I have a long-standing interest and specialism in working with bereavement. I initially volunteered with Cruse Bereavement Care supporting bereaved adults in 2005 – this was one of my training placements, when I was accruing the clinical hours I needed in order to qualify as a counsellor. I then continued with them – in total for seven years. I completed Cruse training to work with bereaved children and young people, and spent two years working with bereaved young people. I completed supervision training with Cruse, and for two years supervised groups of Cruse Bereavement Volunteers.

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My interest and specialism in bereavement continues. I was a supervisor with St.Wilfrid’s Hospice for six years.  I supervised groups of bereavement volunteers – qualified and trainee counsellors who support the bereaved family members of patients who have died at the hospice. I have also counselled bereaved parents and family members through the charity You Raise Me UP, which offers support and counselling to families who have lost children between the ages of 16 and 25.

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I enjoy supervision – facilitating counsellors as they explore their client work, ensuring they are working ethically and professionally, and helping them in their own personal and professional development. I also work as a supervisor in my private practice, currently supervising both trainee and qualified counsellors.

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I spent four years teaching counselling theory and skills to adults on interpersonal and counselling skills courses at Sussex Downs College. Completion of these courses is often a requirement for those going on to counselling training courses. This work combined my interests in counselling and teaching/training - I am a qualified teacher, with a PGCE, and have worked in various primary schools in East Sussex, as a classroom teacher teaching 7 – 11 yr olds, and also in a senior management role as the Upper School Co-ordinator of a Junior school. I spent three years working as an Advisory Teacher for East Sussex County Council, providing training for teachers across the county.

 

I also spent a year working as a Specialist Mentor for HE students on degree courses who were experiencing mental health issues, supporting them to be able to continue with their courses.

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My background in teaching is helpful in that I know and understand the educational environment, so am aware of school procedures and protocols around areas such as safeguarding. I find this helpful when working with my own clients and in my supervision work; I supervise school counsellors privately and provide supervision services for Spurgeons (previously Fegans) – a charity who provide counselling support in schools. I have also supervised counsellors working with bereaved children and young people through the children and young people’s project, The Seahorse Project, at St.Wilfrid’s Hospice.

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I have also provided counselling services for companies and organisations seeking support for their employees.

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I am a Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, which means that I’m trained and qualified to a required standard, and abide by their code of ethics and framework for good practice (www.bacp.co.uk/ethical_framework)

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