About Me

Reaching out for therapy can feel like a big step. You may be feeling overwhelmed, anxious, low, disconnected, or stuck in patterns you cannot quite understand. Perhaps you have been holding things together for a long time, finding it difficult to make sense of your experiences, or noticing that past events continue to affect how you feel about yourself and relate to others.

Whatever brings you to therapy, you are welcome here.

I am an experienced therapist who qualified in 2013 and work with adults, young people, couples, parents and families. I offer a warm, compassionate and non-judgemental space where we can slow things down, explore what is happening beneath the surface, and begin to make sense of your experiences together.

My work is neurodivergence-affirming, trauma-informed, culturally sensitive and relationally focused. I have a particular interest in understanding how our experiences, relationships, cultural backgrounds and early attachment patterns shape the ways we experience ourselves and the world around us.

Alongside my private practice, I work as an NHS Talking Therapies High Intensity Therapist. My work involves the assessment and treatment of psychological difficulties using structured, evidence-based psychological interventions. This experience informs my understanding of the different ways distress can present, the factors that may maintain difficulties, and the importance of developing a thoughtful, collaborative understanding of each person’s needs.

My practice is informed by ongoing professional development, clinical supervision and reflective practice. I believe good therapy requires not only compassion and theoretical knowledge, but also curiosity, self-awareness and a willingness to reflect carefully on what each person needs. I aim to remain attentive to the complexity of human experience, including how personal history, relationships, culture and social circumstances can influence psychological wellbeing.

I draw on Person-Centred Experiential therapy, EMDR, parts work, attachment theory, Gestalt therapy, somatic awareness and Emotionally Focused approaches. Rather than following a rigid formula, I integrate these perspectives according to your individual circumstances, preferences and readiness.

If you would like to get in touch, please text as well as email.

How I Work

I believe that meaningful therapeutic change begins when we feel sufficiently safe to be ourselves, including the parts of us that feel confused, vulnerable, ashamed or difficult to understand.

My approach is grounded in Humanistic counselling, with Person-Centred Experiential therapy at its heart. I see therapy as a collaborative process in which your experience is taken seriously and explored with care, rather than something to be analysed, judged or fitted into a predetermined explanation.

I am interested not only in what is happening in your life now, but also in how you have come to understand yourself, the relationships you have experienced, and the ways you may have learned to cope, protect yourself or seek connection.

Sometimes our present difficulties are connected to experiences we can clearly identify. At other times, they emerge through recurring emotional patterns, bodily responses, relationship difficulties or a persistent sense that something is wrong, even when we cannot fully explain why.

Together, we can explore these experiences at a pace that feels manageable, developing a deeper understanding of your emotional world and creating opportunities for change.

My work integrates trauma therapy, EMDR, parts work, attachment theory, Gestalt therapy, mindful somatic awareness and relational approaches. I draw on these perspectives flexibly, according to your needs, recognising that each person’s experience is unique.

Understanding the Different Parts of Ourselves

I also draw on parts work, which offers a way of understanding the different aspects of ourselves that can emerge in response to our experiences and relationships.

At times, we may notice conflicting feelings or needs within ourselves: a part that longs for connection and another that fears being hurt; a part that strives to keep everything under control and another that feels exhausted; or a part that understands an experience intellectually while another continues to carry fear, shame or pain.

Rather than viewing these responses as problems to eliminate, parts work invites us to approach them with curiosity and compassion. We can explore what these different parts may be communicating, how they may have developed, and what they might need to feel safer.

This can be particularly helpful when working with trauma, attachment difficulties, self-criticism, emotional overwhelm and recurring relationship patterns. By developing a more understanding relationship with the different aspects of ourselves, we can begin to recognise protective patterns, make space for conflicting emotions and respond to ourselves with greater flexibility and self-compassion.

Parts work can complement Person-Centred Experiential therapy, EMDR, attachment-focused work and somatic awareness, where appropriate.

Culturally Sensitive and Inclusive Practice

I aim to offer culturally sensitive, inclusive and respectful therapy that recognises the ways our cultural backgrounds, identities, family systems, beliefs and lived experiences shape how we understand ourselves and the world around us.

Experiences of distress, trauma, relationships and emotional wellbeing do not exist in isolation. They are influenced by our social and cultural contexts, the expectations placed upon us, our sense of belonging, and the experiences of acceptance, exclusion or misunderstanding we may have encountered.

