My "counselling" career began back in 1985, when I qualified in social work, with a CQSW (Edinburgh University). I have worked with shock and trauma, abuse issues, bereavement, mental health, stress management, addictions - in a women's refuge, a family centre and two alternative schools.
For 11 years I worked with the young, homeless - managing two social-work-registered residential homes: The Edinburgh Cyrenians' City and Rural communities; the latter is a therapeutic community and a small organic farm - offering educational and training opportunities. I was involved in one-to-one counselling, training, staff and student supervision, and group facilitation.
I began the four-and-a-half-year Core Process Psychotherapy training in 1993 at the Karuna Institute - and am an accredited psychotherapist with UKCP (United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy). In 2002 I completed an MA in Psychotherapy (Middlesex University/Karuna Institute).
Other professional qualifications include massage (ITEC qualified).
My commitment to my clients rests in continuing to work on my own ability to be present at greater depths and subtler places.
I continue to attend additional trainings and retreats. These include:
I have a particular interest (and experience) in the area of spiritual emergence - and its more extreme form of spiritual emergency. I am currently also a post-adoption counsellor.