My Passion and Identity

As a psychotherapist, counsellor, supervisor, and trainer, I am passionate about emancipation and freedom. My practice is characterised by offering you a space—online, face-to-face, or outdoors—where you can discover your identity and regain a sense of autonomy and connectedness. I seek to support my clients in moving from a place of feeling perhaps lost and alienated to a position where they feel connected to themselves, others, and the ground upon which they walk.

Many of us, after the lockdown following Covid at its worst, may feel disconnected or traumatised at some level by this experience. I seek to work with you to support you in reconnecting with your sense of self, connecting to others, and engaging with your life in the broadest sense, including a positive future.

Depth of Experience

I have been a psychotherapist for over twenty years now, and have a significant private practice in Horsforth, LS18, which was established in 2008. I not only offer therapy but also offer clinical supervision to other counsellors, psychotherapists and mental health practitioners. I am also Director of Training at TA Training Organisation, a master 's-level training programme for therapists.

Location of the Practice - indoors, outdoors or online

"The Horsforth Centre for Psychotherapy" is a specialist therapy building, opened in 2008, offering five finely appointed private counselling or training rooms, as well as refreshments and discreet toilets. The centre has around 10 practitioners working from it, all highly qualified and self-employed.

We have a discreet waiting room, magazines and tea/coffee available on arrival. We have our own car park, or easy street parking is available on Low Lane, LS18, which is in Horsforth.

I have many years of experience working online with clients via video, phone, and face-to-face. I also offer Eco-Therapy and experiences of working outdoors and in nature.

Professional Background

My initial training was as a counsellor, focusing on humanistic and person-centred ways of working. My training focused especially on the therapeutic relationship and how the interaction between the therapist and the client can be used to offer warmth, support, and deep clinical and psychological change.

I went on to train as a psychotherapist and became a Certified Transactional Analyst. I am now a senior member of the Transactional Analysis (TA) community in the UK and have held roles such as a council member of UKATA, a chair of local and national conferences, and a recipient of a UKATA medal in 2018 for services to the UK TA community.

I am now a trainer and supervisor and the Director of Training for the TA Training Organisation which is based in Leeds and trains psychotherapists in their career and development to qualification. I supervise many counsellors, psychotherapists, and mental health wellbeing practitioners.

I have worked in the NHS for many years as a Senior Group Therapist, then as a CBT Therapist, and finally as a Tertiary Level Psychotherapist. I am very interested in mental health presentations.

In the past, I worked in education and the corporate world as an account manager and then developed as a therapeutic and learning coach in the working world.

My time now is spent working passionately as a psychotherapist, supervisor, and trainer, as well as doing some professional writing for publication.

People whom I work with

I work with "people" not "problems" - so most of all I am interested in your individual humanity, in you as a person and especially your narrative or "story". What has happened in your life and what is going on right now that might be causing you distress? Together we will work on areas that interest you, as well as the meanings you are making in your life.

That said, I am very familiar with working with different presentations of anxiety, depression, sexual identities, gender identities, problems and difficulties at work or with academic studies. I don't work with young children but I do work with adolescents, young adults and grown-ups.

I am very interested in working with corporate and business people and supporting them through difficult corporate change processes.

I offer warm, supportive counselling as well as focussed change work and psychotherapy.

Types of Therapy Offered

Trauma-focussed therapies
CBT - Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
Transactional Analysis
Humanistic Counselling
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Psychodynamic-informed Psychotherapy
Pluralistic Approaches to Therapy
Signing Off...

I am informed by the ethical principles of Transactional Analysis:

Commitment in Relationship
Respect
Responsibility
Empowerment
Protection
These ethical principles I see as being relevant to you, to me, to the shared world in which we exist and to the psychotherapeutic profession as a whole. I am far from perfect, and look forward to working in a vibrant relationship with you where you are free to see my humanity and vulnerabilities... and I have consent from you to work with your processes.

It is my hope that we, in working together, would offer each other these qualities and principles. I work very hard to keep a keen and sharp edge as a therapist and to offer excellence in my practice. I would be glad to hear from you if this sounds the right direction for you.

Training, qualifications & experience
I have held an advanced Diploma in counselling for many years and am accredited by the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists as a Senior Accredited Member. I am also on their approved register as a Registered Counsellor.

I am a qualified psychotherapist, holding a masters degree in Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy. As a psychotherapist, I hold registration with UKCP as well as UKATA. Psychotherapy training takes approximately 6 years and includes many hours of personal therapy.

I hold the professional title of TSTA(P) - meaning that I am a senior trainer and supervisor within the TA world and am qualified to train and supervise others in their practice.

I hold a Post Graduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) from Newcastle NHS and Durham University and am an accredited CBT therapist with BABCP.

I attend a rigorous programme of supervision and continuing professional development.

I have worked extensively within the NHS for many years.

I have extensive experience working with both individuals and couples and facilitating therapy groups. I have had the privilege of being a keynote speaker for national UK conferences with BACP, UKATA, ACC and other large organisations.

I have recently completed a second Master's research programme in clinical supervision. I am currently studing for my Doctorate in psychotherapy.