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I currently have availability on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings, and Wednesday evenings.  I work primarily from offices in Olney (no wheelchair access), but also have access to an accessible working space in Central Milton Keynes.

I strongly believe we weren't meant to struggle alone with the challenges life throws at us. You may not fully understand what is going on for you, or the way you're responding. You might feel that others expect you to deal with things a certain way, be 'over it' before you're ready, or like you have to concentrate on supporting everyone else. Counselling can be a great way of developing your understanding and getting to know your strengths. 

My clients tell me that my warm and open style helps them feel heard and gives them space to explore their experience without fear of being judged.  As a person-centred therapist, I will trust you to find the best way through, at your own pace, because I believe that we each have our own instinct for survival, safety and growth.

I have a particular interest in men's mental health, and the pressures and anxieties men experience. My own experience of divorce, parenting in a blended family and supporting my parents through ageing and ill-health, have helped me to appreciate the value of seeking help, but also the courage that it takes to reach out.  

I work with whatever you want to bring to our sessions, which will be influenced by how things are for you that day and how you feel about our working relationship.  Trust between the client and the therapist can take time to build, and you may also feel intimidated by the thought of opening up, talking about your feelings, or even thinking about yourself and how you feel.  All this is very common and understandable!

It is often hard at first, and sometimes it gets harder.  Not everyone is ready when they first go for counselling.  But I'm there to support you and to sit with you in your pain or discomfort.

And my clients have told me that, over time, they've experienced a sense of pressure lifting from them, of weight taken off their shoulders.  They say they have felt heard and have learnt how to express themselves more clearly.  This has had clear benefits for their relationships.  They talk about no longer feeling chained to the past, about finding hope in the future.

I am an accredited practitioner with the Foundation for Infant Loss Training, working with men and women affected by pregnancy loss, infertility and infant loss, and my practice is aligned with the gold standard of the NHS Bereavement Care Pathway.

I have substantial experience of supporting survivors of sexual violence to overcome shame and the emotional challenges that can damage relationships and every day living, having worked with SAASSBMK, a charity in Milton Keynes.

I offer an initial 20 minute phone call so that you can find out a bit more about how I might help you with your situation.  I need to collect some factual information to ensure your safety, and I also outline our working agreement so that you are clear about how I work and what we can expect of each other.  

But the first full session is your time to tell me about how you are feeling and what you would like to change as a result of counselling.  You may not be sure what that is, in which case maybe what you need is time to offload the urgent and distressing feelings you are experiencing.  You may be surprised how much this alone can help!  Or I may be able to help you think about what needs doing, which is one way you can assess whether I am the counsellor you want to work with.

Everything will be guided by what you feel you need, but we will keep coming back to that during the course of the counselling.  Reflection and review is a big part of the process, and it's a way of seeing how things are changing for you.