Counselling & psychotherapy for adults
We are shaped by what we have lived through, the relationships that have mattered, and the ways we have learnt to keep going.
At times, these experiences can reach deep into how we feel, how we see ourselves and how we experience the world around us.
For more than two decades, I have worked with people through times when life has felt heavy, unsettled or no longer entirely their own.
Some have known exactly what brought them to that point. Others have carried something for years without finding words that quite fit.
We begin with how life feels now. Understanding can emerge between us, without forcing your experience into a label or an explanation that does not feel like yours.
The relationship between us is an important part of the work. You do not have to perform, protect me from what you feel or arrive with the right words. If something feels difficult to say, misunderstood or too close, we can notice it together. Those moments may help us understand how you have learnt to protect yourself, without treating that protection as a fault.
On the outside, life may still be moving. You may be meeting responsibilities, making decisions and being there for other people, while something inside feels muted, restless or difficult to reach.
In therapy, there is time to notice what everyday life can leave unheard. Not every feeling needs an immediate explanation. Sometimes, being able to stay with an experience without dismissing it or rushing past it is where understanding begins.
From there, your own needs, values and choices may become clearer, not because someone else defines them for you, but because there is finally room to hear them.
What therapy with me is like ↗
I do not sit outside the conversation as a distant observer. I listen carefully, ask questions and share what I notice. At times, I may gently challenge something; at others, what matters most may be staying with a feeling that has rarely had company.
Our conversations can move between what is happening now and the experiences, relationships and choices that have shaped it. We may notice connections that were difficult to see when each moment had to be managed on its own. There is also room for uncertainty, contradiction and meanings that change as the work develops.
My background includes more than two decades in mental health services and many years in NHS Talking Therapies. I have worked across mild and moderate difficulties as well as complex, severe and enduring mental health presentations. Experience matters, but it should never become a shortcut to assuming that I know what your life means.
I continue to work in the NHS. TalkWise is my separate private practice and is not currently accepting new clients.
More about me and how I work ↗What allows us to feel safe enough to be truly known? And what happens when love, belonging or acceptance have seemed to depend on staying quiet, putting others first or becoming who we were expected to be?
Across families, cultures, relationships and generations, we can inherit powerful ideas about loyalty, duty, strength and what should remain unspoken. These may keep us connected to the people and communities we value, while also leaving parts of our experience without a place to be understood.
Therapy can offer room to explore what feels genuinely yours, what you have learnt to carry for others, and how you might remain connected without losing sight of yourself.
Some experiences can feel difficult enough to speak about once. You should not have to wonder where your words go, who may hear them or what could happen after you share them.
Before we begin, I will explain confidentiality in clear language, including how your information is protected, how supervision works and the limited circumstances in which I may need to act because of a serious safety concern or legal requirement. You can ask questions at any time.
Read about confidentiality and its limits ↗£60 per session
I am not currently accepting new clients. This is kept under review, and the website will be updated when appointments reopen.
When appointments reopen, online sessions will be available on Microsoft Teams. Face-to-face appointments in Greater Manchester will be introduced once a suitable practice location is confirmed.
Explore sessions, fees and payment options → Send a private enquiry →You can send a message through the contact form, email me, or call or text my TalkWise number on 07356 213055.
I may be in a session or working elsewhere, so I cannot always answer immediately. Please leave a brief message and I’ll reply within two working days. This number is not monitored for urgent or crisis support.
When I reopen to new clients, we can arrange a free 15-minute introductory call on Microsoft Teams. It is a chance to ask questions and see whether we might work well together, with no obligation to book.
Send a private enquiryTalkWise is not an emergency service. Find urgent support.
