Counselling & Psychotherapy for Adults and Couples - Grounded in Science
-Highly Qualified & BACP Accredited with over 24 years experience-
Located in Ilkley, Bradford near Leeds including Online, UK and Worldwide
A warm welcome to all adults and couples,
My way of working is professional, warm and welcoming, and at appropriate times some laughter. I really want your therapy to work for you, so I always invite openness and honesty about our work together so you achieve what you need.
I've provided Counselling & Psychotherapy to adults for over 24 years and I'm really passionate about how life transforming it can be; I've had the privilege over these years in helping others make changes to their outlook, perspective, thoughts, feelings and behaviours, helping them understand the root cause of their symptoms and how this affects them now, as well as helping them make changes in the long term, investing in their future.
I've learnt, throughout these years of experience and study, how we are affected by many different experiences in our life, and how they can affect us deeply. Our emotions, brains and nervous system show this through symptoms, such as ; anxiety (stress, fear), depression (feeling down, physical and emotional shut down), anger, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, physical illness, addictions, relationship issues, low self-worth/confidence, long periods of unhappiness, destructive behaviours and so on.
My practice is Trauma-Informed, which means I have trained to understand how frightening and emotionally impactful experiences in our life as children and adults, affects our lives in many different ways, including our brains and bodies, the relationship with ourself and with others. I have attended training run by Gabor Mate htpps://drgabormate.com and Bessel van der Kolk https://besselvanderkolk.com
As Couples Counselling, Couples Therapy or Relationship Psychotherapy is a specialism and specialist training and knowledge is required, I have specifically trained as a Relationship Psychotherapist at post-graduate level, which enables me to help you in a more professional and in-depth capacity. This study, along with being a BACP accredited Couples Counsellor and some years of experience, ensures I can give your relationship the help it deserves.
I am trained to work with all types of relationships, from; heterosexual, same-sex, polyamorous, open relationships, arranged marriages, all are welcome.
Client Testimonial 2023
"Your compassion, wisdom and skill is next level"
(Emily UK & USA)
How I Work
Counselling & Psychotherapy
Whatever your reasons for seeking help, they're valid. Maybe you're noticing a pattern in your relationships, you're feeling powerless, feeling mistreated by others, your past experiences or memories are appearing in your day to day life when you don't want them to, you're experiencing uncontrollable anger or self-harm, and so on...........
Physical illnesses or injuries can have an impact on our bodies, leaving marks and scars, the same with emotional wounds, they can show up in the form of symptoms such as; anxiety (excess fear/stress/worry), depression, addictions (reliance on a substance or activity), relationship difficulties, self-harm, anger, unexplained physical symptoms/illness, PTSD to name a few. These symptoms are your body's way of informing you there's a much deeper emotional issue requiring attention.
I have trained in the most up-to-date ways of understanding and treating Childhood Trauma including Neuroscience and Somatic Approaches (how our body can hold and show symptoms of past unresolved experiences even if we can't remember) and for those of you interested in the other theoretical approaches I draw upon in my work, are mainly; Attachment Theory, Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Janina Fisher's Trauma skills work.
Many clients have asked if they need to focus on their past/childhood experiences to heal and recover, and I answer no. The focus is on understanding what you're experiencing now, which can be enough to build a picture of any past experiences. There is never any pressure from me to remember past, it has to come from you.
I have many years experience and knowledge of helping clients with diagnoses of BDP (Borderline Personality Disorder), Complex PTSD, DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder).
I'd love to help you if your keen to work in this way or at least curious to learn more, and I offer a free 15 minute zoom meet to ask any questions and meet with me. Alternatively, I invite you to book your first appointment so we can get started on your path to understanding you, increasing your self-awareness, and how you can improve in the longer term, investing in you.
Appointments must be weekly to begin with, then could be moved to fortnightly if appropriate.
My fee is £80 for 50 minutes. This reflects many years of experience and level of qualifications.
Couples Counselling and Psychotherapy
You may be reaching out for couples therapy for various reasons; your feelings have changed, you're not communicating well, you're stuck in unhealthy patterns of relating to each other, there's been a betrayal (infidelity, financial etc), distrust or intimacy/sex isn't the same, to name a few.
As with my individual clients, my extensive and specialist training has taught me that thorough exploration and understanding of you as an individual and of your relationship symptoms are essential, to be able to help you overcome your difficulties in the longer term rather than offering you a short-term solution. I do this in your first two appointments. We will gently understand your individual pasts including childhood relationships and other past relationships, present issues in your relationship and what future relationship you'd like to aim for, so we can understand any patterns and work on creating a relationship you both want.
The theoretical approaches I draw upon in my work are mainly; Attachment Theory, Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Janina Fisher's Trauma skills work where appropriate.
I can help you both if you're curious to understand what you're experiencing and why, to work hard in creating change within you as an individual and within your relationship.
I'd love to work with you both, and I offer a free 15 minute zoom meet so we can meet and you can ask any questions to help you decide if how I work is 'right for you'. Alternatively, I invite you to book your first appointment where we can explore your relationship, from what brings you to what you want to achieve.
Appointments must be weekly to begin with, possibly moving to fortnightly if needed. To be discussed.
My fee is £120 for 1 hour. This reflects many years experience and qualifications
My experience, qualifications & training
Prior to my training, I began engaging in my own long-term therapy, which led me to this career path. I learnt how my early experiences as a child impacted on me and my adult life in many different ways, so my personal development is important to me, which helps me, to help you the best I can.
Since 1999, I've had experience of working in the NHS as a Staff Counsellor as well as in Outpatients at Lynfield Mount Hospital in Bradford as an Adult Mental Health Therapist. For the last 19 years, I've worked as a Private Therapist in West Yorkshire.
What's important to me from a professional perspective;
I engage in my own in-depth personal development, so I'm always learning and growing, to help you the best I can. Being highly qualified, having over 24 years experience, being BACP accredited and engaging in quality monthly supervision, ensures I work with you ethically and professionally.
Outside of work, I enjoy daily walks with my dog, yoga (essential for my physical and mental health), nature, gardening and animal conservation, which helps keep my mental and physical health in check.
Qualifications
2023-2024 - Postgraduate qualification (AdvDip) Advanced Diploma in Relationship Psychotherapy - NAOS Institute
2003-2005 - Postgraduate qualification (MA) Masters Degree in Counselling - Bradford University
1998-2002 - BA(Hons) Degree in Counselling & Psychology - Bradford University