About Counselling Training and Experience

When I was younger, I vividly remember receiving reply letters from teen magazine agony aunts. I'd write to them and share my feelings, and when I read their replies, my life made so much more sense. I felt more in control, a bit less of an 'odd one out', and, dare I say, slightly more normal. Most importantly, I gained comfort from feeling understood; someone actually 'got me'. This feeling has stayed with me and has influenced how I approach my counselling experience today. After a somewhat traumatic period in my life, I was uncertain about my future and just went through the motions, eventually finding myself at Wolverhampton Uni studying art and design. Despite believing this was my strength, I didn’t complete the degree. My confidence was low, and my anxiety was high. After returning up North, I needed a job to pay the rent, which led me to spend a few years enjoying work in a bookstore, followed by a role in customer service with EE (then known as Orange). I later trained and worked in education as a teaching assistant in a primary school, eventually managing a preschool. While I enjoyed working with children, I felt a strong desire to pursue something closer to my heart. In 2010, I made the pivotal decision to change my career path completely and start professional counselling training, including exploring EMDR therapy. After many years of considering this path, it felt like the right time, like I was coming home. It took until my 40s, but I finally decided what I wanted to do with my life! After completing my counselling training and undergoing plenty of personal counselling, my confidence grew, anxiety reduced, and I launched New Balance Counselling in 2013. I've loved nurturing it into what it is today and feel privileged to be in a trusted position where many people can confide in me during their private counselling sessions. Life isn't perfect; I've come to realize it never can be. There will always be ups and downs and everything in between. It's challenging to 'go with the flow' when things aren't working out, and this is when counselling can really help you navigate your life. 'Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.' ~ Max Ehrmann

Initial training to become a counsellor not only provided me with a strong foundation of counselling knowledge, skills, and theory to use in practice, but it also offered me a unique space for personal growth. It was a transformative time in my life. I met incredible supportive people along the way, sharing countless laughs and just as many tears! I gained profound insights about myself and counselling, making it a life-changing experience. Since then, my passion for learning has only intensified. I continually enrich my 'therapeutic toolbag' by attending courses and workshops focused on counselling and more. I have earned the Certificate in Creative Supervision (UKCP accredited) and most recently completed training in EMDR therapy for trauma, further enhancing my counselling experience. During my initial training, I volunteered as a counsellor at the Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Centre in Darlington, where I developed a solid understanding of the complex issues surrounding the traumas of rape, childhood sexual abuse, domestic violence, and controlling relationships. I learned about the related legalities, various forms of abuse, and the impact of these experiences, including self-harm and coping strategies. Additionally, I served as a volunteer counsellor for GADD (Gay Advice Durham & Darlington), supporting individuals and family members within the LGBTQ+ community, primarily addressing sexual identity and gender issues. My experience also included volunteering as a children's counsellor in a primary school for the charity 'Place2Be', where I discovered play therapy techniques and games. I worked as a counsellor for Talking Matters in Teesside, assisting individuals referred by their GP, and later as a children's psychological therapist at Alliance Psychological Services in Stockton. There, I was part of a team dedicated to improving children's emotional health and well-being by providing weekly counselling sessions in schools. I firmly believe that being creative and playful is beneficial not just for children, but for adults too! It allows them to experience joy and freedom of expression, enhancing their counselling experience. Creative therapy can involve drawing, writing, playing with sand or playdough, and using various small objects. It can also incorporate creative thinking. If you're interested, I can help you explore these avenues—no artistic talent required, just a willingness to play! 'Adults are only kids grown up, anyway.' - Walt Disney

I now devote all of my counselling work to my private practice, where I have been offering private counselling sessions in Darlington since 2013. These sessions can be conducted in-person, via online video, or by telephone. With my extensive counselling experience, I am fully qualified, insured, professionally accredited, and registered to practice. I currently provide private counselling for individuals aged 16 to 116 years old, although I may require parental consent for those aged 16 and 17. I welcome enquiries from employers, occupational health companies, and insurance companies, and I am proud to be a delivery partner of Future Pathways and Xyla Digital therapies. There are many reasons you may seek my support, including feelings of low mood or depression, worry, recent bereavement or loss (such as a job), struggling with changes in circumstances, or healing from any form of abuse or trauma, whether recent or from the past. I'm passionate about personal development and would love to assist you in understanding and feeling comfortable in yourself, allowing you to evolve in a way that feels right for you. You may discover a new normal, recognize a fresh beginning, or find a new balance in your life. Additionally, I offer EMDR therapy, which is particularly effective in helping you recover from difficult or traumatic memories that may feel 'stuck'. I have a strong interest in trauma work, especially with adults who have experienced negative childhood events, including abuse, neglect, loss, bullying, or parental divorce, which may have left them with a negative view of themselves or the world. Furthermore, I provide clinical supervision for both qualified and student counsellors in placement. If you are seeking clinical supervision, please feel free to reach out. I hold a certificate in Creative Supervision accredited by the UKCP. I am also an Accredited Professional member of the NCPS (National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society), a registered member of the BACP (British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy), a Professional Member of ACTO (Association for Counselling and Therapy Online), and a registered member of EMDR UK and EMDR Europe, adhering to their ethical guidelines. "Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves" ~ Henry David Thoreau