My Training
Training & Professional Background
I am a qualified counsellor and psychotherapist with an MSc in Counselling and Psychotherapy, offering LGBTQIA+ affirming counselling in Folkestone, Kent, and online across the UK. My training was grounded in an integrative and relational approach, informed by Clarkson’s Five Relationship Model. This framework recognises that therapy is not simply about techniques, but about the different relational dynamics that develop between client and therapist — including the working relationship, reparative experiences, person-to-person connection, and the deeper patterns that can shape how we relate to ourselves and others.
This relational foundation continues to guide my work as a counsellor in Folkestone. I aim to offer therapy that is thoughtful, steady and responsive, recognising that meaningful change often emerges within a safe and consistent therapeutic relationship.
Clinical Experience
I have experience supporting people experiencing anxiety, depression and emotional distress, as well as those living with more complex and enduring mental health presentations. This includes working with individuals with diagnoses such as Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), Bipolar Disorder, Complex PTSD (C-PTSD), personality disorders, and those with a history of psychosis.
My approach to more complex presentations is grounded and carefully paced. I understand the importance of emotional regulation, stability, and collaborative working where appropriate. Whether you are seeking counselling in Folkestone for ongoing support or engaging in longer-term psychotherapy, therapy can be a space to understand patterns, manage emotional intensity, and develop a more compassionate relationship with yourself.
Alongside private practice, I have provided confidential and affirmative counselling and psychotherapy within charity settings, for NHS staff, and in roles connected to higher education and NHS services. These experiences have strengthened my understanding of risk, crisis, systemic pressures and the broader contexts that influence mental health.
I offer sessions in-person in Folkestone (CT20), as well as via secure video call or telephone for those who prefer online counselling in Kent or elsewhere in the UK.
Continued Professional Development
I see professional development as ongoing and essential to safe, ethical practice. In addition to my MSc training, I have undertaken CPD in:
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) skills, particularly emotional regulation and distress tolerance
Internal Family Systems (IFS) informed approaches
Trauma-informed therapy
Working with transgender and gender-diverse clients
Working with personality disorders
Neurodivergent-affirming practice
Ethical and effective online therapy
While I don’t follow DBT or IFS as a strict manual, I draw on these approaches in my work to better understand intense emotions, the different parts of ourselves, and practical ways to help you feel more grounded and aware in your day-to-day life.
LGBTQIA+ Centred Practice & Lived Experience
As a member of the queer community, I consider my practice to be LGBTQIA+ centred. I offer LGBTQ+ affirming therapy in Folkestone and online, supporting clients with gender identity exploration, coming out, internalised homophobia, queer relationships, and the impact of minority stress.
My understanding of these experiences is both professional and personal. I also live with an autoimmune condition, which informs my awareness of how health and identity can intersect with emotional wellbeing. This shapes my commitment to providing counselling that is flexible, respectful and responsive to individual needs.
I believe that our sexuality, gender identity, race, social class, health and other social identities are interwoven with our emotional wellbeing. Therapy should acknowledge these intersections rather than treat distress as isolated from context.
Professional Commitment
I am a registered member of the BACP and work in accordance with their ethical framework. I engage in regular clinical supervision to ensure my work remains safe, reflective and accountable.
Whether you are looking for LGBTQIA+ affirming counselling in Folkestone, longer-term psychotherapy in Kent, or online therapy across the UK, my aim is to offer a steady and collaborative space where your experiences are met with care, curiosity and respect.
