I work with children, adolescents, adults and older adults.

I use a range of therapeutic techniques in my clinical practice including Cognitive Behavoural Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), mindfulness, Compassion focused interventions and FLASH.

I work collaboratively to enhance the tools people need to understand their individual internal world, emotionally regulate and build resilience.

The Therapeutic relationship it so important in the process of change. Combining an open, honest and safe space with evidence based treatment promotes your recovery.

I am a clinical supervisor and also enjoy providing consultancy and training to a range of clients. I engage in regular continued professional development and training opportunities to enable me to offer the most appropriate, responsive and effective interventions.

I undertake weekly clinical supervision with an accredited supervisor, am DBS checked and have Public Liability Insurance.

I offer digital online sessions only as I am based in Suffolk. This is via Zoom or telephone sessions.

I enjoy working collaboratively to understand the difficulties being experienced, gaining a shared understanding of goals and helping clients to implement CBT techniques into their lives. I aim to create a safe, supportive, non judgemental environment where difficulties can be explored.

I have a particular interest in PTSD which led to my further training in EMDR and experience of working with:

• Generalised Anxiety Disorder
• Panic Attacks
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Phobias
• Body Dysmorphic Disorder
• Post Traumatic Stress
• Low Self Esteem
• Misophonia
• Depression
• Sleep difficulties including Insomnia

I receive regular clinical supervision to ensure I am working to the best of my ability and to continue to develop my skills. I also attend regular CPD to keep up to date with any new developments or to improve my skills in an existing technique.

After my BSc(Hons) Psychology, I embarked on my Psychotherapy training with the University of Manchester, graduating with a Post Graduate Diploma in Cognitive Therapy in 2004.

Since then, I have worked in Service Development roles in Severe and Enduring Mental Health and worked in Senior roles in the NHS Primary and Secondary Care Psychology Services, and as a Consultant Psychotherapist in Forensic Psychiatry, successfully developing a Psychotherapy department and service in a Secure Hospital. I have also worked as Modality Lead in an NHS IAPT Service, and for a time in full time Private Practice. I currently work in Secondary Care Psychology for complex psychological presentations.

I have worked with most psychological difficulties, and am comfortable treating adolescents and adults. I am also qualified in Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (Parts I,II and III), and HCR-20 (Historical Clinical Risk). I have also completed my IAPT Supervisors Training (University of York), and have Clinically Supervised Post Graduate Psychotherapy Students, Clinical Psychology Trainees, and Medical Doctors completing Mental Health Training and Psychotherapy Training. I am also experienced in providing training, teaching, and have co-presented a Psychological model of Compulsive Buying at the BABCP Conference in Exeter.

I strongly believe in a good strong therapeutic relationship based on trust, respect and equality in sessions. I want people to be heard, and I believe in achieving a shared understanding of a problem as being a strong foundation to successful treatment.

I work in a goal focussed way, agreeing with you what you want to get out of sessions and work collaboratively with you to help you get the most out of CBT. We will identify the thoughts and behaviours that are keeping you stuck in your current vicious cycle and I will support you with skills and techniques to help you work your way through your problems and enable you to live a happier and more value based life. As well as a main focus on CBT I have also undertaken training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and also Compassion Focussed Therapy (CFT) which I feel enhance my core CBT skills.

I believe therapy is most helpful when you are able to build a strong therapeutic relationship with your therapist. I endeavour to be honest and open with you and treat you in a compassionate and non-judgemental manner. I have worked with many people who are nervous about starting therapy and I take the time to discuss the process with you and help you to feel as comfortable as possible. I work alongside you to help you overcome your current difficulties and guide you through the techniques that will give you the most benefit, both now and in the future.

I am an accredited member of the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapists, hold an enhanced DBS certificate and have public liability insurance. I can offer both face to face and Zoom appointments and look forward to offering you an assessment appointment where I can find out more about your current difficulties and discuss treatment options with you.

I appreciate that, noticing that there is a problem in the first instance, and then reaching out, are two significant steps, both of which may come with mixed feelings and emotions.  I pride myself in my commitment to provide a calm, safe and secure environment where you can merely be yourself, with the guarantee of respect and no judgement. With these a given, we have the foundation to develop and enhance our therapeutic alliance where personal understanding and growth can flourish.

I am dedicated to working collaboratively. Together, we can explore the psychological distress or difficulties that have been causing concern or caught your attention, build a mutual understanding, and identify the most suited and individualised therapeutic pathway to support your needs at this time. In this way, you can become your own master in accomplishing your personal goals and aspirations.

I offer a range of evidence based integrative and cognitive behavioural therapeutic approaches to help address symptoms associated with:

• Depression
• Low self-esteem/low confidence
• Generalised worry/anxiety
• Stress
• Health anxiety
• Social anxiety
• Obsessive compulsive disorder (intrusive thoughts/images, compulsive behaviours)
• Panic, with and without agoraphobia
• Specific phobias, such as spider, dog, vomit, needle phobias etc
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Body dysmorphic disorder
• Body image difficulties
• Binge eating disorder
• Insomnia/ sleep difficulties
• Depression and/or anxiety related to long-term health conditions or unexplained medical conditions
• Adjustment difficulties

I have an interest in the Compassion Focused approach, which places a significant emphasis upon moving away from the inner self-critic and toward the inner kinder voice. Furthermore, the Acceptance and Commitment Therapeutic approach is one of my special interests, which harnesses resilience, leaning toward acceptance of difficult and distressing experiences while simultaneously striving towards value-based living. I have found these approaches to be particularly useful for individuals where their situation may be static or unchangeable.

I receive regular clinical supervision. This provides a platform for myself to be the considerate and reflective Psychotherapist that I consider myself to be. I play an active role in continuing my professional development and to ensure that my practice is the most up to date and relevant.

I am a qualified Clinical Supervisor, with experience supporting Trainee Cognitive Behavioural Therapists from the start of their journey into accomplishing their qualified status.

I am a registered and accredited member of the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy (BABCP) as well as a registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). I adhere to their ethical frameworks to ensure good and safe practice. I have an enhanced DBS certificate and have professional liability insurance.

Prior to training as a psychotherapist, I was a Social Worker in Adult Social Care, in Community Mental Health and supporting women fleeing domestic abuse. More recently I worked as a CBT therapist in a community Pain Management Team, providing CBT support for patients living with chronic pain and long-term health conditions.

In my therapy I draw on theory and practice from Acceptance and Commitment therapy (ACT), mindfulness and Compassion Focussed Therapy (CFT).

I have worked in both community and hospital settings, including forensic services, helping people with a broad range of complex mental health difficulties including trauma, anxiety, depression, psychosis, schizophrenia, bi-polar affective disorder/manic depression, personality disorder and substance misuse to overcome their problems and to rebuild their lives. I use a range of therapeutic techniques in my clinical practice including:

• Ego State Therapy
• Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Breathing exercises
• Visualisation
• Mindfulness

I was first drawn to EMDR therapy after witnessing first-hand the effectiveness of this therapy in treating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms caused by childhood trauma. A patient I had been working with had been troubled all his adult life by flashbacks, nightmares, intrusive thoughts, and anxiety, and after having three EMDR sessions they all stopped, his stutter disappeared, and he started to feel in control of his life for the first time. I was amazed by how quickly EMDR worked and how dramatically my patient’s life changed.

I started to research and look at the evidence base for EMDR therapy and was inspired to undertake training to become an EMDR therapist myself.

I have dedicated my life to helping people to understand and to overcome mental health difficulties. EMDR is a powerful therapy that has been life changing for so many people, it is a great privilege to support people on their road to recovery and to assist in changing lives for the better.