I completed the OneSpirit Interfaith Foundation ministry courses in 2020 and have since qualified as a psychosynthesis/transperson counsellor, which has a strong holistic, creative and spiritual element. The late OneSpirit Core Tutor, Nicola Coombes, saw psychosynthesis as highly compatible with OneSpirit, as I also do.
Through my work as a psychosynthesis counsellor, I now offer regular counselling sessions for those who feel they can benefit from a counsellor with knowledge and experience of both fields: OneSpirit Interfaith Foundation ministry and transpersonal/spiritual counselling.
I offer in-person, including outdoor park-walk counselling, and online sessions. I am happy to offer concessionary rates for students and clients on low incomes, and offer a sliding scale from £40 to £60 and trust clients to pay what they can afford. I also offer a slightly lower rate for online sessions for OneSpirit students experiencing financial difficulty. I provide face-to-face sessions at the Psychosynthesis Trust, near London Bridge Station, park walk counselling at Wanstead Park in East London, and online sessions during the day or evening, including Saturdays.
BACKGROUND
I am a member of the BACP (British Association of Counsellors and Psychologists) and follow their ethical standards and guidelines. I have a background working for a green UK charity, and as a writer on and editor of spiritual matters, including Earth-based spirituality, which OneSpirit courses have a strong emphasis on.
Working with clients brings a heightened awareness of being present and responsive to the interactive, creative and healing environment of sessions. It has helped me to be open, accepting, understanding, curious and caring about clients and what each person uniquely brings.
I have trained in and studied various approaches to therapeutic well-being since the 90s, which has greatly helped me achieve a wide, holistic approach to working with clients. I hold a postgraduate diploma in transpersonal counselling and a certificate in advanced psychosynthesis skills. My early training included aspects of Gestalt theory and practice, and I have completed additional training, especially on the use of creative imagination in counselling.
I have wide experience working with clients from different backgrounds, cultures, religions and sexual identities, who have brought an array of presenting issues they wished to work on, which has helped me work with authenticity, understanding and deep trust in the counselling process.
HOW I WORK
I will work empathically and inter-relationally with you in order to explore your reasons for coming to counselling and any resolutions or changes you seek to reflect on, and will support you throughout that process. I will regularly conduct reviews to check how our time together is working, and if it is meeting your needs or requires adapting, reassessing or expanding.
As no two clients are the same or have the same needs, you will find me open and accepting to what you bring to sessions, such as past beliefs and experiences and how they may still be influencing you, or focusing solely on what is happening now in your life.
I will provide a therapeutic healing space for you to explore and reflect upon your well-being.
Together we may look at issues of loss, abuse, discrimination, abandonment, gender issues or sexual needs. You may wish to do a minimum of six sessions or require longer, which will supply you with more time to go deeper and process more fully what emerges in sessions. The aim of the work will be to assist you in integrating and embodying what you need for making wholesome choices and opening to healthy changes for deeper meaning and purpose to your life.
I will have your best interest at heart. If for any reason you feel we are not compatible or you require more specialist help, I will suggest exploring the possibility of a referral.
FIRST SESSION
The first session is a ‘free’ session if done online. After making a request for counselling, I will arrange a convenient day and time to meet in person or online, where we can complete a contract, which will supply me with an overview of your reasons for seeking counselling. This will also give you an understanding of my responsibilities, such as abiding by BACP’s ethical standards. In the first session, we will discuss your main presenting issue and any procedures that need to be in place for online sessions (if applicable). By the end of the first session, you should feel reassured that we will work at a pace that is right for you and in a space where you can openly talk about and share your feelings.