About Me
I have been working as a family therapist since 1997, seeing individuals, couples and families privately and in the NHS
I have worked in a variety of professional contexts, including the NHS, schools, social care, and Relate, and have extensive knowledge of working in NHS mental health services.
I worked as a mental health nurse in Sussex and London before training as a systemic/family psychotherapist in 1994, and have always had an interest in families and how they operate.
I worked as a highly specialised family psychotherapist between 2005 and 2017 in Sussex CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health NHS Service) and Sussex adult mental health NHS services between 2007 and 2011; and as a Lead Family Therapist between 2017 and 2019 in a CAMHS London borough (South London & Maudsley NHS Trust). I was Course Lead for the qualifying Masters in Systemic Psychotherapy at the Tavistock Centre, London, between 2019 and 2021.
I have worked with people managing a wide range of psychological distress, including relationship difficulties, loss and bereavement, health problems in children and adults, managing stress and anxiety, self-harming behaviours, eating disorders, psychosis and ‘schizophrenia’, and school refusal.
Since 2010 I have co-led the Family Interventions for Adults training with the Sussex Partnership NHS Trust, which is approved by Health Education England as one of four providers of Family Interventions training, and is AFT accredited as a Foundation course, and am also a Visiting Teaching Fellow for the University of Surrey. I have taught half-day and whole-day workshops on a variety of mental health themes for universities, NHS Trusts and independently.
I have an independent practice in which I meet with individuals, couples and families, and supervisees.
How I Work
I am a systemic psychotherapist, which means my focus is on relationships. I also work collaboratively, which means I see therapy as a partnership in which we work together at overcoming difficulties and highlighting resources. I am experienced at holding a safe space for groups of people to talk together about difficult issues.
After I have spoken with you on the phone about your concerns, I usually offer you an appointment to talk about how we might work together. Sometimes the whole family will come, if it is a family issue; sometimes just one person. If you’re a couple, I like to meet both of you together. I might also suggest individual sessions within a series of family meetings.
At the first session, we’ll work out together how often to meet and what you most need. A session will last one hour. Sometimes I meet with people two or three times, and that is enough to create the shift that people are looking for; other times I might work with people for a year or more. I offer in-person and online sessions.
Qualifications and Training
2022 EMDR training (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Parts 1 and 2 (Richman EMDR Training)
2015 Maudsley Model training in working systemically with families with anorexia nervosa (Maudsley, London)
2014 Exploring the Dynamics of Attachment in Adult Life (Una McCluskey, London)
2012 Advanced Diploma in Systemic Supervision (Institute of Family Therapy, London)
1994 Diploma in Systemic Therapy (Kensington Consultation Centre, London)
1992 Certificate in Family Therapy (Institute of Family Therapy, London)
1990 Registered Mental Nurse (RMN) (Haywards Heath, Sussex)
Professional Ethics
I have been UKCP (UK Council for Psychotherapy) registered since 1997 (00980375) and am bound by their Code of Ethics. I am also on their Children and Young People register, which means I am trained to work with this age group.
I have indemnity insurance.
I am a member of the Association of Family Therapy (AFT), and am registered with AFT as a family/systemic psychotherapist and systemic supervisor. I was one of the founding members of the Sussex branch of AFT, and was Chair of Sussex AFT from 2013 to 2018. I am currently Chair of CONFETTI, which is the confederation of systemic training leads in the UK.