From a very young age I have had a passion for connecting with people. Post school this translated into working in the welfare sector as a youth worker. I then moved into working with families at East Lakes Family Support and from there established the first Adolescent & Family Counselling Service in Newcastle based at Jesmond Neighbourhood Centre. During this time I started my Social Work degree at Newcastle University and also began working in private practice, providing clinical work, supervision to other practitioners and as an educator at TAFE and at University. I then spent many years working for Community Health as a Clinical Social Worker providing counselling services to the people living in the Greater Newcastle Area.

I am committed to supporting young people, families and adults to bring positive growth and vitality into their lives, and to help them feel willing and able to take on the ups and downs and challenges that life inevitably presents. This means that I use my knowledge and training to tailor counselling sessions to suit individuals, couples or the families I am working with.

In our first session I will spend time getting to know you, what has brought you to counselling, and how we can work together towards your dreams and goals for the future? I am here to listen, to walk alongside and support you, rather than judge you or tell you what I think you should do. I strongly believe that you have the strength and solutions, and through empowerment and perhaps learning some new skills and ways to do things, you can be the person you want to be in the life you want to live.

My approach is compassionate, non-judgmental and holistic, and grounded in principals of Narrative Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Solution-focused Therapy and Family Systems Therapy. My therapeutic passion is utilising experiential and creative modalities such as Play, Art, Mindfulness, use of personal stories and generally a combination of the above. I apply mindfulness as a technique in the majority of sessions I conduct, as well as in my personal and professional approach. I work with an intention to stay present with the person (or people) I am working with, and invite them to become mindful in their own lives.

I have provided counselling and psychological support for individuals of all ages with a range of presentations including anxiety, depression, PTSD, addiction, family and relationship challenges, domestic violence, personality difficulties, anger issues, chronic illness, bullying, grief and loss, body image and the inevitable struggles of life stage transitions.

I currently work Tuesday - Thursday at my home office in Mayfield and via tele/videohealth if needed.