I have always had a passion for helping others. This passion initially started within my career as a youth worker. I worked as a youth worker for 15 years in different areas, including working with teenage parents, travellers, those not in employment and those unsure of their gender identity. It was in this time that I developed my knowledge and passion for mental health awareness and well being. Through this passion I felt that there was a gap in mental health support and therefore underwent the required training to become a qualified counsellor.
Now as a qualified Counsellor I feel that there are many times in our lives where we can feel overwhelmed and distressed; I am here to say that it truly is OK to not be OK. And when things really do get too much, having someone that can truly listen to you, can benefit in so many ways. Through my work I have worked with a range of different mental health needs such as; Depression and Anxiety, Self-Harm and Suicide, Mood Disorders, Anger Management, Self-Esteem and Self-Confidence as well as Stress to name a few.
I am particularly passionate about supporting those whom identify within LGBTQ+ having had over 10 years of professional experience within this field. This work has included working with people around their sexuality and gender identity as well as working with family members/friends of those who identify within LGBTQ+.
My passion for helping others has developed even more recently in the fact that I am a lecturer at Basingstoke College, where I have taught a range of BACP Counselling courses. For me, this encourages others with a desire to help, to be able to learn the relevant skills and theories which will enable them to reach their full potential.