- Counselling and family therapy for individuals, couples and families
How can therapy help you?
Counselling
Individual counselling offers the opportunity to talk about problems and find options for change in a confidential and safe environment.
The therapy will help and support you through challenging situations and difficulties in life. These may be causing you grief and loss, depression, anxiety, anger, family conflict, troubles that can interfere with emotional well-being and impact on relationships, aspects of family life and the workplace. Counselling gives you the opportunity to reflect and increase your self-awareness and understanding in areas that you choose to focus on.
Thinking about ways to move forward may involve exploring issues from the past as well as present concerns. By focusing on strengths and abilities we can move towards creating possibilities for more positive ways of thinking, feeling and communicating and work towards the changes you want to make.
Counselling can be short or long term and my aim is to continually check that you get what you need from the work we do.
I comply with my professional association's ethical rules and regulations.
Family Therapy and Couple Counselling
Family and Systemic Psychotherapy, often known as Family Therapy, enables couples or family members talk together about issues which may be complex and painful for all concerned. In a safe environment it helps couples or a family group express and explore difficult thoughts and emotions, to understand each other’s experiences and views and appreciate each other’s needs. The therapy focuses on relationships between people and explores patterns of behaviour, which may have become set in an unhelpful way over time. It builds on family strengths to facilitate the small but helpful adjustments needed to enhance communication and improve relationships.
Family Therapy can help find ways to manage family conflict, divorce, separation, step parenting, physical illness, mental health issues, work related issues, concerns with children’s behaviour or development, adoption and fostering, effects of trauma, difficulties related to ageing or sexuality.
It will always aim to take into account the differing environments in which people live and work and their religious and cultural beliefs. The aim is not to take sides, blame or to provide simple answers, but offer the possibility to explore the richly varied views and perspectives brought by family members and find a shared way forward. There may be situations of greater complexity where it is useful to have a co-therapist working in the session.
Family Therapists can also offer consultation to the networks that families may be involved with, such as Social Services and Mental Health Teams.
To find out more about Family Therapy: www.aft.org.uk
About me
I am a fully qualified counsellor and UKCP registered Family Therapist and work with individuals, couples and families.
In the 1990’s I became interested in counselling and started volunteering with an organization concerned with adoption as well as becoming a CRUSE bereavement counsellor. I understood that if I wanted to continue working in this area, I would need to qualify and I gained the Counselling Diploma in 2000 from University of Wales, Newport. My approach was Client Centred and Humanistic. I soon realized that working with young people and their families within the context of Social Services and other agencies involved, I needed more resources and skills and decided to take up training at the Family Institute, University of Glamorgan and gained the Post Grad. Diploma for Systemic Psychotherapy (Family Therapy). This training included two years' clinical supervision while working with families, along with a team of other trainee therapists. It offered a depth of learning and experience across many complex issues and situations.
I presently continue to work as an independent therapist with adults, couples and family groups. If you wish to make an enquiry please phone or email me for further information.
My professional experience- Family Therapist with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Team (CAMHS)
- Independent counsellor/family therapist with Social Services Family Placement and Child Protection Teams in adoption, fostering and child care teams
- Young persons counselling service
- CRUSE bereavement counsellor
- Voluntary organisation specialising in adoption
QUALIFICATION DETAILS
Post Grad Diploma
in Systemic
Psychotherapy
Counselling Diploma
BA Fine Art
Professional memberships
UKCP registration
number 7159485
Member of AFT
and BACP
Current enhanced
CRB check
Service Categories
Counselling, Psychotherapy
|
|
 |
