I am a fully qualified Counsellor and Psychotherapist (MSc, B.A. (Hons), P.G. Dip.) offering Private Individual and Couples Therapy in Purley, south London. I am also a certified Clinical Supervisor.
I have been a therapist since 2007, working from an NHS General Practice Surgery, as the Clinical Lead & Head of Department - Psychological Support Services for a leading South London Hospice, a Patient and Family Therapist with the largest hospice in the UK based in North London, have been in Private Practice throughout and I have also clinically managed and led Mental Health and Substance Misuse Services pan-London.
An Integrative Practitioner - simply put this means I am trained to deliver more than one type of therapy model - I specialise in both brief, solution-focused therapy as well as longer-term, in-depth treatment contracts.
I work face-to-face from my bright, spacious Consulting Room in Purley. I also deliver sessions online and via the telephone. Hybrid contracts are available to provide flexibility.
As well as my Private Work, I am currently an Associate Therapist with a renowned Harley Street Addictions Clinic, a BUPA Recognised Professional, an Associate Practitioner for several Employee Assistance Providers (EAP's), a Support Professional with the Lawyer Supported Mediation Network and a Specialist Trauma Therapist for the City of London Police.
I am also a qualified and experienced Clinical Supervisor - currently supervising the Consultants and Doctors at St. Christopher's Hospice South London, the Counselling and Psychotherapy Team at The Shakespeare Hospice Stratford-upon-Avon, as well as a number of therapists working privately. Previously I have supervised therapists working within a Pan-London Counselling Agency for Young Refugees and Asylum Seekers, a Cancer-Specialist Service, a National Homelessness Charity, a South London agency supporting Carers, a National Gambling Addictions Association, a GP Surgery and several National and Pan-London Mental Health and Substance Misuse Charities.
Counselling and Psychotherapy are 'talking therapies' - processes that involve exploring feelings, beliefs, thoughts and events, often from childhood / personal history, in a structured and supportive way and with someone who is trained to do it safely.
Exploring feelings and their meanings - what they remind you of and where they originated - can help in deciding whether certain core beliefs, once held about you and the world, are no longer appropriate and can thus be replaced with alternative, healthier options.
Therapy aims for insight into difficulties and distresses, a greater understanding for motivation and change and the discovery of more appropriate ways for coping and ways forward. All of this will be explored at the Assessment.
Therapy can be seen as a process of self-discovery. I will offer you:
An opportunity to think and talk about yourself and your concerns in a way that you often can't do with family and friends.
A place and time that is just for you to talk about those things that bother you.
Listen to the way you feel and how this affects you and others.
Accept the way you are without judging you.
Help you to make the changes that you would like to happen.
Work hard to create a good therapeutic relationship with you so that we can work well together.
Understand that it is not always easy to talk about problems and to express feelings.
Work with you towards improving your well being.
Therapy can be just a few sessions or it can last over several weeks and months. This depends on the individual situation. Again, this will form part of the Assessment process.
As a therapist I appreciate the impact of earlier life experiences on our thoughts, feelings and behaviours as adults. My aim as a therapist is to allow an understanding of these historical events and relationships - to provide insight in to how we relate to others and ourselves in the present.
An underlying focus is to support the individual in becoming what they are capable of becoming. Equally, there is the exploration of the subjective lived experience - what it is like to be you.
With more specific, present-day issues, solution focused approaches are employed - such as CBT - allowing the client to learn techniques to better manage day-to-day life and become better equipped for future living.
I am able to draw extensively on theoretical approaches - matching the intervention to the individual client and presenting problems.
MSc. B.A. (Hons). P.G. Dip. Accredited Member BACP
Counsellor/Psychotherapist offering Private Individual and Couples Therapy. With 20+ years leading NHS Services, Pan-London Psychological Support Agencies, as well as Private Practice, I have extensive experience in working with a wide variety of individuals and diverse presenting issues.
18 Years
Accredited Member of The British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy (MBACP), I abide by their code of ethics and professional standards.