A little about me

Following my graduation from Bristol University, I gained life experience as a Community Service Volunteer, caring for adults in the community living with physical disabilities and chronic illnesses. I then became a Project Worker in a Dr Barnardos I.T. Centre, working with disadvantaged young people.

 I left to embark on a two year Post Graduate Social Work Course at a London University. After graduating  I took a job at The Royal London Hospital, as a Medical social worker. I was involved in assisting patients to come to terms with newly acquired disabilities or diagnoses, and for coordinating their emotional, social and physical rehabilitation and discharge plans. 

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My growing interest in mental health, due in part to the nature of many admissions onto the Orthopaedic and Trauma Unit, led to a move back to Leigh-on-sea, to take up a position as a Mental Health Social Worker in the Southend  CMHT. Further training included studying to become an Approved Social Worker, which included a  placement with a Criminal Justice Team. There followed other training opportunities around subjects such as  a CBT based approach, based on the 'Mind over Mood' publication. 

I took a career break after the arrival of my third and fourth children, but continued to study, taking an A’ Level in Psychology, and then commencing my training in counselling, which culminated in being awarded a Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling in 2017.

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As part of my course, I became a therapist at a local Counselling Centre, where I still volunteer one evening a week. I have attended several of their CPD workshops, which were latterly available on zoom through the lock-down.I also took telephone clients during the height of the pandemic, when face-to face sessions were impossible. 

Whilst at part-time College I was working as a Learning Mentor in a school, and noticed the need for some of the parents to have support: their problems were impacting on the whole family, and some of the children had become disengaged from their learning. Therefore, I set up an in-school free counselling agency for parents, which proved to be a valuable resource, and led to the job I now hold. 

My enthusiasm for learning led to me studying at level 5 on a course entitled ‘ Counselling Children and Young People’, which enhanced the efficacy of my work. My latest learning is to commence in May 2022:  an Intensive course with nine modules over several weekends,  called ’Creative Counselling’, which I am really looking forward to.