About Haven Counselling and Coaching

My practice room is in the beautiful and tranquil setting of Hill Head, Fareham, Hampshire and has views overlooking the Solent. I’m based just down the road from Titchfield Haven and the Osbourne View pub, about 10-15 minutes from Fareham town centre and the M27 Junctions 9,10 and 11.

My Approach

I am told I am a particularly calm, gentle, insightful and reflective counsellor. My strengths are in helping clients gain a deeper understanding of themselves, their situation and their new possibilities.

My approach is a little like sailing. Your life is like a boat and you’re the captain. It’s never my job to take charge but to come alongside you and help you navigate the waters so that you can get to where you want to go. As with sailing, life is often pushed and pulled about like a boat at the mercy of tides, weather patterns and hidden currents. It’s not always easy to understand or manage different aspects of our personality, situation or relationships. Sometimes, having someone on-board who’s trained in understanding and managing those things can help change the experience even if it’s not all plain sailing. Haven Counselling is about having a harbour or haven from which you can find the space to handle your onward journey.

My work has involved me helping clients from different backgrounds. I have worked with men and women, older and younger. I have helped people with all sorts of issues from social anxiety, depression, suicidal feelings, gender dysphoria, struggles with self-worth, through to self-confidence issues and family and relationship problems.

I’m trained and fully-qualified in ‘Psychodynamic’ counselling (the oldest, most established) and also in ‘Applied Positive Psychology’ with the University of East London (some of the newest research in Psychology). Both models are very useful for counselling and coaching. For more about these models and my training see FAQ’s pages. I am also well-read in philosophical and spiritual issues which helps me work with issues around meaning and purpose.

Counselling

Counselling for anyone over the age of 18, male or female, on these issues:

• Relationship and Social Difficulties

• Low-mood / Depression

• Anxiety / Stress

• Self-Esteem / Self-worth

• Self-Confidence

• Loss (of a partner, of a relative, a job / role etc.)

• Men’s Issues (relationships, fatherhood, gender, sex/ sexuality, role / purpose etc.)

• Midlife’s challenges

• Spirituality and Meaning-finding

Coaching

In addition to counselling, I offer coaching which may suit you if you prefer a more forward-looking and outcome-oriented approach. I can help you decide what type of support will best suit your needs. Aspects of counselling and coaching can be combined. For more info see FAQ’s.

Coaching to support you in:

• Finding Your Purpose, Meaning and Direction

• Growing in Confidence

• Improving Relationships

• Overcoming a Challenge

• Working through Midlife Frustrations

• Achieving What Matters

• Developing Your Future

Training / Qualifications

• DIPLOMA in PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC COUNSELLING (Accredited by the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy)

• CERTIFICATE in APPLIED POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY (University of East London)

• Training in: TIME-FOCUSED THERAPY (including theory and skills drawn from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy; Brief Solution-Focused therapy; Cognitive Analytical therapy; Transpersonal Therapy)

• Training in: ASSESSMENT of CLIENTS FOR COUNSELLING

• Licence (post-grad degree) in Theology with Distinction (University of Wales, Trinity St. David)

• Teaching Qualification: PGCE (University of Bath)

• Honours Degree in French / European Studies

Professional Registration

As a fully-qualified and registered counsellor with the BACP, I receive regular supervision and am accountable to the BACP’s professional standards and ethics in the way I practice.