About me
This page provides more detailed information about my life and work experience.
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I have had a long and varied career beginning first as a teacher in South East London 40 years ago
My first degree was in Special Education B.Ed (hons) (2:1) in 1980. The children I taught lived at home but had been excluded from mainstream education and presented a range of disabilities and challenging behaviours.
I then gathered 20 years experience of pastoral counselling in various chaplaincy contexts.
My second degree was in Theology B.Th (Ist) in 1987. I was ordained at that time in the C of E and worked over the years as a Chaplain first in a University supporting students, and then in an NHS hospital and two hospice settings. I have since left the C of E and have no religious affiliations. But I do continue to believe that spirituality, however it is uniquely expressed for each person, is a core aspect of our health and wellbeing. See the section for more on this Spirit and Soul
During the 1990s I worked with The CARA Trust providing pastoral counselling support for those affected by HIV/AIDS across London.
CARA offered a refuge for many who wanted to explore spiritual questions in the light of their illness. This was a traumatic decade for the gay community but ended with more hope as the new combination drug therapies began to take affect. An increasing number of heterosexual women were being diagnosed alongside the majority of gay men at that time many of whom women had come from African countries, some seeking asylum having suffered trauma as a result of rape and violence.
I continue to have a strong personal connections with the LGBTQI community and have both personal empathy and professional insight into concerns relating to sexual identity and experience of prejudice.
I now have 20 years experience working as a psychotherapist. My training began in 1996. I qualified in 2001 and have been registered with UKCP since 2004.
Having begun in 1994 to receive the benefits of my own psychotherapy process, I chose to train at the Chiron Centre for Body Psychotherapy because of it's holistic and integrative approach, combining as it did the humanistic and psychoanalytic schools of thought. The four year psychotherapy training was rigorous and thorough and has equipped me to work holistically with a variety of approaches for the healing and integration of body heart mind spirit and soul.
Alongside my psychotherapy training I trained in biodynamic massage therapy and qualified in 2001.
Biodynamic Massage Therapy provides a complimentary way of working with the body heart mind spirt soul. I found this lesser-known approach both fascinating to learn and practice, as well as to receive. This embodied way of working, which includes the psychological dimension, can be very helpful on so many different levels as well as being a source of pleasure and support for wellbeing. Please note I no longer practice this as a stand alone therapy.
My approach to working is holistic, always with the whole system of body heart mind spirit soul as focus both for the client as well as myself.
I have worked for many years with people living with illness in the NHS, independent Hospice settings and with the Sara Lee Trust in Hastings.
We are all vulnerable to ageing, sickness and death. This process can cause us, and our loved ones, much pain and distress on every level. As well as supporting those living with illness, facing deep spiritual and existential questions relating to living, dying and death (their own, or that of a loved one), I have supported many individuals and families bereaved at a time of heartache, loss and grief.
In 2014 I qualified as a Breathworks Mindfulness teacher.
This particular mindfulness training is aimed for those living with pain or illness and has a strong focus on developing compassion and kindness towards ourselves as we experience pain and difficulties, whether physical, emotional or spiritual. I have taught mindfulness courses with groups of people living with cancer and other life limiting illness.
Both the western Christian and eastern Buddhist traditions have deeply influenced me.
I have a regular meditation practice which is central to my life and wellbeing. You can see from my page on Spirit and Soul that I welcome open exploration of this aspect of life and the call to Soulfulness, however that may express itself for any one person.
Being part of a spiritual or faith community can bring a sense of belonging and be supportive and inspiring, but and in some cases, has been the cause of hurt anger and confusion. I have much empathy for those feeling damaged, excluded and hurt by spiritual or religious communities due to sexual orientation, gender or abuse and believe I am well placed to bring understanding to this area of spiritual pain and distress.
From my own considerable experience of receiving a variety of approaches to counselling and psychotherapy over the years, I wholeheartedly believe the single thing that matters most is the connection and relationship between us as we work.
We all have to feel safe to be able to trust that we can open our hearts to someone. When we find such a person, when the ‘fit’ feels right, I can testify that the experience of such a meaningful relationship and encounter can provide the vehicle for much healing and transformation. For some this may be short term to deal with specific problems, for others with more deep seated psychological issues stemming from the past this can be a longer more complex psychotherapeutic process. I believe it is a path entirely worthwhile to undertake, but it is really important to take time to find someone you feel you can trust and feel comfortable with. It is a big step to open your heart and soul to someone, so it is wise to be cautious, do your research, listen to your heart and trust your instinct. I don't know if I am the right person for you but am very willing to listen to whatever is troubling you and to see if we can find a way forward together.
Thank you for reading. You are welcome to CONTACT ME.
