About me
I qualified as a Counsellor in 2012, if someone had told my 19yr old self that would be happen, she would have laughed, honestly I doubt I would have even heard of counselling then, but boy would it have helped me. I was a single mum, in a council house on benefits and very unhappy and behaving in a way that only with the knowledge I have now was a clear manifestation of distress, but nobody saw that, let alone me. Somehow I managed to make changes and found myself moving, getting married, having another child and securing a place at Dundee University.
Alongside my studies I started volunteering, and with a group of other women, founded East Fife Women's Aid in 1996. I became the first paid support worker there. I really felt then that I had found my place and purpose. I moved to working in another organisation supporting survivors of childhood sexual abuse and studied a post graduate certificate in Drugs & Alcohol.
In 2007 I started working at Fife Rape & Sexual Assault Centre, qualified as a Counsellor in 2012, a Supervisor in 2018 and left my job in 2022 to start my own therapy practice.
I feel very privileged and grateful to be able to do this work and still find it a surprise some days how far I too have come, I still after all these years have times when my own trauma shows up, but I know what to do with it now and it's part of what pushes me to hold hope that things can change for those who struggle to believe it for themselves.
I work in an Integrative way
My training was a combination of Person Centred and Psychodynamic. I've done many short courses, most relating to Trauma and Attachment, but I really feel that whilst they underpin my work, values and ethos, much of how I work has come from learning from my clients.
As a support worker I met and supported people at home, in homeless accommodation, in refuges, in psychiatric wards and I believe they taught me humility, compassion, the importance of being authentic, open and honest. I am who I am, I sometimes work in bare feet, I don't always filter my language, yep I might swear, I know personally what it feels like to be judged, to be patronised, for someone to assume they know things about me.
I do my very best to create a space where my clients feel seen and really heard, I don't always get it right and I am not afraid to acknowledge that and apologise. I really believe we all have the potential to discover new things about ourselves and let go of old beliefs and ways of being, my 19yr old self could not have in her wildest dreams believed she would be doing this and I am lucky to be able to support others to maybe surprise themselves too.
Get in touch
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how counselling works, or to arrange an initial assessment appointment. This enables us to discuss the reasons you are thinking of coming to counselling, whether it could be helpful for you, and whether I am the right therapist to help.
You can also call me on 07949396451 if you would prefer to leave a message or speak to me first. I am happy to discuss any queries or questions you may have prior to arranging an initial appointment.
All enquires are usually answered within 24 hours, and all contact is strictly confidential.
Please note: If you decide to send an enquiry and have a Gmail account, please add a phone number if you can, often replies are sent to Junk and I try to send a text just to confirm I have replied, or please check your Junk.