My path to becoming a counselling psychotherapist has been long, varied and not particularly linear. Here’s how I have evolved into the therapist I am today.
Starting many moons ago in 1993 I took my first steps, embarking on a BSc degree in Psychology and Social Sciences. This lit the spark for a lifelong interest in understanding more about how we humans work.
The bright lights of London beckoned and I landed a job in research for an advertising agency. I loved running focus groups and digging deeper into how people thought, felt and behaved – fascinating work but not exactly aligned with my values. I knew I wanted to do something more meaningful.
I trained as a holistic massage therapist and then worked as a volunteer for a HIV charity whilst on
maternity leave from the ad agency. Massage therapy work gave me a valuable insight into how the body holds stress and trauma and how to really listen.
I then balanced motherhood, corporate work and moving towards a more holistic way of working. In 2006, I added baby massage instructor training to my skills list and moved from London to Cardiff. I successfully facilitated groups for new mums and babies for several years, did a Dip H.E. in Antenatal Education along with Postnatal Educator training and ran NCT courses whilst raising my own children. Supporting people through the transition to parenthood I learned what it meant to really hold space and work in a person-centred way.
I realised I often found myself in a counselling role but without the formal training, so when the timing was right I started counselling training in 2019 and gained my Level7 Postgraduate Diploma in Integrative Counselling & Psychotherapy from The University of South Wales in 2022.
I have worked as a counsellor in Cardiff for various third sector organisations including The Junction (counselling for pregnancy and baby loss), Connections Cardiff (supporting recovery from addiction) and I currently work at Platfform Wellbeing seeing a variety of private & NHS clients. Alongside this third sector work I run my own private practice.
I’m committed to continuous professional development and over the years have added lots to my core training including working with trauma, neurodiversity, loss/bereavement and the different challenges that are faced at transitional life stages such as menopause. At present I’m digging deep into this area of work as it’s as much relevant to me as it is some of my clients. Starting in 2026 I am offering more support for those of you experiencing perimenopause, please get in touch to find out more.