My core approach is Person-Centred
Person-Centred Therapy is a type of counselling that has the view that, everyone has the capacity and desire for personal growth and change when they are in the right environment and conditions. The counsellor is not considered to be the expert or as director of the therapy, but instead offers the vital core conditions; unconditional positive regard, empathy and congruence to help you come to terms with any negative feelings and to change and develop in your own way.
My professional background; includes working for Samaritans; helping those when they need crisis support is one of the reasons I decided to train to be a counsellor in the first place. I currently work for Circles South East, supporting survivors of sexual abuse and trauma. In my previous counselling experience, I have worked in a secondary school supporting teenagers. I have also worked for a lower-cost counselling service; to allow those on lower incomes to be able to access counselling.
A bit about my background…
I have been a hairdresser for last 20 years; they always say hairdressers are part counsellors and they are right to a degree. It has enabled me to hone my listening skills and build people’s confidence; with great hair! I owned a hairdressing salon in the past; which was an amazing part of my life and I ran it successfully for 12 years. Additionally, I had the privilege of training many new successful hairdressers. As I had devoted my life to the salon and spent so much time looking after others, I ended up neglecting myself. I decided to seek counselling to help myself understand my struggles, which was a game changer for me.
I have been on my counselling journey for a long time, as in the past I suffered with anxiety and depression. Additionally, I have worked through my past traumatic bullying days, close bereavements, loss of friendships/relationships and worked on my sense of self-worth.