I graduated from Bangor University in 2022 with a Masters of Science in Counselling with a high First in Counselling Skills. Before this I was a Music Therapist for 14 years as part of the Clinical Psychology team at the Child Development Centre, Bangor, at the hospice Ty Gobaith, and worked for Gwynedd Council in many primary and secondary schools with disabilities and neurodiversity of all kinds. 

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During my MSc in Counselling I worked at the NHS Primary Care Mental Health Counselling Service and the North Wales Women's Centre (NWWC) in Rhyl, where I still work. I trained with CRUSE in bereavement and grief counselling. 

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As an integrative counsellor, I use elements of different approaches. I want to continually develop my knowledge and expertise to ensure I have the latest information on what works. This is some of what I have been doing:

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In 2021 I explored the causes of depression. One effective intervention is dancing, as shown in my MSc presentation video 'Dancing your way out of Depression: Interventions for Adult Depression'. Tango, for example, can improve depression by up to 35% because you have to be in the present in order to improvise and connect with another person - and not perhaps ruminating on the past.

In 2022, I explored understanding your past in terms of loss of safety, self-worth or significance. Negative experiences may cause harmful messages to yourself. I also attended a CAT course (Cognitive Analytical Therapy) that focused on relationship patterns. It is based on the idea that our early life experiences influence the way we relate to other people and how we treat ourselves.

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In 2023-24 I focused on ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) because I have seen that it is not enough to understand your issues - you also need skills to process differently today. The World Health Organisation now recommends ACT for trauma, stress and anxiety and ACT can improve these by up to 86%. I have seen this improvement many times in my clients. The NHS board in N Wales uses ACT with addictions as it is so effective. If you want to read more you could look up this article in Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/therapy-types/acceptance-and-commitment-therapy.

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If you have any more questions about the way I work, please do get in touch. As always, I stress that these sessions are yours and you are free to discuss whatever you need to.