My Approach
Starting counselling can be daunting. I offer a sensitive, empathetic and non-judgemental space to help you to identify, explore and work through your issues. Together, we can bring about profound and lasting change to your life.
Through Psychodynamic Therapy, I will help you explore how your early relationships and experiences have influenced your life, thoughts, emotions and choices. This approach can help you understand yourself better, resolve internal and external conflicts and live more freely.
Our work together may include looking at past experiences and learned defences, exploring relationships past and present, and your dreams and fantasies. I also integrate body awareness into my approach.
If writing or art is important to you, we can also use this in our work together.
I work with individual adults. My approach is LGBTQ+ affirmative and neuro-diversity sensitive. My specialisms are in Trauma, Autism Spectrum Conditions, Sexuality and Gender identity.
I'm happy to work with you online, by telephone or in person - whenever possible. Whatever works best for you.
About Me
I am a BACP Accredited therapist in Brighton, East Sussex.
I have always been fascinated by peoples life stories and how we relate to others in different ways. This led me to study English Literature and then train and work as a nurse in mental health.
Since then, my personal and professional interest in how our early relationships influence our later experiences has led me to become a psychodynamic therapist.
I passionately believe that everyone has the potential for healing and growth from their past and in their present relationships. Psychotherapy provides a powerful aid to this journey.
Experience & Specialisms
Since 2007, I have helped people in psychological distress. I worked as a mental health nurse for many years, and then as a counsellor at Sussex University, Brighton Therapy Centre, and in private practice.
I Specialise in:
Trauma - especially early relational trauma
Trauma is not always easily identified. It affects individuals in different ways and may stem from a single event or repeated experiences. You may not have even recognised a past experience as trauma.
Trauma can leave you feeling confused, ashamed, fragmented, empty, afraid or helpless. Together, we will link your past with your present experiences - at your pace - to understand how this has influenced your sense of self and how you cope.
Autistic spectrum conditions (ASC)
Through my work with people on the autistic spectrum, I understand the difficulties encountered, such as anxiety and depression, but also the uniquely positive attributes and strengths that neurodiversity offers.
In a largely neurotypical world, I offer counselling tailored to your specific needs.
Sexuality and gender identity
My experience with issues relating to sexuality and gender identity within the LGBTQ+ community inform my work.
Together, we will explore the thoughts, emotions, anxieties and conflicts relating to your personal experiences.
In addition, I can help you with:
Relationship issues
Identity issues
Anxiety
Depression – including suicidal thoughts or self-harm
Emotional dysregulation
Anger
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Abuse
Bereavement – including traumatic bereavement or bereavement by suicide.
What to expect
The therapeutic relationship
Relationships are complex, and we all bring unconscious feelings and expectations from our earlier connections into new relationships. Through counselling, you will have a unique opportunity to explore patterns in how you relate to others 'live' with another person.
Together, we will work to better understand your current relationship problems and experiences in the context of your history. The feelings, experiences, and patterns we identify will help you create a new and better way to navigate and experience relationships.
Starting counselling
Our first meeting is an opportunity for both of us to experience working together in a counselling relationship.
You will choose what details of your history and current circumstances you are comfortable sharing, and we will discuss if psychodynamic counselling is right for you.
If you decide to start your counselling journey with me, we will then agree some practicalities, such as the frequency and timings of our sessions.
I offer short, medium, or long-term counselling.
Fees
£60 per 50-minute session.
I believe counselling should be widely available. I therefore have a limited number of lower-cost spaces available. Just let me know if you want to discuss this.
