Understanding begins with connection
My Story
Thank you for taking the time to visit my website.
I know that reaching out for support can feel like a big step, so I'd like to tell you a little about who I am and why I do the work I do.
Before becoming a counsellor, I spent over twenty years working in finance. It was a career that taught me a great deal, but over time I realised that what mattered most to me wasn't numbers or spreadsheets—it was people.
Looking back, the path into counselling feels like it was always there. Throughout my life I've been drawn to understanding people: what shapes us, how our experiences influence us, and why we respond to life's challenges in the ways we do.
Like many people, my own life has included experiences that have challenged me, changed me and helped shape the person I am today. Those experiences deepened my belief that everyone deserves to feel heard, understood and accepted, especially during the times when life feels most difficult.
That belief led me to retrain as a counsellor and psychotherapist, and it continues to guide every part of my work today.
Over the years I have had the privilege of supporting adults, children, young people, couples and families through a wide range of life's challenges. Whether someone is living with the effects of trauma, anxiety, loss, relationship difficulties, neurodiversity, low self-esteem or simply feeling overwhelmed, I believe healing begins when we are met with compassion rather than judgement.
Today my work brings together everything I care about most: counselling, equine assisted therapy, clinical supervision, training and helping people better understand themselves and one another.
For me, this work has never been about fixing people.
It's about creating the conditions where people can reconnect with themselves, discover their own strengths and move forward with greater confidence, hope and self-compassion.
Principles that guide my work
What I Believe
Over the years, both personally and professionally, I've come to realise that the greatest changes rarely happen because someone gives us the answers. They happen because we feel safe enough to ask the questions.
These are the beliefs that guide every conversation, every session and every interaction with both people and horses.
Understanding before judgement
Every person has a story, and every behaviour has a reason. Rather than asking "What's wrong with you?", I believe a more helpful question is, "What has happened to you?" or "What is this behaviour trying to communicate?"
When we begin with curiosity instead of judgement, understanding becomes possible.
People are not broken
Life experiences shape us. Sometimes those experiences leave us feeling anxious, overwhelmed, disconnected or stuck, but they do not define who we are.
I don't believe people need fixing. I believe they need the opportunity to feel heard, understood and supported as they find their own way forward.
Healing happens through connection
Whether that's the relationship between therapist and client, between a person and a horse, or within a family learning to understand one another, genuine connection creates the safety needed for growth.
Feeling truly seen and accepted can be one of the most powerful parts of the healing process.
Horses remind us to be present
One of the reasons I love working alongside horses is that they have an extraordinary ability to live in the present moment. They don't judge us by our past or worry about our future. They respond honestly to what they see and feel, inviting us to slow down, notice ourselves and connect in a different way.
Time spent with horses often helps us discover things that are difficult to put into words.
Growth is rarely a straight line
There is no perfect timeline for healing. Some days feel easier than others, and progress often comes through many small moments rather than one big breakthrough.
My role isn't to rush that process. It's to walk alongside you with compassion, curiosity and hope, celebrating each step as it comes.
My Experience
Since qualifying as a counsellor, I have been fortunate to work across a variety of settings, supporting people with a wide range of emotional and psychological challenges.
Alongside my private practice, I have worked within domestic abuse services supporting adults, young people and families affected by trauma. I have also spent many years delivering training for Samaritans, helping volunteers develop the knowledge and confidence to support people experiencing emotional distress and crisis.
Today my work continues to grow through Cotswolds Equine Assisted Therapy & Learning, where I combine counselling with equine-assisted interventions to create opportunities for reflection, learning and personal growth.
I also provide clinical supervision for counsellors and helping professionals, creating a supportive reflective space where practitioners can develop both personally and professionally.
Qualifications & Professional Standards
I believe learning never stops.
Alongside my professional qualifications, I regularly undertake continuing professional development to ensure my knowledge remains current and my practice continues to grow.
My areas of ongoing interest include:
Trauma and complex trauma
Attachment
Neurodiversity
Equine Assisted Therapy & Learning
Ethical horse training and behaviour
Couples and family relationships
Emotional regulation
Clinical supervision
I work ethically, safely and professionally, with regular clinical supervision and a commitment to continuous learning and reflective practice.
Beyond Work
Outside of work you'll almost always find me with my horses.
They continue to teach me something new every day about patience, trust, communication and the importance of slowing down.
I also enjoy spending time with my family, walking our dogs and making the most of the beautiful Warwickshire countryside that surrounds us.
The values that matter most to me in life—kindness, curiosity, authenticity and connection—are the same values I bring into every session.
If you're considering working together
Finding the right therapist is important.
I believe that the relationship you build with your therapist is one of the strongest foundations for meaningful change, which is why I offer a warm, welcoming and non-judgemental space where you can simply be yourself.
Whether you're looking for counselling, equine assisted therapy, clinical supervision or simply want to find out more, I'd love to hear from you.
You don't have to have everything figured out before reaching out.
Sometimes the first conversation is simply the beginning of feeling understood.