Your therapy journey and how I’ll support you
Your journey: How I’ll support you as your counsellor and therapist
Thanks for being here. I’d like to take a moment to share more about my approach as a counsellor and therapist, how I work, what you can expect and how we might work together if you choose to begin your journey with me.
I offer sessions in Birmingham, primarily in Stirchley, South Birmingham, as well as online. My therapeutic work also includes sessions outdoors in nature and they combine talk-therapy, somatic and eco therapy approaches. This is grounded in the same principles as my indoor work, but takes place in the natural world, which can offer its own healing and calming presence. You can find my counselling page here , and more about my nature therapy work here.
Like many therapists, my path to becoming a counsellor started with being a client myself. Facing my own challenges in a safe, supported, and non-judgmental therapeutic space helped me cultivate self-compassion and live a more connected, fulfilling life. That lived experience informs everything I do. It reminds me that this jounrey can be difficult, even painful at times but also deeply transformative.
I’ve also had experiences working with therapists that weren’t safe or affirming, which is why it’s essential to me that the space I offer is welcoming and inclusive. My practice is LGBTQIA+ affirming, disability affirming, neurodiversity affirming, anti-racist and fat-positive.mIf you’re wondering whether I’m the right fit based on aspects of your identity, I’m always happy to talk more about what this means in practice. I’ve also shared some commitments around my values here.
Whether we're working indoors, outdoors, or online my intention is always the same: to create a therapeutic space that feels safe, supportive and compassionately held.
The Counselling Relationship; trust and connection
Our relationship is a partnership and it’s important to me to create a safe, supported space where your thoughts and feelings are heard. Working with a new counsellor is a process of discovery and building trust takes time. We work at your pace, to make sure you’re always in the diving seat.
Thats not to say therapy is easy. It’s clichéd but true that growth happens outside of our comfort zones but it’s really important to explore discomfort at a pace that feels challenging but not too challenging. My focus on safety and trauma-informed care will support you to navigate what ever comes up. This sometimes means working with what’s happening in the present moment, rather than examining past traumas and reliving them. Working through unresolved issues from the past can absolutely be beneficial and lots of my clients choose to take this path, but what’s also often helpful is understanding your experience in the here and now. I believe the mind, body and nervous system all play an equal and incredibly important roll in the healing journey and learning to work with these aspects, which we can do together, can really support you to move forward.
Practical tools for safety: trauma informed, neuroscience and somatic based approaches
A key aspect of my approach is how we work with the body and nervous system, something I’m really passionate about.
Our bodies store our life experiences and often they hold the imprint of trauma, stress, and emotional pain. Exploring our somatic experience helps us tune into this body-based wisdom, and together, we can explore tools and practices that help you feel more grounded, connected and work towards feeling safety in your body.
I draw from a number of modalities including:
Somatic Trauma Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Neuroscience-informed approaches
Mindfulness and meditation (I’m a licensed meditation teacher)
These approaches can support us to learn how the nervous system works, how to regulate it and how to integrate practical tools into daily life. Whether you're seeking to process trauma, explore the present moment, or both, we’ll work collaboratively to tailor the process to your needs.
A space to be seen, heard and held (metaphorically)
Sometimes what we need most is simply a space where we can show up exactly as we are and be met with compassion and acceptance. For many people, working with a therapist is the first time they've had this kind of dedicated support. As a neurodivergent therapist who works with a significant number of neurodivergent clients, I know how powerful it can be to meet one another in an unmasked way. In our work together, whether you’re neurodivergent or not, there’s no pressure to perform or "fit in", you’re welcome to bring your full, authentic self into the therapeutic space.
In this space of being seen, heard and held, our work might involve:
Unpacking a specific issue or struggle
Exploring emotions and bodily sensations
Identifying patterns from the past that impact your present
Discussing existential questions and sources of meaning
Exploring the therapeutic relationship itself as a mirror for other relationships in your life
I’ll work with you to adjust the process in ways that support your safety and comfort. The simple act of being heard and accepted can be a beautiful first step along the path to healing. My approach to holding this space for you is always informed by what you might need. This is something we’ll explore together so we can make adjustments as needed.
Awareness, compassion and acceptance in counselling
Deepening our awareness can be transformative. As we peel back the layers of our experience, we uncover insights, patterns and parts of ourselves that have been hidden or silenced. My role is to support you in approaching yourself with curiosity and kindness rather than judgment.
I believe all healing and well being offerings must also be affirming and culturally aware. I am deeply committed to:
Anti-racist and race-affirming practice
LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy
Disability and neurodiversity affirming approaches
Fat-positive and body-liberatory work
Even with these commitments, I know it’s important to be transparent. If you hold marginalised identities, you may be understandably cautious about working with a counsellor who doesn’t share those identities. I offer a free 15-minute consultation so you can ask any questions and get a feel for whether I’m someone you could feel safe working with. You can contact me here.
How healing happens in Counselling
My integrative approach includes a blend of person-centred approaches, gestalt approaches, acceptance and commitment therapy and psychodynamic approaches. I am also a licensed mindfulness and meditation teacher and I hold a certificate in somatic trauma work. I blend these approaches with meditation and neuroscience based techniques to support you through the process of therapy. Each of these tools offers a unique lens that can help us to explore your experience.
Person-Centred: Placing your experiences and inner wisdom at the centre of our work.
Gestalt: Focusing on present-moment awareness and relational dynamics.
Psychodynamic: Exploring how past experiences shape your current emotional landscape.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Supporting you to live more aligned with your values.
Mindfulness and Somatic Practices: Helping you connect to your body and calm the nervous system.
Some clients also choose to explore spirituality or religion in their work with me. Again, I don’t exclusively work with people who wish to explore this aspect of their experience (people who don’t have any religious or spiritual beliefs are ver welcome too) but it is something I feel passionate about.
I believe that healing is a collaborative journey. It unfolds as we build trust, explore your experiences and embrace the process of self-discovery. In the same way a physical wound can heal with the right care and attention, our work together can allow for the mending of emotional and psychological wounds. It involves understanding, acceptance and the gradual integration of new awareness into your life. This isn’t a linear path; it's a series of steps, small victories and moments that can shape your journey towards a more fulfilling and balanced life. If all of this sounds like it might be a good fit for you and what you’re looking for, you can arrange to have a chat with me by contacting me here.
All of that sounds great but what does the actual process look like?
That’s a great question but it doesn’t really have one answer because every client is different. Some things that the process could involve include:
Exploring the past to identify patterns that impact on your experience in the present
Exploring what’s happening between us, with the perspective that the relationship between us is often a mirror for our other relationships
Exploring what’s happening in your body and nervous system and exploring strategies for regulation
Exploring a specific issue, struggle or problem and your feelings around it
Exploring more existential topics like spirituality or other ways of finding meaning in the world
Exploring nature and your connection to the natural world
I also specalise in working with neurodivergent clients, so you may wish to explore aspects of ADHD or Autism.
Issues I work with as a Counsellor in Birmingham and online
Issues I work with include depression, anxiety, stress, self esteem issues, trauma, life transitions, identity, grief and relationships. I also work with ADHD, Autism and other neurodiversity. I am also available to work with other struggles that aren’t listed. You can arrange a no obligation 15 minute chat with me by contacting me here.
