powerful, raw, or difficult emotions and thoughts that might have been stirred up by the experience, and also to understand potential implications for personal identity, beliefs, daily life and relationships.
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Whether you have an interest in personal development, symptom reduction, spiritual growth, improving wellness, or enhancing creativity, I bring my compassion, curiosity and groundedness to help you create meaning from your experiences.
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My interest is in any expanded states of consciousness, whether achieved through psychedelics, meditation, breathwork or occurring spontaneously.
Please note: The use of psychedelic substances is currently illegal in the UK, and I am not able to offer guidance or information about accessing illegal substances, and I don’t provide psychedelic-assisted therapy outside of the legal context of clinical research trials.
I am a professional member of the Institute of Psychedelic Therapy, and a graduate of their Depth Relational Process psychedelic-assisted therapy training diploma.
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Until you make the unconscious conscious,
it will direct your life and you will call it fate. - Carl Jung
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EXPERIENCE
I have been a therapist in Brighton and Hove since 2017. I have previously worked for three years as an honorary counsellor for an LGBTQ mental health charity, a counsellor in local secondary schools, and for Brighton & Hove Switchboard helpline.
I have worked and volunteered in the health and social care sector since 1994 in a range of support and managerial roles supporting adults and young people around their mental health, disabilities, homelessness, LGBTQ identities, etc.
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I am fully insured, a Registered and Accredited member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) and subscribe to their Code of Ethics and Professional Practice.
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I am a professional member of the Institute of Psychedelic Therapy.
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QUALIFICATIONS
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Institute of Psychedelic Therapy diploma in psychedelic-assisted therapy
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Postgraduate diploma in Humanistic Psychotherapeutic Counselling, University of Brighton
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Transactional Analysis 101 from the Wealden College of Counselling & Psychotherapy
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CPCAB Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills from Varndean College
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Certificate in Managing Voluntary & Non-profit Enterprises from the Open University
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BA (Hons) European Business Studies from the University of Leicester
​Other professional development and training:
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​Gender, Sexual and Relationship Diversity
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Working with Self Harm and Suicide
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Psychedelic Integration Therapy
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Psychosis and Hearing Voices
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Existential Psychotherapy
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Symbolic Sand Tray Work
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Trans awareness
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Online Counselling
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Focusing
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