Confidential * Professional * Friendly
Counselling for you

For the past 20+ years I have dedicated my life to working with individuals and groups both in Northern Ireland and abroad, promoting postive health and wellbeing. My therapeutic approach is person-centred, using mindfulness and gestalt therapy methods to help you:

1. To develop your awareness of reality here and now - that is, noticing the difference between how you are thinking, feeling and behaving right now, and learning how greater focuss can improve your ability to experience and enjoy life as it is;
2. To creatively experiment with new ways of thinking, feeling and behaving, to uncover your unconscious assumptions about yourself, about other people and about the way life should be, then test out whether those assumptions serve you or hold you back;
3. To get good at relating to the world and other people - that is by learning to be more honest and confident in your choices and being yourself.

I work with men and women who are over 18. And I warmly welcome people of differing ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, relationship style and status, and cultural and/or religious background.

It's only natural that you will feel a range of emotions during counselling, but you will never be forced to go any further than you want to. You are always in control and I am there to support you every step of the way.

You may sometimes feel embarrassment, anger, fear or sadness BUT you will probably also to feel moments of calmness, clarity and relief.

Expect some laughter, too!

Most people start off with sessions once a week or every two weeks. This is purely down to individual choice and circumstances.

It's very difficult to predict how many sessions you will need to resolve the issue(s) you bring to therapy. My advice is usually to try four to begin with and then we can discuss and assess how helpful you're finding the process. You could come for a one off session or you could continue every other week for a year. It's entirely up to you.

I am always happy to discuss this with you at any stage. The decision to continue or end therapy always lies with you. If I see that you seem to be managing quite well, I may suggest extending the time between sessions or that you consider ending our theraputic relationship. But if you tell me that you are enjoying it and still feel you have something to gain from continuing that's okay too.

Feeling shy and nervous is quite common and I am very used to (and skilled at) working with people who are afraid of talking, who have social anxiety, or who are afraid of being judged in a harsh way. Let me assure you that I am not at all judgemental and I am very understanding and easy to talk to.  I can have comfortable conversations with even the shyest of people and I can teach you how to manage your anxiety while improving your communication skills in a non-judgemental and relaxed environment.

Yes! Once you make contact using the form below, we will arrange your free no-obligation chat on the phone or online so you can tell me a bit about your situation, ask me any questions you have, and learn about how my approach may be able to help, before you make up your mind.

Just about everyone can benefit from counselling, and everyone experiences the challenges of life differently. What one person might find easy enough to cope with, another person might find extremely difficult to handle on their own.

Therapy can help you get on better with others, improve troubled relationships, help you make an important decision or navigate a major life-change. You can also use therapy to explore specific personal issues (including simple general unhappiness) that are getting in the way of you experiencing real joy, satisfaction and contentment.

​

Therapy is an opportunity for you to gain new skills and grow as an individual. There is absolutely no need to compare yourself to others or justify whether you deserve some time to invest in personal development work.

I fully understand your need for confidentiality and can assure you that your need for privacy will always be respected. I will talk to you about confidentiality during your free 25 minute consultation session so if you have any concerns please let me know.

If you are on a low income or are concerned about meeting the cost of counselling please contact me to discuss your situation.

Sadly there is still stigma around mental health. But the reality is many of us have experienced depression, stress and anxiety or faced a difficult situation at some point in our life - including me!

Everyone could do with some help now to honestly look at the issues that keep us in a rut, unhappy or unfulfilled in our lives. Seeking therapy is a brave and positive step torwards improving your relationships, managing your emotions, and creating the life you want.

Have a read through my Testimonials section to hear what some of my clients have to say about their experience.

Not at all. Many people come to me with just a feeling that things are not quite right or because they feel generaly unhappy, anxious or unfulfilled for no obvious reason. The process of having someone to talk to and bounce ideas off, and to test things out for yourself, will help you to uncover and expose the underlying issues that are keeping you from experiencing happiness and contentment with your life.

I'm afraid I cannot offer evening or weekend appointments at this time.