I am a person-centred therapist. This means I have an approach that is aligned to the theories and evidence developed by Carl Rogers. My professional life has been dedicated to the promotion and development and understanding of this approach.
My first area of study was Fine Art. For me art was the one subject where freedom resided. This was altered in the 1980’s and a very prescriptive curriculum was developed for studying art, meaning many have abandoned any idea of being creative.
For me, being a person requires an engagement with personal freedom, with a sense of mattering, of caring for each other and being creative.
Education is designed to prepare people for work as consumers rather than encourage reflection on what potential each person holds as a unique individual. This can make it impossible for people to simply experience a creative fulfilling life. Many are very separate from the natural world and this has , in my view, a detrimental affect on emotional health.
My values determine that I challenge the ideas which cause division and hatred. Issues around identity and values are key to my life. I challenge all aspects of racist ideology, I abhor discrimination based on gender, melanin, sexuality or culture and consider the biggest change we can make today is to be willing to understand each other through empathy and authenticity.
- Licensed Person-Centred Experiential Therapist
- Assistant Professor in Counselling
- In practice since 1995
- Diploma Person-centred counselling 1995
- Person-Centred Supervisor 2000
- Senior Accredited therapist 2014