About me

I came to counselling after 25 years working in pressurised senior leadership roles within media and finance. This honed my skills for mentoring, coaching and, above all, listening to people. It also taught me to hide my overwhelm and anxiety from those around me, wearing a mask of calm when I felt anything but.

A cancer diagnosis in my forties led me to re-evaluate my life. Having treatment and dealing with a career change was daunting, but it was an experience that was made so much easier by having the support of a qualified counsellor. Being able to give voice to my fears and vulnerabilities helped me through the hardest of times.

I'm now passionate about helping other people in the way I was helped, and I believe my own experiences bring an authenticity and compassion to my counselling.

I live in York, and love nothing more than mooching around the antique shops of Yorkshire, followed by a walk and a good country pub. In my counselling relationships I am empathic, supportive, curious, honest, and calm.
You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf
John Kabat Zinn

Qualifications and further training

I have a BSc Psychology degree from the University of York, and this is probably where my interest in people first originated. I love understanding how people tick, and after university I settled into a career in Human Resources. As a senior leader much of my time at work was spent coaching and advising my fellow Executives, where confidentiality and authenticity was paramount.

Aged fifty I embarked on my counselling training, completing my Humanistic Counselling PgDip at York St John University. I am qualified in online and telephone counselling, and I am a registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) I am currently working towards my Masters degree in Humanistic Counselling.

I frequently attend professional development courses and undertake regular supervision. I am DBS certified and fully insured. Alongside my counselling practice I also volunteer at a charity counselling centre in York.