Experience:

• Teaching I am a Lecturer at Leeds Beckett University supporting the delivery of a portfolio of courses in Counselling and in Mental Health. I have 20 years of experience delivering training.
• Mental Health Before training to become a counsellor and psychotherapist I worked in the NHS in mental health, predominantly working with older people.
  
• Bereavement I am experienced in supporting people following a bereavement, whether that be a recent bereavement or a bereavement that happened years ago. I have been a trainer, supervisor and volunteer for Cruse Bereavement. I also provided bereavement training for Leeds Bereavement Forum for 4 years. I have a special interest in making bereavement support accessible for people with learning disabilities and dementia, delivering specialist training in these areas.
• Abuse and Sexual Violence For half a day a week I work for a charity specialising in supporting people following sexual violence. I previously volunteered for a similar charity. I have a special interest in supporting both men and women who have experienced sexual abuse in childhood.
• Disability As an occupational therapist I have worked with people with a range of disabilities.
• Learning Disability & Dementia I am experienced in working with people who have learning disabilities and dementia. I passionately believe that having dementia or a learning disability should not stop you from accessing counselling.
• Family carers - I have experience in supporting family carers e.g. clients caring for a relative with dementia