Email: dragonflycounselling2024@gmail.com Phone/Message: 07564693803
Meet Your Qualified Counsellor
About Me
I am a qualified psychodynamic counsellor who is available to work with both children and adults. I have a practice based in Tyldesley which has counselling space for adults and a counselling/therapeutic play room for children.
For further information on my therapeutic work with children, please click below.
Previous Experience and Understanding of Special Needs
For the 25 years before becoming a therapist, I worked in Education as both a Class Teacher and as a Deputy Head Teacher in Primary and Special Needs Schools. Despite my love for this role, I felt that the time was right for me to take a new direction in my life, and to utilise my knowledge, skills and personality; in becoming a counsellor.
I worked mainly in the Special Needs sector and this has given me a really good understanding of the difference and uniqueness of everyone. It has helped me to learn to accept people for who they are and the strengths that they have. I have vast experience of working with people who are neurodiverse including those on the Autism Spectrum and those with ADHD. Due to this experience and knowledge, it has helped immensely in my work with young people who have ASC or ADHD in my therapy work. Particularly supporting those who are finding the mainstream school environment challenging.
My background gives me a good insight into the many challenges that those with neurodiversity and additional needs can face, including sensory aspects; communication difficulties; ARFID; social challenges; anxieties; prejudice and behaviour challenges, and ways that can support these aspects. I have learned how to adapt my knowledge and skills to help support my therapeutic work with both children and adults.
I work with a number of young people and teenagers who are currently finding school challenging; are being home schooled; working on a reduced timetable and trying to re-integrate back into school or those who are struggling with Emotionally Based School Avoidance. (EBSA).
I also have the privilege of working with adults, in counselling, who are diagnosed with ADHD or ASC later on in life and supporting them to navigate this new way of understanding who they are. Through drawing on my years of working in the SEN sector and understanding different ways of thinking and being, gives me a unique outlook on life and a strong ability to accept everyone for who they are, and the context that they are in.
SUPPORTING FAMILIES OF THOSE WITH SEND
I have spent many years supporting families of children with SEND of all types, helping them to navigate the different systems that they find themselves in. Supporting families to understand and nurture the wonderful and unique aspects of their young children, whilst also giving that space to grieve and process the situation that has become their lives. I understand the joy that having a child with SEND can bring, but also the other aspects such as the grief; the battling with the system; the isolation that can come from having a child that is ‘different’. I can now continue this support, but in a more therapeutic way in my counselling space.
For more information and resources linked to SEND please click below.
Working with Youngsters and School Issues
I work with a number of young people and teenagers who are currently finding school challenging; are being home schooled; working on a reduced timetable and trying to re-integrate back into school or those who are struggling with Emotionally Based School Avoidance. (EBSA).
Schools can be fantastic places for some children, but for others their experiences can be challenging, anxiety provoking and in some cases, lead to mental health challenges.
Many, but not all, of the young people I have worked with in this area have ADHD or Autism. Therefore, our work will be tailored to ensure that it takes all of this into account.
For many children and young people, our work together will help to build confidence and self esteem. It will help to work on negative inner criticism and work towards stratgies to be more positive with self-regard. All of this can have a positive impact on accessing school and education.
For more information and resources linked to School Challenges and EBSA, please click below.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Support
My 25 years in schools has also required me to work very closely with adults in a coaching, mentoring and supportive role. Consequently, I have been able to transfer these skills into my therapy practice in order to support others. My ethos as a senior leader was always to support the mental health and wellbeing of all the school community and to provide a listening ear for anyone who required. My philosophy has always been that we need to take care of people in our workplaces, ensure their health and wellbeing in all capacities, so that they can be the best versions of themselves, in order to be able to support others effectively. Consequently, I retrained in order to gain the skills and knowledge required to become a professional counsellor in order to help widen the reach of this, outside my own school environment.
I have knowledge and experience within a wide range of mental health challenges that any of us can face throughout our lives. I understand the challenge of anxiety and how it can be crippling and detrimental to everyday life.
Stress is something that we can all experience, and at times, small amounts of stress can be beneficial to us (honest!). However, when the stress prevents you from being able to sleep; concentrate; function, then counselling can support you.
Loss and grief manifest in so many ways across our lives. We lose loved ones, family and friends through both seperation and death. We lose the unconditional and loyal love that is provided by our pets. We lose our jobs or we retire, which means navigating a whole new change and transition. We can lose our identity, our purpose and our sense of self. These are losses that I understand and can help you to navigate too.
I understand the darkness and loneliness of depression and how overwhelming it can be. The struggle and fight to move out of that situation is hard. The strength needed can be phenomenal, but you have it in you and I can help you to find it.
More information and resources about mental health and wellbeing can be found by clicking the link below.
Trauma Informed Counselling
As with so many other therapists, I have my own ‘lived experience’ and like everyone who has gone through trauma or challenges in life, my own experiences are unique. However, going through my own trauma helps me to understand what it is like to feel completely overwhelmed in life; to reach the darkest points of depression. To have to keep going with life, wearing the masks to the outside world, whilst inside you are struggling to hold life together. I get it. I can help you to work through these challenges too.
As well as my own years of experience, including my own counselling and therapy journey, I have also undertaken specific trauma based training in order to fully understand how we can help to process and reduce the effects of trauma.
I have a solid understanding of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the impact that these can continue to have on us, long into adulthood. Depression; anxiety; addiction; suicide thoughts and intention; self harm; shut down emotionally; hyper vigilant; unregulated nervous system; Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD). I can help you to understand and work through these challenges too in a therapeutic way. At your pace, when you are ready.
More information and resources regarding Trauma can be found by clicking below.
I understand how difficult it can be to reach out for support, and to accept it. It can take time. Talking can be difficult, but that’s ok, we can find other, creative ways, to help you say what you need to. Trust has to be built. Your story is yours, but I am ready to hear it and sit with you whilst you work through it. Therapy can be so empowering.
My Qualifications
Level 4 Diploma In Counselling Studies
Level 3 Diploma in Therapeutic Play
Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies
Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Studies
Diploma in Counselling Children and Young People (SPA)
Post Qualifying Diploma in Counselling Children and Young People. (ETA)
QLS Level 6 Certificate in Counselling and Psychotherapy
Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Children and Young People's Mental Health.
Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Mental Health First Aid and Mental Health Advocacy in the Workplace.
Level 2 Certificate in Awareness of Mental Health Problems.
Certificate in Trauma Informed Practice.
I also undertake regular professional development to enhance my skills and knowledge.
I have extensive qualifications related to my career in education and SEND that will also support my work with children and families.
Membership and Accreditation
