About Bristol Creative Therapy

I began my training journey as a therapist after gaining a Certificate in Counselling Skills from UWE, Bristol 20 years ago. A few years later I started my training as a Play Therapist and in 2020 I fully qualified as a Counsellor for adults. I have worked with a wide range of people with differing backgrounds and experiences. In the past I have received extensive inclusion, equality and diversity training as a practitioner and manager whilst living and working in one of the most diverse communities in the South-West.
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I am a PTUK Accredited Play Therapist with experience of working in primary schools and community settings since 2012. I undertook specific training in Counselling Young People and Adolescents in 2017. I have a background working with children, young people and families as a mentor, support worker and youth worker in Bristol since 2004 and previously had a career as an IT and data professional.
​I am also a BACP Accredited Counsellor with a Diploma in Humanistic and Integrative Counselling from BCPC in Bath with experience since 2017 working with adults. In my therapy work so far I have counselled people who have experienced anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, grief and loss, shame, neglect and trauma.
I have been working in private practice with adults and children for over 5 years.​ I hold an Association for Counselling & Therapy Online (ACTO) Accredited and National Counselling Society approved Certificate in Online & Telephone Counselling.
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I qualified as a Creative Clinical Supervisor with PTUK in 2024 and I supervise trainee and qualified Play Therapists in their work with children as well as qualified professionals from any modality. ​
I hold enhanced DBS to work with children, young people and vulnerable adults as well as professional indemnity insurance.
Recent Training
2025
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Virtual College (online) - Safeguarding Children
Level 3 Safeguarding children course looking at the overall safeguarding process. Including exploring the legal framework, considering the professional skills needed to manage uncertainty and risk and working through case examples.
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​BACP C&YPF Conference - Systems around the child
​Attended keynote speeches by Kelli Swain-Cowper (Place 2Be) 'Activating systems around a child: within a whole-school approach' and Alison Templeton (Relate NI) about engaging parents in assessment and review to improve outcomes for children with separated parents. Attended inspiring workshops with Karen Ludkin on the child's voice in therapy and by Jeanine Connor 'No such thing as a young person' exploring how family and developmental histories can help to contextualise presenting issues.​​​
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Working with Expansive clients: trans & non-binary experiences (online)
One day workshop delivered by Ellis J Johnson. An engaging, creative exploration of gender diversity and anti-oppressive practice to expand my knowledge in working with trans clients. An NCIP accredited course part of the Certificate in Diversity in Contemporary Relationships​​​
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BACP Good Practice in Action Resource (online) - Exploring suicidal risk with clients
​Developing confidence in working with suicidal clients by exploring suicidal risk through dialogue.
2024
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​BACP C&YPF Conference - Neurodiversity: the therapeutic encounter
Keynote speech by Edith Bell on how to develop a confident and welcoming approach to neurodivergence and an inspirational personal experience account by Abz Abby. Attended workshops on "How do I feel as a young autistic person?" by Mark Wallis and "Experiences of therapy - Neurodivergent CYPF experience of accessing, engagement and non-engagement with therapy" by Maggie Worth.​​
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NICABM (online) - Trauma Master Series
Webinars from world renowned experts such as Dan Siegel, Stephen Porges, Bessel van der Kolk, Peter Levine and Allan Schore
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Bisexuality & Sexual Fluidity (online)
One day workshop delivered by Di Hassall. An exploration of bisexuality, sexual fluidity and the gender, sexuality, erotic and relational diversity matrix (GSERD). An NCIP accredited course part of the Certificate in Diversity in Contemporary Relationships​
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PTUK Online conference - Helping to make meaning out of loss
An informative keynote speech by Child Bereavement UK on working with grief in families and how it can present in children. Attended an inspiring workshop on working with grief in groups with Jessica Van Mannen.​
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Other Loves - Polyamory, Arranged Marriages and Polygamy (online)
Two day workshop delivered by Di Hassall. A reflective and in-depth look at relational diversity in all of its forms around the world. An NCIP accredited course part of the Certificate in Diversity in Contemporary Relationships​
2023
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Kate Williams (online) - Polyvagal theory
a 2-hour webinar on theory and techniques to tone the vagus nerve from Deb Dana, Stephen Porges and others.
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PTUK Conference - Helping Children Speak the Unspeakable
An inspiring conference keynote presentation with Paris Goodyear-Brown on her TraumaPlay technique. Attended a workshop on Polyvagal theory and mindfulness.
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Counselling Tutor (online) - General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)
Webinar exploring the requirements and considerations of GDPR (data protection) for therapists.
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BACP C&YPF Conference - Breaking the cycle of trauma and promoting healing and hope
Keynote speeches by Clare Harrison-Breed and Renee Marks on Trauma and Dissociation in children. Attended workshops on Working Creatively with Dissociation and Polyvagal theory.​
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BACP Private Practice Conference (online) - Am I OK? Are we OK? Anxiety in an uncertain world
Keynote speech by Emmy van Deurzen - befriending your anxiety: an existential perspective, plus two workshops Jenny Collard - Relationship agony: working with the anxiously attached and David Veale - Pure "O" anxiety
2022
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Counselling Tutor (online) - Engaging with Supervision
Webinar on how to use supervision effectively ​
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CaPPP - Disorderly Eating
​Event on Disorderly Eating with Vathani Navasothy and Katina Noble​
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Nick Totten (online) - Power in the Therapy Relationship​​
Workshop considering the power dynamics in therapy and how to counteract them​
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Creative Clinical Supervision
Seven day experiential training to develop creative clinical supervision skills
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NAS Conference (online) - Autism & Mental Health​​
Watched keynotes and attended workshops on: Masking – impact on mental health and identity; Autism, trauma and PTSD; Autism and loneliness; Alexithymia's role in the common mental health difficulties in autism; Defining, measuring, and understanding autistic burnout
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NICABM (online) - Trauma Master Series
Webinars from world renowned experts such as Dan Siegel, Stephen Porges, Bessel van der Kolk, Peter Levine and Allan Schore
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Kate Williams (online) - Compassion in Therapy​: the antidote to depression & trauma
Webinar focused on compassionate and mindful approaches to treat traumatised and depressed clients​
2021
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Unity Young People (online) - LGBTQ+
Training to increase confidence working with young people exploring issues around sexuality and gender. Improving knowledge and understanding of current LGBTQ+ identities by reflecting on our existing understanding and unconscious bias.
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University of Derby (online) - Understanding Autism, Asperger's & ADHD
Module covering the classification, assessment, aetiology theories, comorbidity, and treatment for both ADHD and Autism Spectrum Conditions.
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Susie Orbach - Eat your Heart out
CaPPP event with Susie reminiscing on 'Fat is a Feminist Issue' and reflecting on the psychology of body image.​
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Compassion in Therapy Summit
Event on compassionate approaches with webinars from Paul Gilbert, Kristen Neff, Richard Schwartz, Dan Siegal & Chris Germer.​
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BACP (online) - Children & Young People's Online Lives
BACP event exploring the risks and importance of online applications in the lives of children and young people. Exploring the assumptions and biases adults have about online activity and the importance of online identity in the social hierarchy of young people.
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NSPCC (online) - Safeguarding Refresher​
Training to refresh and renew my knowledge of safeguarding reporting practices, abuse categories, how to recognise signs of abuse and relevant case studies to explore the issues