I'm a qualified integrative therapist and member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBAP) with experience of working with children, young people and adults including couples. I have worked with young people for the past 23 years, firstly as a teacher including working in a specialist SEMH Provision and in recent years as a therapist. I currently work as a school counsellor in North Tyneside as well as working in private practice.

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Working integratively involves a client-led approach, using a range of therapeutic modalities, tailoring and adapting therapy sessions according to the person’s presenting issues and emerging needs. Modalities I work with are transactional analysis, cognitive-behavioural therapy, sand tray, imagery and metaphor work. I have a specialism in early life experiences including attachment patterns and how they impact on later adulthood, believing that our early experiences form parallels with adolescence and adulthood.

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My work with children and young people involves a psych-educative approach helping them to understand the basis of feelings and emotions to build emotional literacy and self regulation. Work with younger children predominantly involves play therapy which naturally engages the child's inner world allowing expression and articulation of difficulties which can be further explored. Work with older children involves a self reflective scaffolded approach to build greater autonomy and to develop a toolkit of coping strategies for beyond the counselling process. I also use sand tray work with both children and young people as a non-verbal symbolic approach enabling exploration of unconscious processes, gently bringing them into conscious awareness. I work as collaboratively as possible with parents/carers of the young people I work with.

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Work with adults focuses on a holistic approach in identifying links between current situations and earlier experiences through exploring a person’s life scripts. In having greater awareness of our own life scripts we are better able to move forward to our more authentic self.

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Work with couples is a solution focused approach, often shorter term, which looks at parallels between earlier relationship patterns and current relationships as well as exploring communication patterns and awareness of our own and our partners needs.

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I work at both our Gosforth and Monkseaton practices as well as online, offering a safe and welcoming space.

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Qualifications and Training:

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BSC (hons) Psychology

Post Graduate Certificate in Education

Advanced Diploma in Integrative Counselling

Couples Counselling

Thrive Trained

Enhanced DBS Certificate for working with Children and Adults