My Background
I began my career as a Secondary School teacher of English in the West Midlands. I chose to work in some hard-hit areas because I wanted to make a difference. Some of the pupils in school would come and talk at the end of the day or during lunch hour and it was this that made me realise that I wanted to do something slightly different with my life. After moving to the Newbury area, I switched careers and began to work for the local Council, working with pupils who had become disaffected with the education system and were close to exclusion.
In 2003, I trained in Counselling through the CPACB but chose to continue my journey in Solution-focused therapy rather than in Counselling. I took a course with Eileen Murphy Consultants and used solution-focused therapy in my daily work with children and families.
Over the years I have worked for different teams within the Education sector - using solution-focused therapy; creating an outreach team, deputising at Pupil Referral Units (as they were then known) and in 2006, heading up the Secondary Behaviour Support Team, specialising in working with families whose children were too anxious to go to school. Many of those pupils were diagnosed with Autism or on the Autistic pathway.
I continued to add to my professional development by taking a course in Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction, followed by 1 year at the Oxford Mindfulness Centre training to teach Mindulness with Cognitive Behaviour therapy. I also have CBT training through the APT (The Association for Psychological Therapies) and took an additional course in Solution-focused therapy in 2018 with Solution Focused Trainers Ltd. (Like counselling and certification through the BACP, this is subject to rigorous checks and requires over 100 hours of placement practice, video footage and regular check-in sessions with a Supervisor.) I am a member of the UKASFP (United Kingdom Association of Solution Focused Practitioners) and have IASTI (International Alliance of Solution-Focused Trainers Institutes) certification.
I have been in the Education sector for over 28 years and have worked in both Secondary schools and Primary - independent and state, day and boarding (as a therapist), and have a wealth of experience. I sometimes give training on Anxiety in children and in Autism and ADHD.
I have worked extensively with the local Council - Educational Psychologists, Educational Welfare Officers, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, Social Services, schools and other agencies. I currently also work for the Emotional Health Academy, West Berks Council as a Primary Mental Health Worker part-time. I occasionally work as a Graphic Facilitator when doing MAP(Making An Action Plan) meetings with local teams at the Council - trained through Inclusive Solutions Ltd.
Many of the people I work with are on the Autistic spectrum, have ADHD / ADD - or both. I work more and more with people who have been diagnosed with FND (Functional Neurologica Disorder) and have links with Brain and Mind (Brainmind.co.uk) re: ways of working.
Professional Qualifications
IASTI certification of Solution-Focused Practitioners
Solution Focused Practice Certificate - Solution Focused Trainers Ltd.
Member of the British Psychological Society
Graphic Facilitator for MAP (Making and Action Plan) meetings - Training through Inclusive Solutions. See:(https://inclusive-solutions.com/person-centred-planning/maps/)
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy - Trauma Focused CBT for Children and Families, CBT for Self-harm, Level 3 (APT)
Foundation Training in teaching Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (Oxford Mindfulness Centre).
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. Cert.
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy - Children, Young People and Families (Eileen Murphy)
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy - Prevention and Intervention (Eileen Murphy)
Counselling Certificates (CPCAB)
P.G.C.E. English
B.A.(Hons) English and Art
Membership
Member of UKASFP (UK Association for Solution-Focused Practice)
IASTI (International Alliance of Solution focused Teaching Institutes)
Student member of the British Psychological Society
I work to the BACP code of practice.
(See the Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions.)
'No problem happens all the time. There is always an exception. The trick, is to find that exception and do more of it.'
