Further Information
Having spent many hours in the hot seat myself, I understand only too well how nerve wracking reaching out for support can be, especially if things are feeling risky or dangerous for you. Currently all appointments are offered online with face to face appointments available soon in the North West of England. Here is some further information regarding the support I offer.
Psychological Safety
Many of the ways we think, feel and relate to others were shaped long before we had the words to understand them. Our earliest relationships teach us what to expect from the world, how safe it is to express our emotions, and what we must do to survive within our family system. Whilst these adaptations may have protected us in childhood, they can become limiting patterns that continue into adulthood.
Psychodynamic counselling offers a compassionate space to explore these unconscious patterns and understand how the past continues to influence the present. Rather than focusing solely on symptoms, this approach seeks to uncover the deeper roots of emotional distress. It helps you make sense of recurring difficulties in relationships, low self-worth, anxiety, shame, people-pleasing, perfectionism, emotional withdrawal, or the repeated experience of finding themselves in unhealthy or abusive dynamics.
Many families unknowingly pass emotional wounds from one generation to the next. Intergenerational trauma, neglect, abuse, addiction, emotional enmeshment, parentification, secrecy and dysfunctional relationship patterns can become normalised within a family. Without awareness, these survival strategies are often repeated rather than be questioned. Individuals may find themselves playing familiar roles such as the scapegoat, the peacemaker, the rescuer, the invisible child or the high achiever. Although these roles once served a purpose, they can prevent people from developing an authentic sense of self and genuine psychological safety.
Psychodynamic therapy helps clients recognise the unconscious "games" they have learned to play in order to stay emotionally safe. These can be deeply ingrained patterns of relating that developed as adaptations to difficult environments. They may include constantly seeking approval, avoiding conflict at all costs, rescuing others, remaining emotionally detached, or believing that love must be earned. These strategies often protect people from painful feelings in the short term whilst unintentionally maintaining distress over time.
Within a safe, consistent and trusting therapeutic relationship, these patterns can be explored without judgement. Therapy provides an opportunity to understand where these protective strategies originated, how they continue to influence current relationships, and whether they are still serving the person today. As unconscious patterns become conscious, individuals gain greater choice, emotional freedom and self-awareness.
Psychological safety is at the heart of this process. When people experience a relationship where they are accepted, heard and understood without fear of criticism or rejection, they begin to develop a different internal experience of themselves. They learn that vulnerability does not have to lead to harm, that boundaries can be healthy rather than dangerous, and that their thoughts, feelings and needs are worthy of attention. This creates the foundation for healthier relationships, improved emotional regulation and a stronger sense of identity.
My approach combines psychodynamic understanding with a deep appreciation of how safeguarding, trauma and family systems influence psychological wellbeing. Together, we will explore the patterns that have shaped your life, helping you understand not only what has happened to you, but how those experiences continue to affect you today. Therapy is not about assigning blame to families or the past; it is about developing insight, breaking cycles that no longer serve you, and creating the psychological safety needed to live with greater authenticity, confidence and emotional freedom.
Physical Safety
Feeling physically safe is a fundamental human need, yet for many people it has never been a consistent reality. Experiences such as domestic abuse, childhood abuse, sexual violence, coercive control, exploitation, gang involvement, stalking, harassment or other forms of interpersonal violence can leave lasting effects that extend far beyond the immediate danger. Even when the threat has ended, the body and mind may continue to respond as though danger is ever-present.
Counselling cannot remove risk on its own, but it can play a vital role in helping individuals understand risk, strengthen their ability to recognise unsafe situations, and make informed decisions that support their wellbeing. My approach is grounded in safeguarding principles and recognises that physical safety and psychological safety are deeply interconnected. Before meaningful therapeutic work can take place, it is important to consider whether a person is safe enough, both emotionally and physically, to begin exploring their experiences.
Many people who have experienced abuse or violence develop survival strategies that once kept them alive but may now leave you feeling trapped. These can include minimising harm, remaining hypervigilant, struggling to trust their instincts, returning to abusive relationships, or believing that you deserve poor treatment. These responses are not signs of weakness; they are understandable adaptations to environments where safety could not be taken for granted.
