Over the years I’ve come to believe that many emotional struggles are connected to the difficulty of living with uncertainty, loss, conflict and change.

Therapy cannot remove all pain from life — but it can offer a place where difficult experiences become more thinkable, less isolating and easier to carry.

When you're thinking about having therapy, it can be hard to know how to choose someone to work with. Qualifications, experience and accreditations play a part in helping you to choose, but it's also important that you meet with a therapist so that you can get a 'feel' for how you may work together. I offer a combination of many years' experience, a high level of qualification and training, and a personal, non-judgmental approach to therapy.

• One of the main bodies which oversees the accreditation and registration of counsellors in the UK is the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). You can visit their website here.

• I am a BACP Senior Accredited Counsellor/Psychotherapist. In order to maintain my accreditation I undergo at least 30 hours of professional development each year by attending on-going training and other types of personal development.

My specific counselling and psychotherapy qualifications include:

• Doctorate in Psychotherapy - Metanoia Institute/Middlesex University 2010
• Diploma in Supervision - CICS (Contemporary Institute of Clinical Sexology) 2025
• Masters degree (MA) in Counselling - University of Birmingham 1999
• RELATE Certificate in Marital and Couple Counselling - RELATE 1999
• Diploma in Counselling and Interpersonal Skills - University of Warwick 1989