Niki
My love of working with people has enabled me to support others in their journeys of learning and personal development.
I fell into teaching after gaining a range of experience within different sectors of care including mental health, learning disability, physical disability and older people. I worked in Further education as a lecturer and department head for 10 years.
Counselling training started after experiencing my own difficulties with anxiety resulting from work-related stress and it changed my life. The process of my own personal therapy and training helped me to identify patterns I had created in my life. Having this awareness enabled me to start to make the changes I wanted.
Working as a therapist for 11 years, I learn something from each person I work with. I feel a great privilege to be welcomed into a client’s life and share in their journey of change.
Cooking, yoga, a good dose of comedy and growing our own veggies and fruit keeps me sane!
Qualifications
- Level 1 & 2 Safeguarding Children & Young People
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Diploma
- Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy
- Post Graduate Certificate in Education (FE)
- BSc (Hons) Psychology
- Executive Function Skills Coaching
Dom
After more than 20 years in the flooring and service industry, I retrained as a counsellor in 2007. A long-held desire to work with and support people on a more personal level. Working with individuals on a daily basis allowed me to develop my ability to form relationships and understand the different perspectives of the people I worked with. This soon became the most enjoyable part of my work.
Having spent many hours in the homes of clients whilst fitting carpets, I often listened to the life story of clients that were isolated or lonely. This really helped me to see the benefit of just listening empathically. It set me on a course to retrain as a counsellor.
The training for me was a life-changing experience. Learning the theories on how we think and feel about the world and ourselves made a lot of sense to me. Applying those theories to myself and my world allowed me to change the way I saw myself and my situation. For me, reinforcing the beneficial effects of counselling on a personal level.
Qualifications
- Certificate in PTSD
- Adv Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy
- Intermediate Cert in Counselling and Psychotherapy
- Introductory Cert in Counselling and Psychotherapy
Our Approach and Key Aims
We use an Integrative style utilizing Person-Centred, Psychodynamic, CBT and TA approaches. This allows us to offer a deeper understanding of the influences on human experience and development, how this can affect the whole being of a person and how this, in turn, can influence responses to the World.
We believe in:
Building a trusting and supportive relationship which is based on a mutual respect
Ensuring a safe and confidential space in which you can explore issues without judgement
Equipping you with the skills and abilities to enable you to continue your journey of self-healing outside sessions
Regular reviews with you to ensure your needs are being met within the therapeutic relationship
Your therapy session is your space and we like to see our role as someone who is there to listen. We support and encourage as well by asking questions that can help you to really focus on your needs and wants. At times therapy can feel challenging and a little uncomfortable. This is a normal part of the process which your therapist will support you through. We cannot “fix” your problems but are there to help guide you in finding the solutions that invariably lie within yourself.
Counselling Approaches
There are various counselling approaches each with its own merit and focus. To see an explanation of the main approaches we use please see the “A bit about counselling” page.
You must be logged in to post a comment.