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I generally offer most weekday mornings and lunchtimes.             I'm able to offer the occasional afternoon, weekend or early evening session but not on a regular basis

I have over 40 years experience of working with individuals, couples and family members in a therapeutic way. I previously worked as a Careers Advisor for a short time.

Since the pandemic I have found that it is possible to work as effectively online as in person therefore I am currently only offering online sessions

My background was originally in psychology ( Newcastle University) followed by guidance in schools and higher education. During the 80s I undertook professional training in counselling & psychotherapy at Durham University and since then I have been engaged in practicing, teaching and supervision.

Over the last 25 years or so I have worked in a number of settings including:

· Private practice – individuals or couples fund their own therapy

· NHS / GP Practices – referrals from doctors and other health professionals

· NHS & Local Government staff counselling

· Employees from local companies – referred to me directly or through Employee Support Programmes.

· Higher Education – counselling & teaching students at two local universities (teaching subjects include ‘Person Centred Approaches to Guidance &* Counselling’, Psychodynamic Approaches to Guidance & Counselling’, Helping Clients Work Through Internal Conflict’, ‘Helping Adults Work Through Childhood Difficulties’)

· Addictions Agency – working with clients with alcohol and other substance dependencies.

· Cruse Bereavement Care – voluntary work.

· Supervision of other Therapists, Occupational Psychologist, Prison Officers and groups of Cancer Care Workers

I am skilled in and feel comfortable with using a variety of different approaches to therapeutic work and describe myself as ‘eclectic’ which means that I am generally able to offer effective therapy for most common problems and life issues. Following the introductory session or sessions, I aim to be clear and transparent about the approach or approaches I believe to be most suitable. These are explained to the client in a straightforward way so that he or she can participate in choosing a way forward

I offer both short term focused or goal oriented work and long term open ended work depending on the needs and budget of the client. In short term work (6 - 15 sessions) there is generally a clear aim or goal agreed at the beginning which is reviewed from time to time to check on progress towards it, In longer term work, goals are also helpful but there may be more time available to explore the client’s past experiences and link them to current difficulties. Understanding how problems have arisen in the first place can be reassuring and provide a solid base from which to plan new and more positive coping strategies for the future. (It is also usually possible to include some past – present work in shorter term therapy).

It is not always clear at the outset whether short or long term is required and in any case many clients prefer to proceed on a session by session basis without making any prior commitment to a specific number of sessions.

I offer a friendly, informal 'no obligation' first session at which it will usually be possible to give you an approximate idea of how many sessions will be needed or to offer you options of alternative forms of help. However I do make a charge for all sessions including the first.

I offer online supervision most weekday mornings and lunchtimes. The occasional afternoon, evening or weekend session may be possible but unfortunately not on a regular basis.

As a Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¾«×¼×ÊÁÏ Senior Accredited Counsellor / Psychotherapist I have many years experience of working therapeutically with clients of all ages in a variety of different settings including schools, Further & Higher Education, Employee Assistance Programs, local employers, the NHS, Addictions Agencies and Private Practice.          During this time I have also provided clinical and welfare supervision to both individual therapists (including experienced, newly qualified and in training) and groups across a wide variety of settings.                                                                                                          I use a variety of approaches in my therapeutic work which enables me to help supervisees to look at cases from a variety of different perspectives.                                                                                    As a supervisor I aim to strike a good balance between support and gentle challenge when working with supervisees and their clients.                 I 

I offer an initial short free consultation over the telephone with prospective supervisees to enable both of us to gauge whether we are likely to work well together.                                                                In addition I generally suggest a trial period of three months (or three supervision sessions) with no obligation for the supervisee to continue.

My first (online) session would hopefully provide an opportunity to start looking at and working on one or more of the supervisees current cases.