About me
Is a professional, caring approach to therapy important to you? I am a registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist. I have worked for many years, with couples ,individuals and families, to resolve complex and enduring problems. What I have learned as a therapist and social worker, is that people need to feel safe to speak openly about problems and vulnerabilities. Therapy is about good listening so you feel safe and understood, but also asking sometimes difficult questions to get to the heart of the problem. My approach blends compassion and inquiry. The head and heart are both necessary to resolve human conflict.
I have worked as a social work expert witness in family courts for over thirty years. I have written over one hundred reports in private law proceedings where parents have been in high conflict about arrangements for care of, or contact with, their children. I know very well the effect on children of high conflict between their parents.
Aspects of couple problems can include shame and guilt. As an expert witness in court, I have completed risk assessments where concerns have been raised about emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. I know the discomfort of high conflict situations.
Part of the “head” work of therapy is assessment. Assessment gives clarity about the direction therapy needs to take to achieve the most important outcomes. Read the web page on assessments for more information. Psychometrics are a key part of assessment. You may have seen examples in magazines, online and in newspapers, offering to give insights into different aspects of your life. I have completed post graduate training in psychometrics to be able to administer, and interpret, a range of tests and questionnaires. This enables a more defined and effective start to therapy.
Emotional regulation is essential in couple therapy. This applies to the therapist, as well as you and your partner, as emotions at times ,are high in couple work. It is essential to manage this. Biofeedback devices such as pulse oximeters indicate if you or your partner is in a state of “flooding,” or in fight or flight”. Your internal experience is not always obvious to others, and these devices detect such states. The session is then orientated towards safety and recovery. See the interventions page to learn more.
I work with neurodiverse clients. Neurodiversity is a significant source of conflict in relationships. I have worked with many neurodiverse children and young people as a social worker, so I know the impact of neurodiversity on individuals and family life.
I have been registered with the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) since 1995. My therapeutic approach is Experiential-Constructivist. This emphasises that each person has a “model of the world” constructed through the experience of patterns of language and senses, which are open to change. For the importance and relevance of registration, read the Frequently Asked Questions Page.