Counselling skills. I first did an eight-week introduction to counselling skills course at City of Bath College in 1991. I did a further course of counselling skills as part of my teacher-training course. In 2000 I did another short counselling course with The Open College before starting a one-year Foundation course with Bath Centre for Psychotherapy and Counselling (BCPC).

The BCPC Foundation Certificate consisted of skills development seminars, live practice seminars and a personal development group. During terms one and two the course work focused in depth on the work of Carl Rogers and the qualities of empathy, acceptance and genuineness as the bedrock of the counselling relationship

Stage 2 looked at early infancy through to old age studying some of the work of Melanie Klein and Donald Winnicott.

After successfully completing the second stage of the psychotherapy training with BCPC, which included a year long placement as a volunteer network counsellor at the City of Bath College, I started stage three training and began building a private practice.

I have completed an intensive short course in working with asylum seekers, dealing with cultural difference, working with interpreters, trauma and massive loss. This course was taught by Jeremy Woodcock. I have seen clients from Iraq, Somalia and the Sudan and I have worked with interpreters.

As part of my mental health placement I have worked inside Hillview Lodge, a psychiatric short stay ward, part of Bath RUH hospital. I have taken part in ward rounds, worked alongside other healthcare professionals and worked with a broad range of clients dealing from a wide range of mental health issues.

Voluntary sector experience and training. As well as counselling training I have substantial experience of working in the voluntary sector. Between 1992 and 2000 I worked as a volunteer for Avon Probation service, Julian House and Social Services. Between 2000 and 2001 I worked as a creative writing tutor with The Big Issue Foundation and ran writing workshops at Winford Manor retreat centre. I have also taught drama at Badmington School, Chew Valley secondary school and Hickory House Nursery. I do paid teaching work through The Creative Learning Agency.

In August 2001 I successfully completed an eight week volunteer induction course at Bath Area Drugs Advisory Service (BADAS). The course covered all aspects of harm reduction procedures, drug use, health and legal issues. From August until December 2001 I worked as a volunteer one to one worker, worked in the needle and syringe exchange, on Fridays I worked with the homeless outreach worker.

Work based training and experience. In December 2001 I started work with the Wiltshire Drug Treatment Testing Order Team (DTTO). During my time at the Trowbridge base I gained valuable experience of working as part of multi-disciplined, multi-agency team. My work involved key working a caseload of up to six clients, one to one work, group work, writing court reviews, keeping written records, monitoring and liaising with relevant agencies such as the criminal justice system, probation, health, housing and social services.

I received regular external supervision for my counselling work.

During my time at the DTTO I helped set up a popular writing workshop. I have developed a system of journal writing and life stories that have become an established part of the DTTO programme. I also helped write and develop the DTTO’s own policies and procedures. During the year I did short courses in preparing clients for treatment and adult literacy and wrote and planned a whole range of courses on relapse prevention and goal setting

My Work