COUNSELLING
Counselling to make sense of the unexpected challenges in life.
Specialist therapy for clients whose lives have been profoundly altered by experiences around pregnancy, birth and parenting.. Online across the UK or in person in Norwich.
It can feel complicated to share your feelings with the people around you. Even if you have a good support network, many people worry about being a burden to their families or friends. And it’s hard to have to think about managing other people’s feelings, too.
Maybe you've experienced a loss that those around you don't fully understand. Maybe a birth went very differently to how you’d expected. Maybe you're months or years into trying for a baby, watching your friends fall pregnant and feeling increasingly distressed that it’s not happening for you. Maybe you've had to make decisions you never thought you’d ever have to make. Maybe your child will have a very different life to the one you’d imagined for them.
Many people in these circumstances feel like no one really "gets it." Everyone has a unique journey, but my clinical training and lived experience enable me to help you process whatever challenges you face with deep empathy and understanding. I always do my best to “get it.”
I welcome women, men and non-binary people, as well as partners and co-parents seeking support. Whatever your background, identity or family structure, I am committed to providing an inclusive, anti-oppressive and trauma-informed therapeutic space.
WHAT I WORK WITH
My areas of expertise.
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Pregnancy Loss
Pregnancy loss is far more common than most people realise, and yet most people who experience it report feeling profoundly alone in their grief. I work with clients at any stage after a loss, whether that it’s happened very recently or many years ago. Miscarriage, ectopic pregnancies, molar pregnancies: these are life-changing losses that need recognition. I have amassed a wealth of knowledge in this area and have trained other counsellors about working therapeutically with pregnancy loss.
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Abortion
Ending a pregnancy is rarely a simple decision. Whether your abortion felt like the right choice, the only choice, or a choice that you still question, you may be left with feelings that are difficult to make sense of. You might be carrying grief, sadness, guilt, relief, or a mixture of emotions that don't fit neatly into other people's expectations. I offer a warm, non-judgemental space to explore your experience at your own pace, whatever your feelings may be.
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Infertility
Primary or secondary infertility can be devastating. The cumulative weight of trying to conceive, fertility investigations and treatment cycles affects every facet of life. It takes over. I work with clients through every stage of the fertility process, including the decision about when or whether to stop. I’ve had specialised training from the British Infertility Counselling Association as well as other CPD in this area.
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Birth Trauma
Traumatic experiences during pregnancy or birth can leave you with symptoms that interfere with your everyday life. Many parents report intrusive memories, hypervigilance, difficulty bonding, and a sense that something is fundamentally wrong. Counselling can help you develop inner resources so that your traumatic experiences doesn’t get in the way of your daily life. My approach to working with trauma is deeply informed by my knowledge of how trauma affects the body and what our bodies need in order to heal.
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Perinatal Mood Disorders
The mental health changes of pregnancy and early parenthood are not always picked up in routine appointments with professionals...and sometimes this is because parents feel too nervous to reveal how they’re really feeling. I work with clients experiencing ante- or post-natal anxiety, depression or intrusive thoughts. I am happy to work alongside professionals from your local maternal mental health team or to work with you individually. Support can make a huge difference, both for you and your family.
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Being a SEND parent
Parenting a child with additional needs, complex health conditions and/or disabilities can be all-consuming. It’s vital you get some space for yourself so that you are able to continue to care for your child…but figuring out how to get that space is no easy task. I am passionate about supporting SEND parent carer wellbeing. Counselling can be a first step.
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Stillbirth & Neonatal Death
Stillbirth and neonatal death leave parents carrying a loss that is impossible to put into words. However long ago your baby died, you may still be living with grief, trauma or unanswered questions. Therapy offers a place where you can talk about your baby. You don't have to minimise your experience or protect other people's feelings. Together, we can make space for your grief, your baby, and the impact their death has had on your life.
