About Me
I have worked as a psychiatric social worker in a multi-disciplinary community mental health team in England and New Zealand. I have worked with both adults and adolescents providing mental health assessments and case management. I then trained as a mental health officer gaining further knowledge and understanding of psycho-pharmacological medicine and mental health. After completing this training, I took on the role of a practice teacher and supervisor.
I then trained and practiced as a counsellor in England for 3 years. I decided to work with adolescents and moved to New Zealand to work for Canterbury District Health Board placed in Youth Specialty Service.
Currently
I am working full time in private practice as a counsellor, this has been for approximately 14 years. I was an internal contractor with Relationships Aotearoa working with adults and children after the Christchurch Earthquakes for three years. My areas of interest are mental health, grief and loss, sexual abuse, developmental delay and couple counselling. I regularly receive referrals from local medical centers in the Brighton and the surrounding area. My specialist areas are Trauma, Post traumatic stress disorder and mental health. I work with young people and adults. I provide supervision to counsellors and social workers.
On a more personal note. I love gardening, arts and crafts, theatre, rock music, motor sport and travel.
Qualifications I hold:
--BA Hons Social policy Awarded by Lancaster University, England (1996)
--CQSW in Social Work Awarded by Lancaster University, England (1996)
--Advanced Diploma in Mental Health Social Work Awarded by Portsmouth University (1998)
--Approved Mental Health Social Work Qualification Awarded by CCETSW and Bournemouth Borough Council (1997)
--Advanced Certificate in Therapeutic Counselling (2000) Awarded by The Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body.
--Approved Social Worker practice supervisor (2000) Awarded by Dorset Social Services.
--Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (2003) Awarded by The Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body.
Psychotherapy training in Transactional Analysis [ 2008] awarded by New Zealand Transactional Analysis Training Institute. 462 hours of Training to date.