I think therapy can offer an opportunity to pause, step back from the demands of everyday life and begin to make sense of experiences that may otherwise feel confusing, overwhelming or difficult to change. I aim to provide a warm, compassionate and non-judgemental space where people can feel safe enough to be open and honest about what is happening for them. I do not believe there is a right or wrong way to feel, and I am particularly interested in creating a space where people can bring the parts of themselves that they may find difficult to understand or accept.

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I have 16 years clinical experience across NHS, charitable and private practice settings, and have supported  adults experiencing a wide range of psychological difficulties. These include anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, stress and burnout, trauma, bereavement and loss, family difficulties, relationship problems and significant life transitions. I particularly enjoy working with people who want to understand themselves more deeply, rather than simply wanting to manage or get rid of a particular symptom.

I have a particular interest in attachment, trauma and relationships. The relationships we have throughout our lives have a profound influence on how we see ourselves, what we expect from other people and how safe we feel in closeness and intimacy. Sometimes we can find ourselves repeating patterns that we do not fully understand: becoming anxious or overwhelmed in relationships, finding it difficult to trust, struggling to express our needs, putting other people's needs before our own, or repeatedly finding ourselves in relationships that leave us feeling unhappy or unfulfilled. These patterns can feel frustrating or even baffling, but often make considerable sense when we understand them in the context of our earlier experiences.

I am interested in helping people explore these patterns with curiosity and compassion. This can include thinking about experiences from childhood and significant relationships, but also about what is happening in the present. In my experience, our ways of coping often developed for good reasons and may once have been important ways of keeping ourselves safe, connected or emotionally protected. Understanding this can make it possible to develop different ways of responding, rather than feeling that we are simply stuck with the same patterns.

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My approach is integrative and grounded in psychodynamic thinking. I draw on a range of therapeutic approaches, including Compassion Focused Therapy, Systemic Therapy, Internal Family Systems, and EMDR depending on the person and what they are hoping to get from therapy. I am interested in both the relationship between past and present and in the relationships and circumstances that surround us now. My training in systemic therapy has also given me a particular interest in the ways difficulties can develop within families and intimate relationships, rather than viewing psychological distress solely as something located within the individual.

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Alongside adult mental health, attachment, trauma and relationship difficulties, I work with people experiencing anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, perfectionism, burnout, grief and loss, separation, family difficulties and periods of significant change or uncertainty. I also have experience working with couples  and with people who are struggling with questions around identity, relationships and their sense of self.

Ultimately, I hope therapy can help people feel more able to understand themselves and their experiences, and to have greater choice in how they respond to the challenges of their lives. Sometimes this means feeling less overwhelmed by symptoms; sometimes it means changing longstanding patterns; and sometimes it is about developing a kinder and more accepting relationship with oneself. I see therapy as a collaborative process in which we can work together to understand what has brought you here and what you would like to be different.

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I hold a Doctorate in Counselling Psychology and have extensive clinical experience across NHS and private settings. I am registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and am a Chartered Psychologist.