About Me

My Background

I originally trained as a Human Resources Officer working for a leading private health care provider. After taking a career break to have my children, I returned to work in an educational setting where I stayed for over seventeen years. Latterly, I was an Emotional Literacy Assistant and a Home/School Link Worker where I supported both the child and their family, according to their needs. During this time, I was able to fulfil a life long ambition to qualify as a therapeutic Counsellor (working with adults). I also have further qualifications in:
– Supporting children within the context of the family
– Psychotherapeutic counselling with children and young people
– Working with children and young people using the arts
– Bereavement counselling

Professional Membership and Qualifications

I am a registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). I also subscribe to the Children and Young People division to assist with the specialism that I offer in this area of my work. I adhere to the Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions (2018).

I hold appropriate Professional Liability Insurance and have an up to date Enhanced Certificate from the Disclosure and Barring Service. I attend regular Safeguarding and Child Protection Training. I keep up to date with my continuous professional development and attend courses, seminars and conferences to enhance my learning and work, in the field of counselling. I attend regular supervision to support my client work.

Qualifications attained:

Foundation of Systemic Practice: Working with Families
Level 5 CPCAB Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling working with Children and Young People
Level 4 CPCAB Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (adults)
Certificate in Counselling Skills with Children using the Arts
Awareness in Bereavement Care, a foundation course (Ascentis approved)
NCFE Level 3 Award in Counselling Skills and Theory

My experience so far….

I have worked as a volunteer for Cruse Bereavement Care and gained extensive experience in this type of work with people of all ages and backgrounds.
I worked as a volunteer in a local generalist counselling agency, offering short and long term therapy to adults at concessionary rates.
During my time in Schools I have counselled both children and young people. My approach is person-centred and I offer the use of creative materials and therapeutic play to allow the young client to access and process what may be difficult through the spoken word alone.

I currently work as a part time School Counsellor in a Secondary School. I also have a Private Practice where I work with adults, children and young people and families.

How I work

I was trained as a person-centred Counsellor. This means that I am non-directive in my approach, but, over the years I have become integrative in my work with clients. In other words, I am not fixed in my use of skills with my clients and will use elements of other modalities, for example existentialism, Gestalt, Psychosynthesis and the use of therapeutic play therapy.

I believe that the development of the relationship is at the heart of the therapy. I work with adults in a safe, comfortable, confidential environment and offer both short term and long term counselling. When working with children and young people, whilst maintaining their right to confidentiality, I will develop a cooperative working relationship with their parent/carer to ensure that the needs of the young client are met. In line with this, we will agree regular review meetings and the assessment and ending meetings will take place both with the young person and their parent/carer.

“The key is patient, active and attentive listening combined with a genuine willingness to respond to the client’s needs as the client perceives them” Tony Merry