hello :)

Well, I have been around a loooong time and have been fortunate enough to build up lots of different experiences along the way.  At 18 I volunteered to become a Samaritan's volunteer.  I left a degree in Psychology because, well, it really wasn't for me (sorry, I am sure it was excellent) and instead thought life experience would offer me more.  I worked for two years as a health care assistant with older people with complex mental health problems and dementia.  This was tough, hard, but rewarding and moving in equal measure.

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Since then, I have worked in child protection and with vulnerable adults as a social worker, before moving on to work in statutory crisis intervention services holding a dual role, Social Worker Therapist job role.  I was Approved under the Mental Health Act, but also delivered individual and group work for people with complex and long-standing mental health needs, including groups for men and people who self-injure. Along the way I also spent 10 years as a Vice Chair Governor in a large secondary school and held safeguarding responsibilities.  I worked for Charlie Waller Trust as well as consulting for many local and national charities.  Phew, I've been busy.

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As a therapist I have worked in the university sector, in the third sector and have my own private practice (you're looking at my private practice website now).  I have supervised social workers and therapists for well over 30 years and do loads and loads of training, for organisations and teams.  Why not have a look at my testimonials page to see some of my feedback.  I am also a published author, with a number of highly-regarded professional books out in the wild, as well as numerous book chapters, practitioner papers and e-learning resources (blimey Andrew, take a breath).

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I am a Professor in Counselling Professions and Mental Health (ooh, fancy) so work as an academic and researcher but, my passion is working with people - building relationships with others to help them learn more about themselves, recover from trauma, live a happier life and, integrating coaching, look forward and think of their next steps and how they will achieve them.

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All in all, I love what I do.  I do not see it as 'work' and imagine doing it for as long as the body and mind will allow.  Oh, and humour, I'm a firm believer that humour can make the sharpest things safer to handle; so we will work together, laugh together, collaborate and focus on what is important to you.  That's me.