OVER 20 YEARS IN MENTAL HEALTH
My career in mental health spans more than two decades, working across a wide range of clinical, residential and community settings in both the UK and South Africa. My experience includes psychiatric hospitals, specialist eating disorder services, residential addiction treatment, the criminal justice system, supported living services and multidisciplinary teams.
Working across these different environments has given me extensive experience supporting people with complex trauma, eating disorders, addiction and significant psychological distress. It has also shaped my understanding of the barriers people can encounter when accessing mental health services, particularly neurodivergent individuals whose needs, communication styles and ways of experiencing the world may not always be recognised or accommodated within traditional approaches.
I began training in 2005 and qualified as a psychotherapist in 2007. Since then, I have continued to develop my specialist clinical practice, gaining professional accreditations and becoming an EMDR Europe Accredited Consultant Supervisor. Alongside my clinical work, I provide supervision, specialist consultation and training to other therapists, multidisciplinary teams and organisations. I also cofacilatate the delivery of EMDR Group Traumatic Episode Protocol (GTEP) training, contributing to the development of clinicians' knowledge and skills in delivering group EMDR interventions.
I continue to work directly with clients alongside my supervision, training and consultancy. This is important to me because clinical practice is rarely as straightforward as a textbook, diagnostic framework or treatment protocol might suggest. Maintaining an active clinical practice keeps me connected to the realities of delivering therapy, the complexity of individual experiences and the importance of adapting our approaches when something is not working.
I remain committed to my own professional development, regardless of how many years I have been practising. I am currently preparing my application for BACP Senior Accreditation and have secured a place to begin postgraduate study in autism. Continuing to learn, question established thinking and develop my clinical understanding remains an important part of how I work, both as a psychotherapist and as a supervisor, trainer and consultant.
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
AREAS OF SPECIALISM
Clinical Experience
My clinical work spans complex trauma, EMDR, neurodivergence, eating disorders, addiction and coexisting mental health difficulties. These areas frequently intersect, and much of my work involves helping professionals understand that complexity, question established assumptions and adapt their approaches to individual needs.
EMDR & Complex Trauma
Autism & ADHD
Eating Disorders & Addiction
As an EMDR Europe Accredited Consultant Supervisor, I provide specialist supervision and consultation for therapists working with PTSD, complex trauma, dissociation and complex clinical presentations. My approach recognises the importance of flexibility, individual differences and adapting established therapeutic models.
Extensive clinical and lived experience of autism, ADHD and sensory processing differences. I support professionals and organisations to develop neuroaffirming, accessible approaches, with particular attention to the intersections between neurodivergence, trauma, mental health and the impact of environments and systems
Over two decades of experience working with eating disorders, addiction and coexisting mental health difficulties across specialist services and independent practice. I bring an understanding of complex presentations, including the relationships between trauma, neurodivergence, eating difficulties and substance use.