Life and career
I’ve been an author (a memoir, novels, and short stories), journalist (in the UK and abroad), and broadcaster – and a lot of other things in between. I’ve spent a number of years promoting sexual awareness through media and charity work.
Being freelance can be exciting and creative, but it’s not always a nurturing environment. I know about juggling work and life and feelings about yourself and your past that are stopping you moving on and getting what you want from life. I’ve also been in therapy myself, so I know how it feels to take the first, sometimes daunting, step into it all.
Continuing Professional Development
In 2014 I started the practice London Sex & Relationships Therapy with three colleagues. There are now seven of us. We offer inclusive and contemporary counselling and psychotherapy with a focus on gender and sexual diversities. We also offer training on a wide range of topics, to media, charities and training organisations.
I’m involved with the campaigning sex education organisation Sense About Sex. I regularly attend Pink Therapy’s ‘Advanced Clinical Discussions: Kink’.
To keep my practice up to date, I read books and journals and attend conferences and events, including:
- When Work Is Sex: Bodies, Choice and Capitalism conference
- BPS Psychology of Sexualities research/practice seminar ‘Locating LGBT psychology within wider frameworks of oppression.’
- All-day conference to launch the Palgrave MacMillan Handbook of the Psychology of Sexuality and Gender
- Sex Worker Open University conference on the Advancement of Sex Worker Rights
- PACE RaRE Research Conference on improving LGBT mental health outcomes.
- The Interplay of Mind and Body in Sexual Problems and Psychosexual Disorders at the Royal Society of Medicine.
- Future Directions for the Theory, Practice and Research of Counselling and Psychotherapy at the Open University.
- Constellations Theory talk and discussion.
- A day of seminars that launched the BDSM and Gender Research Network.
Training
In 2017 I am offering trainings in London and UK-wide in Gender and Sexual Diversity in the therapy room, and other topics. More detail here.
Running events/facilitation
- I organised a section of Beyond The Rainbow, Pink Therapy’s 2015 conference for therapists of all genders and sexualities. (Keynote videos here.)
- I have solo facilitated, and held space for other teachers, at a number of experiential workshops.
- I have provided counselling services at festivals.
Previous employment
- Honorary Psychotherapist, Bexley Psychotherapy Service, Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust (2012-14). Two years clinical placement at a highly respected NHS Trust that specialises in mental health.
- Counsellor, The Centre for Better Health, Hackney (2012-13). A year providing counselling for established community organisation that is also a social enterprise and community hub.
Qualifications
- Diploma in Integrative Counselling – Minster Centre, London
- AIT (Advanced Integrative Therapy) Basics.
- Mental Health First Aid (Camden Council).
- BA and Master of Arts, English Literature – Magdalen College, Oxford
Memberships
- Registered member of the BACP.
- Registered with the Counselling Directory.
- Registered with the Pink Therapy Directory.
- I am fully insured.
