About Me
I am a compassionate and empathetic therapist. I am continually inspired by the uniqueness of each person I meet and respecting this individuality is core to how I work. My practice is based on values of authenticity, respect, non-judgement, integrity and trust.
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I've been described as being 'pragmatically positive', 'down to earth' and with 'unwavering hope' . I know that life isn't full of unicorns and rainbows, yet I also know that we each have a great capacity within ourselves to unstick, overcome and to enjoy a fulfilling whole life that we can thrive in.
I have experienced it, I have supported others to realise that too and I hold that belief for you too.
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I have been in the vocation of helping people for almost 25 years.
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For many years I worked in sport and fitness, coaching and competing at a high level. In a field that can have a fine line between healthy stress and distress / burnout, I was continually drawn to helping others maintain good mental and emotional wellbeing, not just physical form or performance outcomes.
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Even back then what I always loved the most, and settled into easiest and most authentically, was holding stories, helping people be at ease within themself, and supporting their emotional stability.
Despite doing this work extremely well with others, I was in denial that I was dealing myself with anxiety, panic and a long term eating disorder. Facing up to my own challenges, I discovered therapeutic movement practices and talking therapy. The positive impact they had on me influenced how and with whom I wanted to work. I left competitive sport and worked therapeutically with movement, supported people with pain, fatigue and illness and eventually more psychotherapeutically, supporting trauma, anxiety, eating disorders and mental health issues. Training and qualifying in counselling / psychotherapy was a natural evolution for me, almost inevitable really. It became the final piece to solidifying my practice as it is now.
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I have specialised experience (and training!) in working with disordered eating and eating disorders. I first started working in this area 10 years ago. After talking publicly about my own recovery, clients seemed to find me and I initially supported them through movement practices, often while they also worked with a counsellor. It became clear to me that this was my passion work and I went on do various specialised training courses. It is what ultimately led me to train as a psychotherapist.
From 2020 – 2022, I worked as an eating disorder specialist within the multi-disciplinary team at The Recovery Centre (TRC) in Edinburgh. I am a qualified Eat Breathe Thrive facilitator and was honoured to co-host their first courses in Scotland in 2017.
I am incredibly proud of the specialist eating disorder / compulsive exercise education and presenting work that I have done, and continue to do.
Qualifications
Professional Qualifications
Postgraduate diploma in CBT, Counselling and Group Therapy
Advanced Diploma in Eating Disorders and Neurodiversity
Certified therapeutic yoga teacher
Certified Therapeutic Pilates teacher
Level 3 triathlon coach and coach education triathlon tutor
Qualified personal trainer
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Certifications in:
NLP, Schema therapy, Somatic parts, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, Compassion Focused Therapy, Mindfulness and Dialectic Behaviour Therapy
Specialist trainings:
Neurodiversity, Autism & ADHD, Autism and Eating Disorders, CBT for eating disorders, Schema Therapy for eating disorders, Body image in teenagers, CBT for body image, Trauma informed Movement Therapy and Somatic trauma therapy​
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I am a Registered Member (MBACP) of British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP) (Membership number: 01014388).​
I am committed to regularly attending webinars and CPD events and reading to keep my knowledge and practice up to date. I am in regular supervision, have been through in-depth therapy myself and I have been abiding by the code of ethics set out by BACP since 2016.