Meet The Team

I have several years of experience working with talking therapies, working with a varied age group of individuals in various organisations including Newcastle College Counselling Service, Brainbox, also working for a National charity as a Bereavement Volunteer..

My training includes the completion of a Foundation Degree as well as a BA Honours Degree in Counselling, which has included writing up a research article about the dearth of counselling for older clients including those diagnosed with dementia. One of my other areas of expertise is working with clients who are going through a bereavement/loss and are experiencing a state of grief. I also have experience working with client's who have been diagnosed with conditions such as autism and associated learning difficulties.

As a way of breaking down any communication barriers or difficulties that individuals may have in relating verbally to others, I incorporate other techniques into my work to enable them to express how they are feeling and engage in the counselling experience.

Where needed, I endeavour to integrate additional ways of working such as art therapy, sand play work, role play, which may further enhance the counselling experience for the client.

Whilst working at Newcastle College I gained extensive knowledge of working within a multi-disciplinary team and understand the complexities of client support.

The core of my practice is Person Centred counselling, which places high value on the unique experience of the individual, and the trust placed in the individual by the counsellor to take responsibility to find their own solutions to their issues and difficulties. It is central to my work that I practice a non-judgemental, honest, empathetic approach whilst placing trust in the client.

I am a member of the British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) and adhere to the ethical principles provided for counsellors to follow to ensure the safety of clients and professionals. I am aware and work to the boundaries of Children and Vulnerable Adults Act (2008).

I carry individual indemnity insurance and have a current Disclosure and Barring Service check certificate (previously known as Criminal Records Bureau).

University of Sunderland Bachelor of Arts, Honours Degree Counselling 2015
University of Sunderland Foundation Degree in Counselling 2014
N.C.F.E level 2 in Counselling skills and Theory 2010
N.C.F.E Level 3 in Counselling Skills and Theory 2012
H.E.F.C, Introduction to Psychology University of Northumbria. 1995
Cruse Bereavement - Awareness in Bereavement Care.(Ascentis) Foundation Course level 2. 2012
Dementia Friends Training 2015
Cruse Bereavement- The work of The Mental health Crisis Team.Training. 2012

Cruse Bereavement- Cultural Attitudes on death and Dying Training. 2013
Cruse Bereavement- A Child's Grief Training 2013
Cruse Bereavement- Sudden and Traumatic Death Training. 2013
Cruse Bereavement - Sudden Loss/Grief in the Community Training. 2013
Cruse Bereavement - The A in Bereavement.Training. 2014
Cruse Bereavement- Therapeutic Collage Session Training. 2014
Cruse-Bereavement - Draw on your Emotions.Training. 2014
Cruse Bereavement- Sub- Moralities of Memories of Memory. Training. 2015

My experience of working with adults and children using talking therapies has been gained whilst working with Barnardo’s Children’s Trust, Positive Response to Overcoming Problems of Substance misuse (PROPS) and private clients.

I have attained both a Foundation Degree and BA Honours Degree in Counselling. This discipline underpins my work with clients. I also use Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), Hypnotherapy or Life Coaching depending upon their individual needs.

Counselling has provided my clients with a safe, honest environment to explore what they bring to the relationship. The other therapies that I am able to offer gives me the option to use additional talking therapies to enhance the clients’ empowerment.

My ‘other job’ provides me the opportunity to work with adult carers, supporting them with all the aspects of their caring role. The issues carers present range, and include practical, financial, physical or social inclusion, however any issue presents an emotional stressor.

Providing counselling for carers’ using the PROPS service I gained experience working with carers, for all each person has a different experience they all face similar issues.

As my counselling practice is Person centred it does what it says on the ‘can’ it centres on the person. I work with clients without judgement to give them the opportunity to be themselves, to explore their feelings and the thinking that they hide from others. I will provide clients with honesty, respect, empathy, and allowed them to take responsibility for themselves and make their own decisions about the issues they bring to the counselling time.

British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) lay out ethical principles and being a member of the BACP these are guidelines that I follow to ensure safety to my clients and myself. As a member I have access to practical, ethical support and up to date news on current issues in counselling.

I carry individual indemnity insurance and have a current Disclosure and Barring Service check certificate (previously known as Criminal Records Bureau).

Awareness of Child Abuse and Neglect - Core V5 2014
LSCB Safeguarding Children (e-learning) 2014
NTSCB Child Protection Multi Agency Training 2014
The Care Act Legislation/Implications 2014
Gestalt: The Therapy of your Dreams 2016
Data Protection 2013
Awareness of Child Abuse and Neglect - Core V5 2014
LSCB Safeguarding Children (e-learning)2014
NTSCB Child Protection Multi Agency Training 2014
The Care Act Legislation/Implications 2014
Gestalt: The Therapy of your Dreams 2016

Having positions with Newcastle College, Place2be, Escape, Mental Health Concern and in my current work with MIND I have had the opportunity to provide counselling to a diverse group of children, adults and other members of the public.

Continues development in the field of counselling is important to me and I qualified with a Counselling Degree in 2014 and went on to gain a qualification BA Hons in Counselling in 2015.

In order to provide added value to my clients, gain extra knowledge in the field of counselling and to strive to enhance my knowledge within the counselling field, I am currently studying towards a Diploma in Mindfulness and also a Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) practitioner course.

I have a vast amount of knowledge, and gained skills working with different therapeutic techniques that best suit the individual person to get the most out of their counselling experience. Allowing them to move forward and cope better with issues they bring.

I have experience working with people with a range of issues such as bereavement, ill health, stress, anxiety and depression and other mental health issues.

I am a member of the British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists (B.A.C.P) I adhere to the ethical principles. The BACP provides best principle guidelines for counsellors and their clients. These guidelines and principles ensure that clients and counsellors are kept safe during the counselling process.

I also carry individual indemnity insurance policies for our counselling work as well as DBS certificate.

Paula - Counsellor

Training, qualifications & experience

Sue - Counsellor

Training, qualifications & experience

Jane – Counsellor

Training, qualifications & experience