About me

My interest in psychology and mental health began 20+ years ago during my A-levels. Following my Psychology degree I began working for the NHS and training at Doctoral level to become a Clinical Psychologist. My aim was to be be able to practically apply psychological theory and research to help people to journey towards emotional wellbeing and a life they can thrive within. 

Since 2012 I have worked in a variety of NHS psychology services, offering psychological therapy and emotional support to individuals, couples and families. Most recently my NHS work has been within a Gloucestershire based hospital, supporting staff with work-related stress and burnout, and promoting a culture of compassion within the organisation. I feel very strongly that our workplaces should somewhere that enhance our lives and am passionate about supporting managers, leaders and businesses to achieve a psychologically safe environment, and a committed and motivated workforce who are not at risk of burnout.  

After discovering a personal benefit to mindfulness meditation early on in my career I decided to pursue formal training in the delivery of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) courses in 2014. Employing these approaches in groups and with individuals over the past 10 years has further convinced me of the benefits of mindfulness for mental and physical health and I enjoy being able to share this wonderful way to be in relationship with tricky human selves. In 2021 I also completed training to be able to deliver Compassionate Mind Training (CMT) courses, which work to more deeply develop the kind and compassionate part ourselves which can show up and support us in times of challenge. 

These days I work solely in private practise within the Cheltenham community and specialise in supporting people with trauma, chronic stress and burnout, as well as supporting local businesses with employee wellbeing and culture change initiatives.  I am a qualified EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing) practitioner and have found this approach to be one of the most effective for helping people to heal from PTSD and traumatic experiences in their lives. I also have experience working with people navigating neurodivergence, low self-esteem/self-criticism, sleep difficulties, and attachment/relationship concerns. Because of some hard times in my own life, I have a special interest in supporting people with their journeys into parenthood, including pregnancy & postnatal challenges, parental burnout and baby loss. 

I live in Cheltenham with my husband. We have two very energic boys who keep me busy, grounded, and inspired alongside my work.  I enjoy the odd bit of jogging, mountain biking and camping around Gloucestershire's excellent countryside and like to dabble with handmade creative projects, appearing occasionally at local craft markets. 

Doctorate Degree (ClinPsyD) - Clinical Psychologist - The University of Hull.

Undergraduate Degree - BSc Psychology - The University of York.

BAMBA registered Mindfulness Teacher - Trained by Mindfulness UK. 

Compassionate Mind Trainer - Trained by Balanced Minds.

Qualified EMDR practitioner - Trained by Richman EMDR Training. 

Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a Practitioner Psychologist. 

Registered Teacher with the British Association for Mindfulness-Based Approaches (BAMBA). *Registration paused in 2024-2025 due to maternity leave. Registration in application for 2026. 

Being regulated by these these organisations means that I commit to following professional and ethical codes of conduct. Practically, this involves me having regular clinical supervision, continually updating my skills, only offering interventions that have been shown to be effective and practising with appropriate insurance in place. 

Callebaut, L., Molyneux, P., & Alexander, T. (2016). The Relationship Between Self-Blame for the Onset of a Chronic Physical Health Condition and Emotional Distress: A Systematic Literature Review. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 24, 965-986.