“I am not what happened to me, I am what I chose to become”
Carl Jung
Carl Jung
What’s your story?
Everyone has a story to tell and everyone’s story is unique. You are a beautiful, one-of-a-kind individual. Your voice is important.
One of the functions of counselling is to allow you to tell your story and be heard by someone who will listen without judgement. Clients are often surprised how, by simply talking to someone who is trained to listen, they gain new insight and understanding of their situation.
You may be experiencing depression, stress, feelings of loneliness or anxiety. Perhaps you are struggling with guilt or shame. You may have suffered a bereavement or the loss of a relationship. Maybe you have never told anyone about your situation. Perhaps you feel that nobody cares or understands.
If you have lost a baby, whether through miscarriage, abortion, stillbirth, neonatal or cot death, you will know the devastating and long-lasting effects it can have, even many years after the event - long after everyone else has either forgotten or thinks that you "should be over it by now". Grief has no "sell by date", whether you are mourning the loss of a baby or experiencing the deep, painful, gut-wrenching longing for a child you have been unable to conceive.
I've been helping parents (or would-be parents) both women and men who have experienced baby loss or infertility or who are going through IVF or surrogacy, for over 10 years. I have specific training and experience in this area, but mostly I am passionate to work with the often unresolved grief and unexpressed feelings which are sometimes made worse by the hurtful though well-meaning comments of other people. I have undertaken specialist training with the Foundation for Infant Loss and am accredited by them to work with those affected by still or premature birth, miscarriage and neonatal death as well Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), also known as 'cot death'. I am also a member of the British Infertility Counselling Association which provides specialist training and professional support on all aspects of infertility, including IVF and surrogacy.
Losing a baby or being unable to conceive can bring with it a multitude of feelings - anxiety, anger (why me?), guilt and shame, not to mention the fear of trying to become pregnant again after a loss. You may feel isolated and alone because other people don't understand or maybe you are struggling to maintain your relationship with your partner whilst putting on a brave face and pretending everything is okay. Perhaps you have never told anyone about the loss of your child.
A different but equally devastating type of loss is when you have become alienated from a child through divorce, adoption, or relationship breakdown. Knowing that your son or daughter is alive but refuses or is prevented from having a relationship with you has been described as a "living bereavement".
Whatever your situation, I will meet you where you are and walk alongside you. I can't say how many sessions it will take but many of my past clients have reported feeling lighter, more hopeful, better able to cope and less alone after we have worked together. I have worked as a counsellor with clients of all ages in a variety of settings including the NHS, schools, charities and the voluntary sector. In addition, I have experience and a particular interest in working with older adults and those affected by dementia and/or hearing loss. I have experience of working with D/deaf and Hard of Hearing clients and hold a Signature Level 3 qualification in British Sign Language (BSL). I have also undergone specialist practitioner training in eating disorders with the National Centre for Eating Disorders (NCFED).
Deciding to start counselling takes courage. You have taken the first step by visiting this website.
Contact me today at [email protected] to discuss your requirements or to book a FREE initial appointment.
Everyone has a story to tell and everyone’s story is unique. You are a beautiful, one-of-a-kind individual. Your voice is important.
One of the functions of counselling is to allow you to tell your story and be heard by someone who will listen without judgement. Clients are often surprised how, by simply talking to someone who is trained to listen, they gain new insight and understanding of their situation.
You may be experiencing depression, stress, feelings of loneliness or anxiety. Perhaps you are struggling with guilt or shame. You may have suffered a bereavement or the loss of a relationship. Maybe you have never told anyone about your situation. Perhaps you feel that nobody cares or understands.
If you have lost a baby, whether through miscarriage, abortion, stillbirth, neonatal or cot death, you will know the devastating and long-lasting effects it can have, even many years after the event - long after everyone else has either forgotten or thinks that you "should be over it by now". Grief has no "sell by date", whether you are mourning the loss of a baby or experiencing the deep, painful, gut-wrenching longing for a child you have been unable to conceive.
I've been helping parents (or would-be parents) both women and men who have experienced baby loss or infertility or who are going through IVF or surrogacy, for over 10 years. I have specific training and experience in this area, but mostly I am passionate to work with the often unresolved grief and unexpressed feelings which are sometimes made worse by the hurtful though well-meaning comments of other people. I have undertaken specialist training with the Foundation for Infant Loss and am accredited by them to work with those affected by still or premature birth, miscarriage and neonatal death as well Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), also known as 'cot death'. I am also a member of the British Infertility Counselling Association which provides specialist training and professional support on all aspects of infertility, including IVF and surrogacy.
Losing a baby or being unable to conceive can bring with it a multitude of feelings - anxiety, anger (why me?), guilt and shame, not to mention the fear of trying to become pregnant again after a loss. You may feel isolated and alone because other people don't understand or maybe you are struggling to maintain your relationship with your partner whilst putting on a brave face and pretending everything is okay. Perhaps you have never told anyone about the loss of your child.
A different but equally devastating type of loss is when you have become alienated from a child through divorce, adoption, or relationship breakdown. Knowing that your son or daughter is alive but refuses or is prevented from having a relationship with you has been described as a "living bereavement".
Whatever your situation, I will meet you where you are and walk alongside you. I can't say how many sessions it will take but many of my past clients have reported feeling lighter, more hopeful, better able to cope and less alone after we have worked together. I have worked as a counsellor with clients of all ages in a variety of settings including the NHS, schools, charities and the voluntary sector. In addition, I have experience and a particular interest in working with older adults and those affected by dementia and/or hearing loss. I have experience of working with D/deaf and Hard of Hearing clients and hold a Signature Level 3 qualification in British Sign Language (BSL). I have also undergone specialist practitioner training in eating disorders with the National Centre for Eating Disorders (NCFED).
Deciding to start counselling takes courage. You have taken the first step by visiting this website.
Contact me today at [email protected] to discuss your requirements or to book a FREE initial appointment.