About Me

Alongside my work as a psychotherapist I am an avid reader of fiction. I believe good novels nourish the soul, providing a window into the lives of others as well as mirroring back to us our own experiences.

Thoughtful novels allow us the space to explore "how things are" as opposed to "how things should be." They encourage us to be curious about how we respond to the many challenges we all face and I see a tremendous value in this - especially now, in a world that seems to demand instant answers to complex questions.

My passion for novels led me to create Novel Insights, where I write short pieces linking excerpts from some of my favourite novels with concepts from the world of psychotherapy. Food for thought - as well as a window into the sorts of things I hold in mind as I sit with my clients.

Aside from my passion for the written word, other potentially useful things to know about me include:

Six months volunteering as a secular member of the chaplaincy team at the South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. Here, I spent time on a locked ward with patients diagnosed with treatment-resistant psychosis, and the staff who cared for them. My time there gave me a more in depth understanding of the mental health system in the UK as a whole, the challenges faced by patients and staff, and the impact of deep-rooted social inequalities on the most vulnerable among us.

Many years working as a BBC producer before becoming a therapist. My time as a producer taught me the value - indeed necessity - of nurturing enduring and robust working relationships in order to successfully navigate whatever challenges each new production brought. This experience serves me well now, as a psychotherapist, where I place great importance on fostering a supportive environment in which clients can feel safe to open up and explore their experiences.

In terms of qualifications I hold an MSc. in Integrative Psychotherapy and am a full clinical member of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP, membership number 2011172269) and registered with the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP, registration number 00956446). I am also certified as an online psychotherapist by The Online Therapy Institute and as a Single Session Therapy (SST) practitioner by Temenos.