Overview
I’m a Clinical Psychologist who helps adults who are feeling overwhelmed and self-critical to make sense of their experiences and find workable, sustainable ways to cope, so that they can feel good about themselves and thrive in their lives once more.
I have been working therapeutically with people who struggle with their difficult emotions since 2003. I have helped people who are suffering in all sorts of ways. Despite their different difficulties and lives, all these folk had some things in common. One was that they wanted things to be different yet weren’t able to get there on their own. They had tried so hard, and realised that they needed care to heal and find a way to get unstuck.
It was also clear to me that they were all coping in their own best ways. Sometimes these ways were helpful and sustainable. Other times they found themselves resorting to strategies that weren’t sustainable and sometimes were downright dangerous; overeating, avoiding important things in life, withdrawing, self harming, considering suicide, lashing out and turning to substances.
Often too, they were thinking badly of themselves, feeling ashamed about their struggles and wishing things were different. Even when they had supportive others around them, they often worried about their relationships and weren’t always able to get the care they needed.
The thing is, we could always make sense of their experiences when we considered their feelings and the context. Always. None of these folk were bad, unlovable or broken, no matter how much they believed they were. And it was always possible to build the caring relationships they needed with themselves and with others.
And this is why I know that you too can heal in the way you hope. It is possible to get unstuck from whatever you’re struggling with.
I can’t promise it will be easy. It is sure to take a lot of determination and commitment. Though I do know that it is possible for you to heal, especially if we can create for you a context of compassion.
CFT is my primary model of therapy, and I find it an incredibly helpful approach for my clients, supervisees and myself. I work with adults in private practice at Compassionate Change, in Bristol and online. I am an associate with Balanced Minds, a large CFT practice in London. I previously worked for many years in a specialist NHS service for people presenting with difficulties relating to ‘personality disorder’, and established a CFT pathway for treatment within this service. As well as CFT, I also have experience and expertise in offering DBT and CBT.
Please reach out if you’d like to discuss your needs and let’s consider together whether I would be a helpful therapist for you.
Therapist information
English
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
HCPC registration as a Practitioner Psychologist/ Clinical Psychologist - PYL26447
Individuals
I began learning about CFT in 2011 and started formal CFT training in 2013. I started with the introduction to CFT, went on to complete the Advanced CFT training, and then took a deep dive into studying CFT by completing the Post-Graduate Certificate in CFT at the University of Derby under the tuition of Professor Paul Gilbert, and supervision of Dr Mary Welford. I have gained much from regular supervision with Dr Chris Irons and Dr Kate Lucre, both of whom I’ve been working with for many years. I have completed so many wonderful CFT specialist workshops since I’ve lost count! Some of the CFT trainings I have completed include CFT for trauma, complex trauma/ personality disorder/ attachment trauma, groups, staff support, eating disorders, psychosis, self-criticism, the therapeutic relationship, and chairwork. I teach the three-day introduction to CFT as one of the national trainers for the Compassionate Mind Foundation, as well as various bespoke workshops on personality disorder, trauma, and CFT in general. I have learned much from teaching CFT and am grateful for the opportunity to share this wonderful approach to the human mind and working with the complexities of life.