Together with the client

Presented Conditions

Anxiety and Depression 

I work closely with individuals and couples, learning to understand anxiety and depression from their prospective, how they feel, what they believe, and how they see themselves in the world around them.

These two conditions are most common in our society, yet they are often misunderstood, with a person sometimes feeling out of control of their emotions, and behaviours. Both conditions can develop through receiving combinations of a biological DNA (through family), and / or through human environmental pressure, or trauma. 

Anxiety and depression are often talked about together. The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 2013) references the following data: "Close to 50% of individuals diagnosed with an Anxiety Disorder also meet the criteria for a Depressive Disorder" (Batelaan, De Graaaf, Van Balkom, Vollebergh, & Beekman, 2012). 

The following description of Anxiety maybe helpful where clarity is concerned:

"Anxiety is defined as “a state of intense apprehension,
uncertainty, and fear resulting from the anticipation of a
threatening event or situation, often to a degree that
normal physical and psychological functioning is

disrupted” (American Heritage Medical, 2007, p. 38). 


The Royal College of Psychiatrists list the following presentations associated with depression:
*Persistent sadness or low mood
*Not being able to enjoy things
*Losing interest in life
*Finding it harder to make decisions
*Not coping with things that used to be easy
*Feeling exhausted
*Feeling restless and agitated;
*Loss of appetite and weight
*Difficulties getting to sleep
*Loss of sex drive
*Thoughts of self-harm or suicide.

The Health and Safety Executive ( statistics) reports "526,000 workers suffered from work-related stress, depression or anxiety (new or long-standing) during 2016/17".

Personality disorders

I specialise in working with clients suffering from personality disorders using DBT dialectical behaviour therapy applications in conjunction with TFP transference focused psychotherapy. This integration of therapy allows for a co-created relationship in the therapy room between myself as therapist, and client/s, offering a greater understanding of self and the dialectic that exists in the world round us. DBT and TFP offers an opportunity to bring a person more into their own reality, and to live with more choice of how they wish to be in society, how they wish to experience relationships, and how to move into a position of self empowerment.

Having had personal experience of the criteria of borderline personality disorder, I feel I have gained insight into "disorder" and depression, therefore I feel well placed to treat clients suffering with combinations of unsettlement in their lives.

There are three main DSM-V categories for personality disorders, they are grouped in "Clusters"

A: Odd and eccentric disorders

Paranoid, Schizoid, Schizotypal.

B: Dramatic, emotional and erratic disorders

Antisocial, Borderline, Histrionic, Narcissistic.

C: Anxious and fearful disorders

Avoidant, Dependent, Obsessive Compulsive.

Rape, Trauma and Domestic violence

I work with patients who are victims of severe traumatising events. Often these experiences leave a post traumatic disturbance on the the individual, family or group. Those affected frequently have a feeling-memory of the event, that can invade their life on a daily basis. Using Integrated Psycotherapy and Counselling, I am able to work with people sensitively, in order to help them begin working through their critical experience, and start to build a stronger sense of self.

Sex and Relationships

I work sensitively and informally with individuals and couples with issues around sex. Exploring the background to problems being faced, what is currently being experienced, and what ideally would be a goal to work towards. Sex is often core in a relationship, and can all to easily become problematic by virtue of not communicating effectively and revealing feelings, needs, fantasies, affection and closeness.
Working step by step with difficulties surrounding sex, can lead to a more liberated confident relationship, with both self and partner.
I promote open and frank descriptions surrounding this subject, in order to begin to find the voice that needs to be heard, accepted, and appreciated. 


Increasingly, more teenagers and adults are requiring assistance with gender issues. This subject is often surrounded with confusion and fear, leaving an individual feeling alone and misunderstood. I assist individuals with the dilemmas of who they are, integration into society, and how they wish to live their lives. I understand the process of transition to the chosen gender, and through to sex reassignment surgery, if that is the chosen route.

The NHS explain gender dysphoria:

"The exact cause of gender dysphoria is unclear. It was traditionally thought to be a psychiatric condition, with its causes believed to originate in the mind. However, more recent research suggests the condition may actually be the result of the abnormal development of a baby while it is in the womb, possibly as a result of genetic or hormonal factors, which causes the brain to develop a gender identity that is different to the baby's sexual organs"

Learn more about this subject


After 15 years as a health care professional I have learnt the importance of sharing issues, and moving forward in the workplace. I have worked within many staff groups and seen the impact of supportive and progressive supervision for staff, leading to a strong staff team and positive work ethic. I have also witnessed no supervision in the workplace, causing a divided work team, lack of trust in management and reduced productivity.

How I work

My model of working: Working relationally I Integrate Transference Focused Psychotherapy (TFP), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) applications, CBT and Metalisation techniques. 
I work informally and practically with clients within Rosemead Surgery in Maidenhead, and both in the clients home and in the community. I use a combination of therapeutic models for Counselling and Psychotherapy, together they are traditionally known as Integrative Psychotherapy.

From the traditional theorists I work with Psychodynamic theory, Existential philosophies, Humanistic Person Centered theory and Transpersonal philosophies.
I have a particular interest in Psychodynamic theory, the work of John Bowlby and his concepts surrounding attachment theory and secure base, this forms my foundational model of working with clients. 

If appropriate to the client, spiritual perspectives of Buddhism and Transpersonal theory can also be worked with. Practical exercises of meditation, visualisation, and working with the concept of mindfulness can be explored.
The mind and body are often thought of as joined, with this view, the concept of self-healing can be worked with and explored from a holistic perspective.

With these models of theory we can explore what is being shown in the present moment, how we relate to the world around us, how we relate to ourselves, and our acceptance of self.
We can study what happens to us repetitively, our associations and trigger points, and our early years growing to adulthood.

Goal setting and cognitive approaches are techniques that can be introduced into therapy, if appropriate to the individual.
These practical and theoretical methods are tailored to each individual client; we have all grown in many different ways, and with the integration of theory and practice we are able to begin the search for meaning and settlement in our lives.

I offer my services to business and healthcare professionals, applying therapy models of learning in order to assist a staff team to grow and bring strength to them selves and their workplace.