Psychotherapy is an opportunity to build understanding of the experiences we have had throughout our lives that contributed to the current narratives we hold about ourselves. These narratives not only can get in the way of personal growth and relationships, it can also impact our mental health in various ways and in turn lead to unhelpful patterns of behaviours and a sense of being stuck. Systemic and Family psychotherapy can help you to better understand close relationships and feel able to express difficult thoughts and feelings and make useful changes in your life.

 

About me 

I trained as a Systemic and Family Psychotherapist at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation and have been working for the NHS for more than 10 years.

 

Working in a CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service) and private practice has enabled me to gain a broad range of experience of working with individuals, couples, groups and families from diverse backgrounds, struggling with a wide range of emotional and mental health difficulties, including; anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, relationship difficulties, attachment issues, and work-related stresses.

 

I have extensive experience of working with children and young people who are neurodivergent, have a diagnosis of Autism and / or Learning Difficulties, as well as complex health conditions and other disabilities.  I also work closely with families experiencing a wide range of difficulties and interpersonal issues. 

I have a great deal of experience in working with couples, including those who are going through separation or divorce, and am adept at fostering a supportive and safe environment to help individuals find a way to speak with one another about their difficulties.

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Qualification & Training

I am a UKCP and AFT registered Family and Systemic Psychotherapist and hold Masters in Systemic and Family Psychotherapist from Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation.

I am also a qualified Systemic Supervisor trained at Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation.

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In addition, have training in Narrative Therapy, Mentalised Based Family Therapy as well as Mindfulness and number of Parenting training including, Incredible Years and NVR.
I currently teach on Systemic Supervision Training at Tavistock and I thought on Systemic
Psychotherapy Training in recent years.

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My Therapeutic Approach

As a Systemic Psychotherapist, I recognise that the struggles of an individual need to be explored within the context of both family and past experiences as well as within the wider societal environment that they are living in. Factors such as, religion, race, culture, gender, sexual orientation, social and economic status, family beliefs, peer groups, neurodiversity, disability etc, all can have an impact upon the mental health and family relationships. As can the way in which we were parented affect how we see ourselves and the examples we were set might influence our own attitudes to child rearing and relationships in general.

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I try to create an environment that optimises the chance for clients to feel safe enough to meaningfully explore their experiences, dilemmas and struggles. This approach builds on the existing strengths of individuals through developing better self-reflexivity and recognising patterns of unhealthy behaviour that can become repetitive.

 

I work collaboratively with individuals and couples. I believe in being open about my own thinking and sharing my perspectives and expertise as appropriate. I try to do this in a way that encourages a thoughtful dialogue, without taking sides, and contribute to discussions in a constructive manner. I am sensitive about managing this respectfully and rely on my authenticity and my deep theoretical knowledge in my practice.

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What do I offer

I offer Brief and Long-Term interventions considering what clients want from the process.

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Individuals who see me present with wide range of issues including experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, relationship difficulties and work-related distresses. Therapy can help to gain a better understanding of the contributing causes to their current state of mind and support a process to get to a position where they develop more autonomy in their life.

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With individuals who have a diagnosis of Autism or consider themselves as

neurodivergent, therapy often helps them to make sense of their identity in the context of their differences and helps them to navigate their life and relationships by building their resilience and learning to communicate their needs effectively. 

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Couples are often keen to understand themselves and each other better within their relationships, so they can communicate and support each other better. They may seek therapy at points of significant changes and transitions in their lives, such as becoming a parent, illness, loss, or other life events that impacts their relationships. At other times they seek support at the point of going through separation and divorce. This significant change can be more complicated, when couples have children. I offer a safe space to explore ways in which they can develop and adapt to co-parenting post separation.

 

Parents seek support for gaining a better understanding of their child/ren’s needs, emotional difficulties and/ or challenging behaviours, as well as finding ways of supporting them appropriately. Sessions can offer an opportunity to reflect on their parenting; its challenges, dilemmas and/or developing effective ways of co-parenting with their partners. 

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For parents of children with a diagnosis of Autism, the focus often is helping them to explore the impact of the diagnosis on the family life and individuals as well as their parenting, to recognise their child’s individuality and create a capable environment where they can fulfil their potential.

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Family sessions offers an opportunity to everyone in the family to explore roots to their relationship difficulties; Whether it might be related to individual’s mental health difficulties, the impact of life circumstances such as health-related issues, loss, disability, transitions, new additions to families, adopted children and blended families etc, We work towards developing a better understanding of each other and unhelpful patterns they have formed over the years in order to resolve conflict and rebuild their relationships. 

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Clinical Supervision and Consultation

I am a qualified Systemic Supervisor and offer clinical supervision and consultations to fellow Systemic Psychotherapists and clinicians from other disciplines and professions, both in my NHS role and private practice.

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How does it work

I offer a free 20-minute initial consultation online or on telephone. 

 

Initial session will be an assessment session where we can agree upon a working agreement. ​

 

I offer face to face and online sessions.   

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I have concession slots available for those on low income, key workers, students and frontline NHS workers.​