“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his/her point of view…. Until you climb into their skin and walk around it”

As a young teenager I remember being struck by this statement made by Atticus Finch to his daughter in the literary classic ‘To Kill a Mocking Bird’…..and so began a personal journey and desire to understand the world of others in the context of diversity, justice and equality i.e. the interface between the uniqueness of the individuals’ experience within community/society.

This initially lead me into the world of social work with children and families where frontline child protection work gave me exposure to the impact of trauma on children and insight into how this manifests itself in terms of their physical, social (cognitive) and emotional well being. What this world also generated was curiosity about why generations of vulnerable families seemed to remain stuck in their lives. Opportunity to move into adoption work cemented what I realised was a growing and significant inner desire to be part of process of healing not just rescuing.

 A certificate in counselling (1998) provided a flavour of what being part of the healing process could look like but it was some years later that I found myself in the right place to pursue counselling training and so better understand the complexities and process of therapy. Learning and experience brought with it recognition, respect and appreciation of the power of the therapeutic space. It is unique in character as it provides a safe, confidential, non-judgemental context for an interpersonal connection with therapist and client/s to evolve, and where this containment brings with it opportunity for reflection, exploration, revelation and restoration. 

My work has been influenced by many well known pillars in the field of healing (Freud, Jung, Bowlby) and continues to do so (Van Der Kolk, Levine, Spring) as I endeavour to learn and grow to better serve clients. Carl Rogers concept of ‘self actualisation’ for example in my early years of training embodied for me the idea that everyone has the capacity to realise their own unique potential in spite of adversity. 

There is in every organism, at whatever level, an underlying flow of movement toward constructive fulfilment of its inherent possibilities. Carl Rogers

I have had the privilege of seeing this played out most powerfully in my work with clients who have experienced trauma/PTSD. 

The paradox of trauma is that it has both the power to destroy and the power to transform and resurrect. Peter A. Levine

I feel passionate about the therapeutic space and have had the opportunity to work with a range of clients in different contexts, both in a voluntary and more formal capacity. My therapeutic approach is underpinned by the concept of ‘history in the present’ as it sits well with my experience of working with individuals at different points of the human life cycle. I have therefore supported clients with a number of significant life issues including anxiety, depression, loss, infertility, self esteem, identity and trauma. I have been enriched by my client work particularly those who have experienced trauma, as their unique stories have given new meaning to familiar words like ‘courage’, ‘resilience’, ‘strength’ and capacity to overcome and so I pay tribute to those who I have already met and worked with and look forward to those who I am yet to meet…….. 

My role as a therapist has over time and with experience expanded into the area of counselling supervision; no doubt a re-kindling of early childhood aspirations of being a ‘teacher’. Nowadays however, it is my desire to nurture other counsellors to reflect on their client work through exploring their skills, modality and the therapeutic relationship and encouraging them to reflect critically on ethical challenges and consider the impact on self. My ethos as a supervisor is primarily to promote exploration and insight for development and growth in the supervisee. This is both in their professional role as a counsellor, but also in their personal journey, thereby allowing increasing awareness of potential edges and blind spots, ensuring tha

t the client’s wellbeing remains at the centre of the therapeutic process.