specialisms
As well as working with common issues such as anxiety, depression and grief, I can also provide Counselling, Psychotherapy and Supervision in the following Specialisms. I can offer Specialist support for these complex issues with understanding and accommodation.
Adult Adoption Support Counselling
In 2023 I completed the Barnardo’s LINK Training with the Albany Centre in Adoption Support Counselling. This qualifies me to offer Adult Adoption Support to Adult Adoptees, Adoptive and Foster Parents, Special Guardians, Birth Parents and Extended Family members.
Adult Adoptees
The experience and impact of being adopted can vary enormously from individual to individual. Over the course of an adoptee’s life, the impact of their adoptive experience can also vary. The emotional and physical impact can be complex, subtle and multi-faceted and can reveal itself in many different areas, such as other relationships, self-care and work life. I can create a safe space in which to explore these issues, whether around the narrative experience of the adoptive process, or the continuing and shifting impact on other areas of life. Being able to explore these issues in a neutral and independent space can prove invaluable for adult adoptees, when support from other agencies and social services tends to drop away completely.
Adoptive Parents, Foster Parents, Special Guardians
Caring for children, whether through Adoption, Fostering or as a Special Guardian can be rewarding and inspiring, but also challenging and complex. Support for Adoptive and Foster Parents as well as Special Guardians provided by other agencies or Social Services tends to be offered only at the point of crisis. I can offer a neutral and independent space in which to unpack the experience of caring for children in this way. I can offer these sessions both to Individuals, and to Couples, as the impact can often be felt on the relationship as well as individually.
Birth Parents
I can offer sessions to Birth Parents who have given their baby or child up for Adoption, Fostering or to Special Guardians. There are a multitude of different reasons why this decision may be made, whether recently, or historically. The impact can be far reaching and deeply felt emotionally and physically. I create a safe, non-judgemental space in which to explore this experience with compassion and understanding.
Extended Family
Adopting, Fostering or acting as a Special Guardian for a baby, child or children can have a knock-on impact on the extended family. This may be grandparents, older siblings and aunties and uncles. Training for Adoption and Fostering is often limited to those directly involved, and any additional needs of these children, may be difficult for the extended family to understand or adapt to. Space in which to explore the complexity of this experience for extended family members can be very valuable for all involved.
The extended family of Birth parents may also be deeply impacted by a baby, child or children being given up for Adoption, Fostering or to a Special Guardian. I can offer space for extended family members to explore this complex experience and the ways in which it may impact.
Fertility Issues, Pregnancy and Infant Loss, and Rainbow Babies
At the Beginning of 2025 I completed training with the Foundation for Infant Loss on Fertility Issues, Pregnancy and Infant Loss, and Rainbow Babies.
Fertility Issues
Fertility Issues are intensely emotional and physical both for the Individual and the Couple. These issues can often be long-term and involve repeated experiences of grief and loss. There is still a great deal of stigma and silence around any Fertility Issues, so having a safe space to unpack these and explore them either as an Individual or as part of a Couple can be invaluable both in terms of addressing experiences in the past, the present, or fears, and grief around the future.
Pregnancy and Infant Loss
Pregnancy Loss whether as a miscarriage or a stillbirth is most parents worst nightmare. These losses are still surrounded by much stigma, silence and misunderstanding. The grief and loss are often hidden. Counselling sessions, whether as an Individual or as part of a Couple, provide a safe, compassionate and understanding space in which to explore this experience.
Infant Loss, whether due to Sudden Infant Loss Syndrome, or other causes is also the stuff of nightmares. Parents and extended family members will be hugely impacted by this complex and far-reaching grief. The emotional and physical impact is immense and is also stigmatised, misunderstood and hidden. Counselling offers a space that is understanding, non-judgemental and compassionate to work through the varying emotional and physical impact of this experience.
Termination for medical and other reasons
Sometimes a Termination may be necessary for medical reasons. This may be because the Pregnancy isn’t viable and will not result in a healthy, living baby. It may also be because there is a significant risk to the health or life of the mother if she continues with the Pregnancy. In either case this news is devastating for the parents and their extended family. Counselling can offer a space in which to unpack the emotional complexities of this situation, such as shock and grief, as well as the physical experience and aftermath.
Sometimes a woman may decide to have a Termination for a wide variety of other reasons. These could range from poverty, to fear, to abuse, pressure or lack of support. Whatever the reason this is often an incredibly difficult decision to make, rather than a light choice. It is often accompanied by complex emotions such as grief, guilt and regret as well as a significant physical impact. Counselling offers a non-judgemental space in which to talk through this experience and the impact it can have whether it is recent event or historical.
Rainbow Babies
Pregnancy, birth and parenting following a miscarriage, stillbirth or infant loss is complex and often misunderstood. Massively increased anxiety, guilt, on-going grief and confusion are all common and understandable. Once again, the stigma and silence surrounding these experiences exacerbate the impact. Counselling gives the client time and space in which to explore and understand these reactions as they shift and change over the course of the Pregnancy, in the lead up to the birth, and in the experience of parenting. These sessions are offered both to Individuals and Couples.
Acute, Chronic and Rare Illness
I have lived experience of acute, chronic and rare illness. This includes Hypermobile Ehlers Danloss, a genetic connective tissue disorder.
This disorder is accompanied (as is often the case) by Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia – causing dizziness and palpitations and Mast Cell Activation – causing widespread allergies.
Less commonly, it is also accompanied by Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in my right foot.
As well as this lived experience, I have over 25 years of experience working therapeutically with Yoga students and Counselling Clients experiencing short-term, long-term and lifelong difficulties with their physical health.
This has ranged from various forms of Cancer, HIV, Injuries, Parkinsons, Endometriosis, Crohn’s, Back pain, Fertility Issues, Miscarriage, Pregnancy and Birth, and Ataxia, to name just a few.
I understand how impactful these different forms of illness can be on a physical, mental and emotional level.
I also understand how the experiences around these different forms of illness – such as medical interventions, seeking support and accommodations can be challenging and even traumatic.
Disability
I also have ongoing lived experience of disability, and have worked with many Students and Clients who have limitations to their mobility.
I understand how challenging and isolating disability can be and the ongoing impact reduced mobility and energy can have on all of our relationships.
Disabled people make up the largest minority group on the planet and this is a group that anyone may find themselves joining at any time in their life.
Yet all too often there is a binary dynamic established of ‘the well’ and ‘the unwell’. This can be observed in medical settings, the helping professions, and society generally.
Over 80% of disabilities are acquired, either through illness or injury and often in traumatic circumstances. There is often little sensitivity to this potential trauma, instead there is intrusion and either dramatisation or minimisation.
Disability is not a static state, the experience of disability is dynamic and changing. My Integrative Person Centred approach to Counselling, Psychotherapy and Supervision allows for these varied states – adjusting, adapting and accommodating to meet ongoing and changing needs.
Training & Qualifications
I have completed several years of Counselling training with CPCAB (Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body.) In 2013 I completed their Introduction to Counselling course, in 2014 Counselling Theory and in 2017 I was awarded my Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling.
I am a Registered and Accredited member of BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy). In 2023 I completed Barnardo’s LINK training with the Albany Centre in Adoption Support Counselling and in 2025 the Foundation for Infant Loss training in Fertility Issues, Pregnancy and Infant Loss and Rainbow Babies.
Find out more
I’d love to hear from you with any questions, feedback or comments. Please call, or email and I’ll be in touch with you soon.