I specialise in systematic family therapy.

I am a fully qualified, AFT accredited and UKCP Registered Systemic and Family Psychotherapist as well as being a Registered Nurse with 25 years clinical experience. I have worked in a wide range of clinical settings throughout my career, with people with learning disabilities, complex mental health presentations and those who have been affected by trauma.

While working as a nurse, I wanted to improve the care and intervention I offered to those I worked with and so completed a PgDip in Psychological Interventions for Complex Mental Health where I was introduced to the idea of family interventions. I went on to complete an MSc in Systemic and Family Psychotherapy. I am currently employed in an NHS CAMHS service working with families and young people with mental health difficulties.

The importance of relationships and the power of family is at the heart of my practice. When one or more family members are struggling with emotions, mental health or trauma; the impact can be felt throughout. It can be difficult for individuals and families to know how to help or get through and sometimes, things can feel so overwhelming that people feel stuck. In family therapy we think about problems as being external to the individual; the person is not the problem, the problem is the problem. We tend not to focus on one family member but on relationships, family strengths, values and beliefs while working to find shared understandings and solutions.

“Systemic family therapy has been found to be effective for children’s and adults’ difficulties, both when they have a mental health diagnosis and when there is more general or complex distress and is effective across the life cycle. Working therapeutically with individuals together with their families and/or significant others enables the use of individuals’ relationships as a resource and reduces stress and difficulties for all family members” (AFT: The Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice).

At an initial appointment we will begin to think about what has brought you to therapy and some of your hopes. You’ll get the opportunity to get a feel for family therapy and, if it feels like something that would be helpful for your family we can arrange further sessions. Many families find that around four to six sessions is helpful, some find benefit in just one or two whereas others need a little longer. Every family is unique and I will adapt my approach to find the best fit for your family.

Contact

To make an enquiry or book an appointment please contact me via:

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