Some years ago, working with the Citizens Advice Bureau and subsequently as an Independent Mental Health Advocate, I developed a deep interest in people and the struggles that they face. In particular I was struck by how profoundly emotional and psychological distress and confusion could influence the lives people lead. I became increasingly interested in working with people not just on their practical outer world ‘symptoms’ but on possible underlying inner world foundations; foundations that seemed to destine some individuals to repeating patterns of difficulties in their lives. I decided to train as a psychotherapist.

Following successful completion of a Certificate in Psychodynamic Counselling I decided to seek further training and joined the Analytical Psychotherapy training run by the West Midlands Institute of Psychotherapy (WMIP). I left the training having benefitted from the breadth and depth of its four year seminar programme and from supervision of my clinical work. I have since been awarded accreditation as a psychodynamic psychotherapist and am registered with the Council of Psychoanalysis and Jungian Analysis (CPJA) College of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP).

My choice of Analytical Psychotherapy as the direction in which I wished to develop my practice was influenced by my interest in its emphasis on creativity; the implicit belief that even the most troubled of individuals has within them the potential and capacity for psychic health and growth. I am interested, for example, in the potential for dreams to offer insights and access to the resources of the unconscious self; resources to which our waking conscious minds may deny us access.

I am committed to an ongoing practice of self development and care to ensure that I can most effectively support the people I work with. In addition, in accordance with good practice guidelines I seek the support and challenge of confidential supervision with an appropriately qualified practitioner in respect of my client work.

In addition to my private practice I worked for a number of years within an NHS Mental Health Trust working with a variety of patients in long term psychodynamic therapy. I have also undertaken a specific couples training and been awarded a Certificate in Relationship Therapy.

As an accredited Psychodynamic Psychotherapist registered with the UKCP. I am registered and insured to provide therapy to adults. I work in accordance with the ethical code of UKCP which provides guidelines for ethical practice that are clear and rigorous in their expectations in terms of confidentiality and professionalism.