Spending time, investing in yourself and being listened to, may be exactly what you need in order to make sense of and get the best out of your life.
“I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.” ― Carl Gustav Jung
Together we can work things out.
Some of the issues I work with:
My specialism is in substance misuse
If you are currently experiencing an emergency or major crisis and contemplating serious self-harm, it is essential for you to seek immediate help.
For all of us, at some time or other and for a wide spectrum of reasons life inevitably gets tough. It may be that you have experienced something that has deeply impacted you, or you may feel unsure about something, you may be struggling with anxiety or depression, or you might be feeling overwhelmed, stressed or stuck. You may have a particular problem or issue that you’d like to discuss with someone in confidence. Or, it may be behavior change that you’re seeking? Perhaps you’re having difficulty in your relationships? Or struggling to make sense of or come to terms with loss or issues that happened in the past. Maybe you just have a general sense that something isn’t quite right?
I understand that if you’re thinking about coming for counselling it can feel scary and the thought of opening up to a ‘stranger’ can potentially stir up a range of uncomfortable feelings. Counselling is a talking therapy and a process. You won’t be judged or criticized, you can develop a safe and trusting relationship to confidently explore your issues with someone who is objective, this is one of the reasons it can feel less complicated than talking to a friend or family member. Successful counselling can lead to greater understanding of yourself, greater self-acceptance, a stronger sense of identity, more resillience, improved relationships and increased purpose and meaning in life. It can also help with personal growth and development and reconnecting with your true authentic self.
There is no set amount of sessions. Some people achieve what they want to in just a few short sessions, others find longer term and more in depth work more beneficial.
I understand that you are a unique individual and that no two people are the same and so I do not offer a ‘one size fits all’ approach. My core training is in psychodynamic therapy where we explore how your early life experiences may have shaped you and the way that you think about and relate to people. I am also qualified in Drug and Alcohol Counselling and Treatment to Post Graduate level and I have twenty years professional work experience in supporting roles, fifteen of which have been in a range of recovery services including NHS.
I integrate some aspects of CBT, motivational interviewing, mindfulness and solution focused therapy into my work depending on what it is that you want to achieve by coming to therapy. I have worked as part of a multi-disciplinary team including psychiatrists and psychologists and I have experience of working with dual diagnosis ie mental health and substance use problems and also with complex trauma issues including childhood abuse and neglect.
As well as my professional experience and training I am really easy to talk to, I‘m empathic, understanding and most importantly I am a great listener.
You will generally be offered the same day and time every week, although with some notice I can be flexible to fit around your schedule. I offer day time, evening and weekend appointments, as well as over the phone or an on-line platform such as Zoom.
Sessions last for 50 minutes. You will initially be invited for an assessment where we can discuss your requirements.
Sessions at both of my Leicester Practices are between £40 - £60 on a sliding scale.
Assessment £25.00
I work with individual adults and am experienced in working with groups. I have also completed training in Behavior Couples Therapy specific to Alcohol.
I work at Leicester Centre for Psychodynamic Counselling and also The Stairway Project.