I’m originally from England but moved to Aberdeenshire 12 years ago. I’m almost over the shock of the first winter! I’m married and have two teenage children. I love music, gigs, dancing, shows, and food.

I trained as a Physiotherapist 25 years ago and have had the privilege of working for the NHS most of my adult life. I gained wide experience in an acute setting (in a hospital) in my early years of practice and went on to work in a neuro out-patient department.

In 2003 I moved to Derbyshire and discovered my love of being a physiotherapist in the community, in people’s homes. Here I became a ‘jack of all trades’ as community physios see a wide variety of issues. I feel this type of work really helped me to see the person behind the illness/condition, to notice how a person’s health is about more than fixing a body part and started me on the journey to where I am today. My mantra became “What has happened to you” rather than “What is wrong with you”. Upon moving to Scotland I worked in Cardiac Rehabilitation for a few years and then returned to working as a community Physiotherapist.

I wanted to be a better listener and support for my patients, so I trained as a counsellor at Abertay University, qualifying in 2018 and have worked at Charities in Aberdeen throughout my training and more recently at CLAN. During this time i was able to make more sense of how a person’s life and experiences and their emotional landscape effects not only their mental health but also their physical well-being (and vice versa!) I also became aware of  the impact of trauma on the body and I have since read and studied extensively in this area. Noticing the effects of Chronic stress, ACES and the impact this can have physically on a person has completely changed my approach to helping a person both as a Physio and a counsellor.

My interest in the Mindbody connection has really been embedded through what my clients and patients have taught me as well as my additional training (below). I also recognized it within my own life, becoming much more aware of my own symptoms and how and when I get them. I have had chronic tendonitis’ in various parts of my body, neck and head pain and headaches that have all responded well to my new found knowledge and approach to treatment.

 

Qualifications and training:

Bsc (hons) Physiotherapy – University of Hertfordshire

PGdip Counselling – Abertay University.

Certificate in on-line and telephone counselling – Counselling Tutor

SIRPA Practitioner qualification – ongoing (for details: www.sirpa.org)

PPD Practitioner training – ongoing (for details see: www.ppdassociation.org/)

Explain pain course – for details see www.noigroup.com/about/

Pain Re-processing therapy – on going (for details see Pain Reprocessing Therapy)

Capacitar Practitioner. For details see www.capacitaruk.org/

6 week Mindfulness courses completed: Mindfulness for stress and Mindfulness for Health (for details see Breathworks – Mindfulness and Compassion Training