Professional
Experience
- Over a decade of experience working in Homelessness in Oxfordshire – currently with a focus on recovery from addiciton
- Cruse Bereavement Care: working with loss and bereavement and chair of client services and training
- Counselling in Oxford with agencies such as Hope and The Listening Centre
education
- Diploma, Person Centred Counselling (CPCAB) in Swindon
- Certificate in Counselling Studies (psychodynamic and person centred integrative) in Reading (CPCAB)
- Over a decade of regular CPD related to working with mental health, addiction, offending and homelessness
- Online and Telephone Counselling Training (Counselling Tutor – ACTO Certified)
Memberships
- British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (the largest accredited body. Any counsellor who is a member is demonstrating ethical practice and competence)
- Person Centred Association
Personal
My Story
- I grew up in a quiet little village in Oxfordshire. I had a family member growing up who struggles with their mental health, and saw early on that listening has the power to heal.
- At uni, I studied Anthropology, which helped me see the uniqueness of each person.
- After doing a year’s course in theology I became a live-in support worker for a homeless housing charity and continue to work in that sector.
- I began training in counselling and working with bereavement, after seeing the benefit of relational ways of working.
- After finishing my training, I began working in a Person Centred way as a counsellor – seeing the transformation that comes from offering a space to be heard.
Personal Interests
- As a counsellor I am interested in relational depth (moments of profound connection and being authentic). I enjoy Encounter Groups which give room to be real within a large group.
- Personally, I am a bit of a geek and very much enjoy board games, tabletop role playing games (such as DnD), and have made some good friends at conventions where people dress up and get to be like their favourite characters for a weekend.
- Oxford has some beautiful walks – especially by the calm waters of the river.
- I enjoy partner dancing with my wife – responding to the beats of the music and my partner.
- I enjoy holidaying by making crafts such as pottery and wood burning