I approach each person with curiosity and openness, recognising that I cannot assume to know what an experience means to someone based on their background or identity. I aim to create a space where differences can be acknowledged, explored and respected, and where you do not need to leave important parts of yourself outside the therapy room.

My intention is to work collaboratively and reflexively, remaining open to how my own perspectives and assumptions may influence the therapeutic relationship. I believe that feeling understood involves attending not only to our individual emotional worlds, but also to the wider contexts in which we live, love, relate and make sense of our experiences.

Understanding Distress in Context

I recognise that psychological distress can take many forms. Anxiety, depression, panic, emotional numbness, perfectionism, intrusive thoughts, relationship difficulties and burnout may look very different from one person to another.

Rather than focusing solely on symptoms, I aim to understand the personal meaning and context of your difficulties, including the experiences and patterns that may be contributing to them.

I work with people experiencing:

• Anxiety, depression, panic attacks and persistent stress.
• Trauma, PTSD, complex trauma and the effects of emotional, physical or sexual abuse.
• Developmental and attachment-related difficulties, including the lasting effects of early relational experiences.
• Relationship difficulties, recurring interpersonal patterns, fear of abandonment, shame and difficulties with trust or intimacy.
• ADHD, autism, sensory sensitivity, neurodivergent burnout and the emotional impact of navigating environments that may not meet your needs.
• OCD, phobias, intrusive thoughts and difficulties with emotional regulation, where appropriate to the therapeutic work.
• Grief, loss, bereavement, significant life transitions and changes in identity.
• Chronic stress, parenting challenges, experiences around pregnancy and birth, and difficulties adjusting to parenthood.
• Low self-esteem, disconnection, loss of meaning and a desire for greater self-understanding.

Therapy is not only about reducing distress. It can also be an opportunity to reconnect with your needs, develop a more compassionate relationship with yourself, recognise old patterns and discover new ways of living and relating.

Where helpful, I incorporate psychoeducation, emotional regulation skills, embodied awareness and gentle experiential exploration. We may explore how the nervous system responds to stress, how past experiences influence present reactions, or how familiar patterns of relating can be understood and gradually changed.

My approach is informed by trauma training, experience working with people who have experienced abuse, ongoing clinical supervision and reflective practice. I place particular importance on safety, collaboration, pacing and respecting the protective strategies people have developed to navigate difficult experiences.

There is no expectation that you should disclose everything immediately or work in a particular way. We begin where you are.

Trauma Therapy and EMDR

Trauma does not always arise from a single, clearly defined event. It can develop through overwhelming experiences, repeated exposure to threat, abuse, neglect, loss, or relationships in which emotional safety and connection were inconsistent or absent.

Sometimes the effects are obvious: intrusive memories, nightmares, panic or a persistent sense of danger. At other times, trauma may show up in less immediately recognisable ways, such as chronic anxiety, shame, emotional numbness, difficulties trusting others, people-pleasing, perfectionism or feeling disconnected from yourself.

You may understand intellectually that an experience is over, while still finding that your body, emotions or relationships respond as though the past is happening again.

My trauma work aims to help you understand these responses with compassion, rather than viewing them as personal failings. Together, we can explore how your experiences may have shaped your sense of safety, identity, relationships and ways of coping.

I recognise that trauma can affect people differently, and that the same experience may have very different meanings and consequences for different individuals. Therapy therefore needs to be responsive to your history, circumstances, resources and readiness.

EMDR Therapy

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based psychotherapy used particularly in the treatment of PTSD and other difficulties associated with distressing or traumatic experiences.

EMDR helps people process memories and associated beliefs, emotions and bodily responses that continue to cause distress. It may be helpful when particular experiences remain emotionally charged, influence how you see yourself, or contribute to patterns of anxiety, shame, fear or avoidance in the present.

In my practice, EMDR is integrated within a broader, relational understanding of your experiences. I do not see it simply as a technique for processing individual memories, but as part of a carefully considered therapeutic process that takes account of your history, present circumstances, emotional resources and relationships.

Experiences We May Explore

Depending on your needs and clinical suitability, EMDR-informed work may help address:

Single-incident trauma: Accidents, assaults, frightening events or other experiences that continue to trigger distress.

Developmental and complex trauma: Repeated or prolonged experiences of fear, neglect, abuse, instability or emotional unsafety, particularly when they have shaped your sense of self and relationships.

Attachment and relational trauma: Experiences of rejection, abandonment, inconsistent care, emotional unavailability or betrayal that may continue to influence trust, intimacy and feelings of worthiness.