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Termination for Medical Reasons
TFMR is one of the most difficult decisions any parent can be asked to make, and one of the least talked about. Often parents feel excluded from the pregnancy loss community, or are left feeling like they need to justify their decisions. I provide a space where you don't have to prove anything, explain yourself or minimise your experience. Whether your decision was recent or many years ago, you are welcome here.
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Life Transitions
There are times in life when the future we imagined changes course. Whether through divorce, illness, bereavement, moving abroad, a career change or another significant life event, transitions can leave us grieving what has been lost while trying to find our footing in unfamiliar territory.
These transitions can bring uncertainty about who you are now, or what comes next. Therapy provides a supportive space to reflect on your experience, process what's happened, and begin to move forward in a way that feels true to you.
HOW COUNSELLING WORKS
What my clients say…
HOW COUNSELLING WORKS
What counselling with me looks like.
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01
A 20-minute introductory video call (optional)
We can start with a free 20-minute video call, with no expectation that you'll book further counselling sessions. Many people prefer to have a call before an initial session to ask questions, hear how I work or just feel out whether I'm the right counsellor for them.
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Regular 50-minute sessions
Most clients have weekly or fortnightly 50-minute sessions at a regular day and time, online via Zoom or in person in Norwich. For those who wish to work fortnightly, it can help if we first have a short period of weekly sessions—but I’m happy to discuss and see what works for you.
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One-off or ad-hoc sessions
Sometimes work commitments, childcare or finances mean it’s just not feasible to commit to a regular weekly session. I appreciate that this is a reality for many people, and I am happy to work flexibly in as much as my schedule will allow.
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The initial session
This 60-minute session is an opportunity to for me to hear more about why you’re seeking counselling right now, and for you to get more of a sense of me and how I work. This is a paid-for session, but does not mean that any future sessions are obligatory. Usually I ask clients to see how they feel after the initial session, and to contact me again if they wish to book in further counselling. This takes the pressure off in that initial session.
FEES
Simple, transparent fees.
£70 per 50-minute session
I hold a small number of reduced-fee places for clients who face financial constraints. Please ask if my fee is a barrier. I would much rather have an honest conversation about money than for finances to stop you reaching out.
Payment is by bank transfer, due 24 hours before the session.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently asked questions.
A few of the things people most often ask about counselling. Can't see your question? A free 20-minute video call is the best way to find out if we're a good fit.
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Yes. About half my clients work with me online. I use Zoom as an online platform. Many clients actually prefer online sessions because of the flexibility, privacy and reduced travel. And, of course, it enables me to work with clients no matter where they are located.
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I absolutely work with clients outside the UK. Most of my clients abroad are based in Europe, but I am open to working with you no matter where you live. There are a few jurisdictions where I may not be able to offer counselling for regulatory and insurance reasons, but please get in touch with me to discuss.
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There's no fixed timeline! This is in large part down to you. Often it can be helpful to commit to an initial block of six sessions. Sometimes this is sufficient. Other times, clients decide to work with me longer-term. But I will never pressure you to continue working with me: the choice is always yours.
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Yes. The content of our sessions is confidential. As is standard for BACP-registered counsellors, I have a few specific legal and ethical limits to confidentiality (for example, if there is a serious risk of harm to you or someone else), which I explain in full at the start of our work together. I also discuss my client work in clinical supervision, which is itself confidential. -
No. Trauma-informed counselling does not require you to recount traumatic events in detail. We work at your pace, with your consent, and there are many ways to process trauma that do not involve detailed retelling. I'll explain how I work in our first session.
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I currently work only with individuals. For couples specifically affected by pregnancy loss, infertility or birth trauma, I am happy to signpost to colleagues who specialise in couples therapy in this area.
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I am not currently registered with any insurance companies, though some health insurance policies cover counselling with BACP-registered practitioners. You would need to check with your insurer whether they cover the cost (or partial cost) of counselling. I can provide invoices for insurance claims.
Ready to talk?
The first conversation is free, lasts 20 minutes, and commits you to nothing.