Transactional Analysis - Psychotherapy / Counselling

Early in my career, I trained as a General Nurse - working in both hospital and community settings, so I have first-hand experience of the effects of stress on our health, well-being and recovery from illness. I am personally only too aware of the impact of illness and bereavement on our emotional state and, although psychotherapy / counselling cannot change what has happened to us, it can certainly provide valuable tools to help us deal with such issues in a more comfortable, positive way. I have a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology, with a particular interest in developmental psychology. I believe that it is only by understanding how we responded to our early experiences of our family lives that we can begin to understand and make sense of who we are today and how we have become 'stuck' in unhelpful ways of dealing with stress, trauma, illness and / or unhappy relationships.

I have also got a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Psychology which has helped me understand the intimate relationship between our psychological states and our responses to others in different circumstances (eg. work, school, homelife).

In 1990, I completed a Postgraduate training course in teaching and have been working with children and their families ever since - both as a primary school teacher and also having 12 years experience in special needs and counselling young children. I am particularly interested in the role that family dynamics plays in developing a child's view of him/herself in relation to the world around them and how this impacts on their emotional and social wellbeing. I work closely with parents and children to help understand and manage 'challenging' behaviours and to enable children to make more positive decisions about self and others in the future.

I have studied Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy to Postgraduate Diploma level and am currently working towards a Masters degree.

I am bound by the Codes of Ethics and Practice and Complaints of the Institute of Transactional Analysis, and I receive regular personal therapy and supervision.

I am also a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and am bound by its Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy, the Ethical Guidelines for Researching Counselling and Psychotherapy, and subject to the Professional Conduct Procedure for the time being in force.