Together, we can explore how past experiences may influence present-day decisions, relationships and perceptions of danger. Therapy provides a space to understand patterns of coercion, manipulation and control, helping clients identify behaviours that may previously have felt normal or unavoidable. Developing this awareness can empower people to recognise healthy relationships, establish boundaries and rebuild trust in their own judgement.
For individuals experiencing domestic abuse, sexual violence or exploitation, therapy can offer a confidential and compassionate space to process trauma whilst remaining mindful of ongoing safety needs. Where appropriate, counselling may include discussions around safety planning, recognising escalating risk, understanding coercive control, and accessing specialist support services. Therapy is never about telling someone what they should do; instead, it is about helping them make informed choices at a pace that feels manageable whilst respecting their autonomy and individual circumstances.
For those leaving gangs, abusive relationships or other high-risk environments, counselling can also support the emotional impact of transition. Leaving situations that threaten physical safety often involves grief, fear, identity loss, isolation and uncertainty. Many people find themselves caught between the familiarity of danger and the fear of the unknown. Therapy provides a space to navigate these complex emotions whilst strengthening resilience, self-worth and confidence in building a safer future.
My work is informed by an understanding that abuse rarely exists in isolation. Family dynamics, childhood experiences, trauma and social circumstances often intersect to shape a person's sense of safety. By exploring these experiences with curiosity rather than judgement, clients can begin to understand how they arrived where they are today and identify new ways of protecting themselves moving forward.
Supporting physical safety means recognising that everyone deserves to live free from fear, intimidation and harm. Through a collaborative, trauma-informed and safeguarding-focused approach, my aim is to help clients develop greater awareness of risk, strengthen their ability to make choices that support their wellbeing, and rebuild a life where safety is not simply the absence of danger, but the presence of security, dignity and hope.
Criminal Justice Clients
If you are finding that you are coming into contact with the police or courts due to your emotions and behaviours then I may be able to help.
Criminal justice counselling refers to psychological support tailored for individuals navigating the justice system. It spans two main areas: therapy for crime victims/survivors (focusing on trauma) and offender rehabilitation (focusing on accountability, mental health, and reducing reoffending as well as processing trauma). Counselling can help to process the emotional impact of a crime. Many individuals in the justice system experience underlying mental health struggles or personality disorders. Rehabilitative Therapy focuses on impulse control, addressing the root causes of offending behavior, and rebuilding life skills. Having spent many years working as a senior probation officer, I have vast experience in supporting both victims and perpetrators of crime. If you are attending court due to an alleged offence, please be advised that your therapy notes may be subpoenaed by the court. I am here to help you, so if your case is going to court, please do let me know so that we can mutually agree your therapy notes after each session prior to them being finalised.
Social Care Clients
Counselling for social care clients provides essential emotional support for individuals navigating life transitions, disabilities, trauma, and chronic illness. It serves as a bridge between practical social services and emotional wellbeing, helping clients process their circumstances, manage anxiety, and improve their overall quality of life. Whether you are accessing support from social care as an adult with additional needs, or as a carer/parent, then I may be able to help. Having previously worked as a social worker for both children and families supported with child protection, child in need and children in care as well as adults with disabilities I understand how disempowering and worrying such interventions can feel. I am able to provide updates and advocacy regarding your therapy progression in writing or via video link at meetings or written updates to your social worker, as well as referrals for additional support as required, chargeable at my hourly rate.
My Qualifications
Level 2
Understanding Health Improvement, Coaching, Non-Violence resistance training, Child Development, Safeguarding Children
Level 3
Children and Young People, Safeguarding Children.
Level 6
Degree in Social Work
Level 7
Post Graduate Certificate in (psychodynamic) Counselling
Masters Modules -
Child Sexual Exploitation and Associated Safeguarding (30 credits)
Approved Mental Health Roles (mental health law) (30 credits)
Psychosocial Approaches to High Risk Suicide in Adults (20 credits)