Birth and perinatal trauma: Distressing or frightening birth experiences, emergency interventions, feeling powerless or unheard during maternity care, pregnancy-related trauma, pregnancy loss and other overwhelming experiences associated with pregnancy, birth or the postnatal period.

Medical trauma and loss: Frightening medical procedures, illness-related experiences, bereavement and other events that remain difficult to process.

Trauma-related anxiety and shame: Experiences that continue to trigger fear, helplessness, guilt, shame or a sense of being unsafe, inadequate or fundamentally different.

For some people, the impact of trauma is closely connected to particular memories. For others, it is woven into a broader history of relationships and experiences. In such cases, it may be important to explore how earlier experiences influence present-day emotional responses and relational patterns, rather than focusing on isolated memories alone.

EMDR can be one part of this work, alongside relational therapy, stabilisation and other approaches appropriate to the individual. Attachment-related difficulties and complex trauma can require broader, longer-term therapeutic work, and EMDR is not a stand-alone solution for every difficulty.

A Careful, Relational Approach to Trauma Processing

Trauma work needs to be paced thoughtfully. Before beginning memory reprocessing, we focus on developing a trusting therapeutic relationship, understanding your difficulties, identifying resources and strengthening your ability to manage emotional activation.

Where needed, we spend time developing grounding strategies, emotional regulation skills and a greater sense of safety and choice. We consider your current circumstances and whether trauma processing is appropriate at that point in your life.

Reprocessing begins only when there is sufficient readiness and an appropriate plan for working safely. We continue to monitor how you are responding and adapt the work accordingly.

Traumatic and overwhelming experiences can sometimes leave us feeling as though different parts of ourselves are carrying different responses to what happened. One part may be trying to move forward, while another remains frightened, ashamed or alert to the possibility of danger.

Where helpful, I incorporate parts-informed work to explore these responses gently, without forcing change or asking you to revisit experiences before you feel ready. This can help us understand the protective purpose of familiar coping strategies and create space for a more compassionate relationship with the parts of yourself that continue to carry distress.

My aim is not simply to revisit painful experiences, but to help you develop a different relationship with them, so that the past can gradually become less overwhelming and have less influence over your present.

Single Session Therapy

90-minute session, plus a written summary

Sometimes there is a particular issue, decision or recurring pattern that you would like time and space to explore without committing to ongoing therapy.

Single Session Therapy offers an opportunity to focus on what feels most important to you at this point in your life.

Working collaboratively, we explore your experience, the meanings you attach to it, and the patterns or dilemmas that may be keeping you stuck. The intention is not to rush towards a quick fix, but to create the conditions for deeper understanding, greater clarity and a more considered sense of what might help.

A written summary provides an opportunity to reflect on the themes explored and the insights or possibilities that emerged during the session.

A single session may be helpful in its own right, or it may help you decide whether further therapeutic work would be useful.

Working With Young People

Young people today can face considerable emotional, social and academic pressures while also navigating the development of their identity, independence and relationships.

I work with young people experiencing anxiety, depression, exam stress, school avoidance, low self-esteem, body image difficulties, emotional overwhelm, trauma, intrusive thoughts, OCD, identity questions, ADHD and autism.

My priority is to create a welcoming space where each young person can feel heard and respected, without pressure to explain everything perfectly or be someone they are not.

Building trust is central to my work. I adapt the therapeutic approach to the individual, recognising that young people differ in how they communicate, process emotions and make sense of their experiences. Sometimes this involves talking; at other times, creative, experiential or somatic approaches may be more helpful.

Where appropriate, we explore emotional regulation, anxiety management, self-understanding and the impact of relationships and life experiences on wellbeing.

I am neurodivergence-affirming and aim to understand each young person’s experience within their individual sensory, emotional, relational, social and cultural context.

I accept self-referrals from young people aged 16 and over. For those aged 12–15, I begin with a parent referral and arrange parent sessions before starting individual work.

Relationships, Couples, Co-Parents and Parent–Child Work

Our closest relationships can be sources of security, belonging and joy. They can also bring some of our deepest fears, vulnerabilities and unresolved experiences to the surface.

Couples often come to therapy feeling caught in the same arguments, struggling to communicate, experiencing emotional or physical distance, or finding that attempts to reconnect seem to lead to further hurt. Sometimes one person pursues conversation and reassurance while the other withdraws or shuts down. At other times, both partners feel unheard, misunderstood or alone, despite wanting the relationship to work.

