What Working With Me Is Like

I work integratively, which means I draw on different therapeutic approaches rather than expecting one way of working to suit everyone. At the heart of this is a person-centred foundation. I begin with you: what matters to you, what you want to explore, and the pace that feels right. My aim is to offer a warm, accepting and non-judgemental relationship where you can speak openly, feel genuinely heard, and make sense of your experiences in your own way.

From that foundation, I can bring in other ways of working when they may be useful. This can include ideas and techniques from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), psychodynamic approaches and Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT), as well as elements of Transactional Analysis, hypnotherapy, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), coaching and mentoring. I use these selectively and collaboratively, according to what you find helpful and what you want from therapy.

You do not need to have a label for what you are experiencing, and you do not need to be in crisis to come to therapy. Our work might focus on making sense of difficult thoughts or feelings, understanding patterns, building resilience and self-awareness, navigating change, or thinking about how you want the next phase of your life to look. Whatever brings you to counselling, my aim is to meet you where you are, with compassion, curiosity and respect.

Membership

Professional memberships provide an important additional layer of reassurance. They show that my work is connected to recognised professional communities and, in the case of my counselling memberships, to established expectations around ethical practice, professional standards and continuing development.

My memberships reflect the different strands of my professional work. I am a Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and an Accredited Registrant of the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS). I am also a Chartered Psychologist and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (BPS), within the Division of Academics, Teachers and Researchers in Psychology, and a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (PFHEA), recognising my work and leadership in higher education.

Qualifications and Experience

I am a counsellor in private practice. Previously, I have also worked as a counsellor within Bangor University Counselling Service and with the Rape and Sexual Abuse Agency (RASA).

Alongside my therapeutic work, I am Professor of Psychology at Bangor University. I am the Course Director leading the MSc in Counselling at Bangor University. I have spent many years teaching, supervising, and supporting counselling trainees through their academic and professional development, including postgraduate research and professional placement provision. You can click here to find out more about the MSc in Counselling programme.

I am also a published author of Core Approaches in Counselling and Psychotherapy, a textbook exploring the major therapeutic approaches and a range of commonly used therapies.

My wider professional background is broad and multidisciplinary, spanning psychology, psychological research, education, law and criminology, therapeutic practice, coaching and mentoring. Alongside my academic qualifications, I have undertaken specialist professional training in areas including Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT), Transactional Analysis, hypnotherapy, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), executive coaching and mentoring, DBT skills, suicide prevention, and compassionate communication.

My academic and professional work keeps me closely connected to current research and professional standards in counselling and psychotherapy. I have served as an External Examiner and External Academic Assessor for counselling programmes across the UK (including Keele, Worcester, Middlesex). I have published in psychology and counselling journals and I regularly present my work at conferences. This research background supports an evidence-informed approach to my therapeutic work, combining critical engagement with research and a strong focus on the individual needs of each client.

Practical Details