Therapist

Training & Experience

I am an empathetic therapist who works with clients in a safe and comfortable environment, either face-to-face or online. I am trained to a high-level, with over 15 years’ experience of working therapeutically with people.

I am accredited by the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapists (BABCP). I am a member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP). I am an accredited EMDR practitioner with the EMDR Association. I work to the highest standards of professionalism, confidentiality and ethical practice.

My CBT training has been at the University of Oxford. Here, I have trained to MSc level. I completed my original Diploma in Counselling Principles & Practice at Oxford Brookes University in 2002. In order to maintain my professional membership of the BABCP, it is necessary for me to continue training, reading and maintaining monthly supervision of my work.

My EMDR training was with Sandi Richman, an accredited trainer and therapist based in London.

I receive clinical supervision for CBT and EMDR each month.

I now work in private practice. Previously I worked in the NHS, delivering CBT. I conducted CBT research in a GP's surgery in Oxford as part of my MSc. I worked for Oxfordshire Mind Wellbeing Service, delivering psycho-education courses covering areas like Managing Strong Emotions, Assertiveness & Communication, Managing Stress, and Improving Low Self-Esteem. I worked with service users in a 1:1 capacity. The Wellbeing Service also provided Peer Support Groups, which I facilitated along with service users.

Before training in CBT, I gained experience over many years for Face 2 Face Youth Counselling Service, part of Oxfordshire County Council, working with young people between the ages of 14 and 18. During this time, I also worked with young people as part of the Diversions programme, which focused on turning young people away from the criminal justice system.

Currently, I work in private practice, providing support to self-referrals, insurance companies, litigation work and GP referrals.

Companies I am registered to work with:

Thank you, Shirley, I think that I now understand myself and how I work so much better than I ever did. I now have skills that enable me to face the difficult times and I feel so much better. Not to mention, I have taken a couple of long-haul flights since we worked together, I’m so delighted that I have been able to do this. JB - Oxford