Professional Qualifications/Experience - Psychotherapist, Counsellor, Dramatherapist, Supervisor
BA Hons Acting (GSMD); this led to an MA Dramatherapy (Sesame) and HCPC registration, with qualified clinical experience since 2006 - including individual and group Dramatherapy for patients on the acute wards at the Maudsley Hospital and for those accessing the outpatient services.
I have extensive experience working in mainstream and neurodiverse schools for Roundabout Dramatherapy; for The Awareness Centre, I worked as a counsellor on their low-cost counselling service and within NHS settings providing time-limited counselling for patients accessing the IAPT service.
My Private Practice includes Creative Arts Supervision (Creative Arts Supervision Training Diploma) short/long term Counselling - BACP registered, Diploma Integrative Psychosynthesis Counselling (Re-Vision); as a Full UKCP member, I hold a Post-Dip in Integrative Transpersonal Psychotherapy, also from Re-Vision.
I worked as a Dramatherapist in acute adult psychiatry for the Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust for just over 6yrs.
Diploma in Gender, Sex and Relationship Diversity (GSRD) Therapy from Pink Therapy.
As a GSRD Integrative, Transpersonal Psychotherapist, I work with these 7 Core Components in mind.
Commitment to Social Justice: Challenging systemic issues such as racism, sexism, heteronormativity, and ableism, while advocating for/supporting marginalized and oppressed groups.
Cultural Humility/Competence: Striving to enhance self-awareness & clinical skills, gaining knowledge about diverse populations; ensuring not making assumptions based on appearance.
Understanding Oppression: Acknowledging the varied impacts of oppression and supporting clients in developing resources for self-care and resilience.
Trauma, Grief, and Shame-Informed Care: Addressing the effects of trauma, grief, and shame, helping clients build psychological resilience and reducing post-trauma stress.
Contemporary Sexology: Staying informed about gender, sex, sexuality, and relationship diversities, including the biopsychosocial aspects of sexual behaviors and desires.
Core GSRD Theories: Incorporating concepts like minority stress, intersectionality, and micro-aggressions into affirmative, strengths-focused therapeutic practices.
Fostering Joy and Pride: Focusing on promoting self-worth, joy, and pride in diversities, fostering community connections, and creating a supportive therapist-client relationship.
Publication
RIVER: CULTURAL EXPERIENCES AS A TRINIDADIAN DRAMATHERAPIST WITH AN EVOLVING PRACTICE IN THE UK
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02630672.2009.9689773
Personal Approach as a Therapist
'There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you' - Maya Angelou
I draw on Gestalt, Jungian and Psychodynamic approaches and work with the healing potential of the therapeutic relationship.
We can look at your unique story and explore how patterns set up in the past might manifest in the present and if necessary we can explore spiritual perspectives alongside grounded therapeutic skills. My past experience as a Dramatherapist means that I can also offer creative interventions, through Myth/Story, Improvisation and Movement.
As a therapist living in Southwark and of African Caribbean heritage, I'm willing to work with themes of race, culture, sexual identity, difference and diversity as it might be relevant to your individual story and within the therapeutic relationship.
I have worked with clients who have experienced difficulties with
- Stress
- Relationship difficulties
- Panic Attacks
- Anxiety
- Bereavement
- Sexuality
- Gender identity
- Redundancy
- Living with HIV
- Abuse
- Depression
- Addiction
- Racism
- Bullying
Client testimonial
"Yes I felt depressed, and at times felt I had nothing to live for, but I was always reminded to hold onto the things I was doing well, and be patient! It's not a magic wand therapy, you have to dig deep and work with your counsellor, they don't give you the answers, but they do help you find your way"
