About Me
I have always been fascinated by why people are the way they are. I have always been a curious person, I asked “why” a lot and grew into an adult who challenged the status quo. I set up my therapy practice in 2016, AcoraTherapy, named after my grandmother Cora. As a child I would help her with her charity work and I got more involved in helping people with disabilities and mental health issues since the mid-90s. Before training as a psychotherapist I worked in financial services for over 20 years. It is funny how being made redundant was one of the best things that happened to me as it gave me the opportunity to change direction with my career. Now I have quite a variety of qualifications and experience, not only in credit and management, but in psychology, psychotherapy, coaching and training. I have many years’ experience in leadership, public speaking, personal development and working with people through difficult, stressful times. I did my psychotherapy and counselling training with The Tivoli Institute and graduated with distinction. I also studied change management, neuropsychology, family therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), couples therapy, life coaching, relationship psychology and psychosexual therapy. I believe no one style works for everyone and I use an eclectic mix of theories and practices. The kind of work I do primarily builds up mental wellbeing and I will help you understand why your life is the way it is and bring unconscious behaviours into awareness while improving self-care.
Experience
Psychotherapy for 10+ years
I began working with clients in 2014 in The Low Cost Counselling Centre of the Tivoli Institute. Initially as I completed my training this was part time however I have been working full time as a therapist since 2016. I founded Acora Therapy which is my private practice and also founded the City Centre therapy clinic Under The Rainbow in 2019. I have been a corporate mental health ambassador since 2018 and am also a qualified life and empowerment coach. I have experience working with individuals, couples, groups and businesses.
Approach
I believe no one style works for everyone and I use an eclectic mix of theories and practices. The main issues I work with include relationship and family problems, change, loss & grief, self-esteem and confidence, career problems and stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, illness, retirement, discrimination, alternative lifestyles, BDSM, LGBT, gender identity, sexual issues. For many years I practiced creative writing, meditation and mindfulness and sometimes incorporate these in my work with clients. I have been in therapy myself on and off since 2007 so I get just how transformative therapy can be and how important mental fitness is. It might feel odd, at first, opening up to a stranger but sometimes it simply helps to talk and get the support you might need in a confidential environment. I know the stress that labels defined by society can put people under and the importance of non-judgmental support. The kind of work I do primarily builds up mental wellbeing and I will help you understand why your life is the way it is and bring unconscious behaviours into awareness while improving self-care.
Qualification
HDip in Clinical Psychotherapy with Honours (level 8), from The Tivoli Institute 2013-2017 For a full list of my qualifications please refer to my LinkedIn Profile.
Locations