I work within an Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) framework, which helps couples recognise the emotional patterns that develop between them, understand the needs and fears beneath their reactions, and work towards more secure and responsive ways of relating.

Rather than focusing only on the content of disagreements, we explore what happens between partners when they feel threatened, rejected, criticised, overwhelmed or disconnected. The aim is to make these patterns more understandable and create opportunities for greater emotional safety, openness and connection.

Neurodivergence, Attachment and Relationships

I have a particular interest in working with neurodivergent individuals and couples, including people with ADHD, autism and sensory sensitivities, as well as those who identify with relational and attachment-related difficulties.

Neurodivergence can shape how people experience emotions, process information, communicate needs, manage sensory demands and respond to conflict. Differences in these areas can sometimes lead partners to misunderstand one another, even when both are trying to connect.

I aim to approach these differences with curiosity rather than judgement, recognising that neither partner necessarily needs to be viewed as the problem. Therapy can help couples understand their different ways of experiencing the world, identify unmet needs and develop ways of communicating and relating that work for both people.

My relational work is also informed by attachment theory and an understanding of how earlier relationships may influence present-day intimacy. Experiences of inconsistent care, rejection, abandonment, betrayal or emotional neglect can affect how safe we feel depending on another person, expressing our needs or tolerating distance and uncertainty.

Relationships are also shaped by cultural expectations, family traditions, gender roles and beliefs about partnership, parenting and emotional expression. Exploring these influences can help couples better understand one another, particularly when their experiences, values or expectations differ.

These patterns and differences are not fixed character traits. With greater understanding and a different experience of connection, it can become possible to respond to one another in new ways.

Couples therapy may be helpful when navigating:

• Repeated conflict and communication difficulties.
• Emotional distance, loneliness or loss of intimacy.
• Attachment insecurities, fear of abandonment or difficulties trusting.
• Neurodivergent differences in communication, emotional processing or sensory needs.
• The effects of trauma, anxiety or depression on a relationship.
• Betrayal, infidelity, significant transitions or changes in family life.
• Parenting disagreements, separation and co-parenting challenges.

I also offer parent–child and co-parenting sessions, supporting greater understanding, emotional connection and healthier communication. The focus is on helping family members recognise one another’s experiences and needs, rather than simply deciding who is right or wrong.

Parent and Baby

The transition into parenthood can be profound, bringing love, vulnerability and connection alongside uncertainty, exhaustion and unexpected emotional challenges.

Early relationships matter, but the development of attachment is a process rather than something that depends on getting everything right. Parents and babies can find their way towards connection even when the beginning has been difficult.

I offer parent-and-baby sessions to support connection and emotional understanding when the early relationship has been affected by birth trauma, a difficult pregnancy or birth, postnatal depression, anxiety, previous pregnancy loss, bereavement or other significant experiences.

For some parents, a difficult birth can leave feelings of fear, grief, anger, helplessness or a sense of having lost control. Others may struggle with the gap between the parenthood they imagined and the experience they are living, or feel disconnected from themselves, their baby or their previous sense of identity.

These experiences deserve space and understanding, without blame or pressure to feel a particular way.

Sessions provide an opportunity to explore what you have been through, understand your emotional responses and gently support the development of safety and connection between you and your baby.

Where appropriate, we may also explore how your own attachment history, current emotional wellbeing and experiences of being cared for influence your experience of becoming a parent.

The aim is not to create a perfect parent–baby relationship, but to support a relationship in which there is room for understanding, repair, responsiveness and growth.

A Final Word

At the heart of my work is the belief that people make sense when we understand the experiences, relationships and circumstances that have shaped them.

The difficulties we experience today may once have been ways of coping, protecting ourselves or maintaining important relationships. Therapy can offer an opportunity to understand these patterns without judgement, recognise what no longer serves us, and discover new ways of relating to ourselves and others.

I bring warmth, curiosity, clinical knowledge and a commitment to reflective practice to this work. I aim to meet each person as an individual, holding their experiences with care while remaining thoughtful about what may help them move forward.

I recognise that change does not always come from trying harder to think or behave differently. Sometimes it begins by understanding the parts of ourselves that are frightened, protective, critical or longing for connection. When these experiences can be met with curiosity rather than judgement, new possibilities for self-understanding, emotional freedom and more secure relationships can begin to emerge.

You do not need to arrive with a clear explanation of what is wrong or know exactly what you want from therapy. We can begin with what feels difficult now and work together towards a greater sense of understanding, connection and possibility.

If you feel I might be the right therapist for you, I warmly welcome you to get in touch.