About Me
I have qualified and worked as a teacher, a social worker, a consultant, and most recently, as a therapist. For most of my career, I have worked in social work as a practitioner and manager. I have also developed projects. In these roles, I have specialised in children and families, domestic abuse, adoption, and safeguarding vulnerable adults. In most of my work, I have met people, both children and adults, who are trying to manage the impact of developmental trauma, or complex trauma, on how they function today. In the last year, I have undertaken an advanced training course in this area, the Neuro Affective Relational Model (NARM). I am now using this in my practice with clients. My working life has been both in the UK and in Ireland. Now, spending time in both countries and working mostly online, I can work in and from both jurisdictions.
Experience
Integrative Therapist for 3 years
Before working as a therapist, I worked for thirty-five years as a social worker, manager, and consultant. In these roles, I had extensive experience in child protection, domestic abuse, adoption, and adult safeguarding, as well as some experience working in mental health services.
For my practicum during the M.A., I worked in Resolve in Limerick and Helplink in Galway, both in-person and online. I have continued with these agencies whilst completing my pre-accreditation hours. The category of counselling has been 'general counselling'. For some clients, this is person-centred, supportive work; many have had unresolved or traumatic grief. Some clients have clearly come into counselling looking to change long-standing behaviours and reactions that have their roots in their early years. Here, my NARM training has been invaluable. NARM is an integrative, phenomenological model, person-centred, and relationship-based.
My clients have spanned the life course, from eighteen to their mid-seventies. I particularly enjoy working with young adults. Some clients have been neurodiverse, or have children who are presenting as neurodiverse and are having difficulties with assessment, diagnosis, or accessing appropriate educational supports. These are all areas with which I am familiar. Some have been having difficulty accessing mental health services. I have supported them through getting a diagnosis and treatment, for example, for a mood disorder. Some older clients are coping with the symptoms of trauma or unresolved loss. Others bring family relationship problems or issues associated with their life stage.
My experience includes decades here and in the UK. I anticipate developing an online practice across both jurisdictions and, in due course, also offering clinical supervision in the disciplines in which I am qualified.
Approach
The relationship that is established between the client and therapist is central to effective therapy. My role is to guide and support, as you explore the concerns that have brought you into the session. My life and social work experience, together with my psychotherapeutic training, help us to consider how your early life experiences may still impact the quality of your life and relationships today; our focus is on the present. The advanced training I have undertaken in Developmental Trauma (NARM) provides us with a framework for this.
I also offer supportive person-centred talk therapy and specialist work for adopted people, birth parents, and adoptive parents, help with managing loss and grief, identity issues, family relationships, or life-stage changes.
I work with all age groups in-person, but online only with clients over eighteen.
Qualification
I hold an M.A. (First Class) in Counselling and Psychotherapy (Integrative) from the Irish College of Humanities and Applied Sciences, ICHAS. I am registered as an Accredited Counsellor with A.P.C.P., Professional Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists.
I am a Neuro Affective Relational Therapist (NARM), Complex Trauma Training Centre CTTC (2025)
I also hold the following higher educational qualifications:
Bachelor of Education (University of Exeter, 1977)
Post Graduate Diploma in Social Work / Certificate of Qualification in Social Work (Leeds Polytechnic 1989)
Diploma in Systemic Management (Roehampton Institute, 1994)
M.Sc. in Systemic Management (University of Sunderland, 1996)
Social Work Practice Teacher Award (Kingston University, 1996)
Locations