About Emily

Why I became a counsellor

I love listening to people, and I know the power that being heard and listened to can have. I have a real desire to help people with their mental and emotional health.

It is an honour to sit with people as they tell me their life story and what's going on in their world. I want to treat that with the sensitivity and acknowledgement it deserves.

I'm incredibly interested in people: what makes a person who they are, and how we can function better. That includes understanding ourselves, how our brain and emotions work together, and how we respond to difficult situations.

My approach

My approach is warm, empathetic and non-judgemental. I'm passionate about helping people feel heard, supported and cared for, whatever their background or circumstances. I work collaboratively, helping you build resilience and develop ways of coping with difficult emotions and situations. I combine compassionate support with a clear therapeutic focus, helping you understand your difficulties and work towards meaningful change.

You can read more about how I work in counselling and EMDR therapy.

If you're nervous about your first session

• You only share what you feel comfortable with. There is never any pressure to share anything you don't want to.
• It's completely your session.
• I work from a non-judgemental place. We all respond in ways we sometimes don't want to, and feel ashamed of. Often that's just us trying to make the best of a very bad situation.
• Being able to tell someone the worst parts of yourself, and have that validated and accepted, can be really freeing.
• It takes time to build a relationship with a therapist. You never need to share beyond what feels right for where that relationship is.

What BACP accreditation means for you

I am a BACP Registered Member (Accredited). To become accredited I had to prove my competence, complete over 450 hours of supervised practice (well over that now), and show evidence that my work aligns with the BACP professional framework.

For you as a client, it means:

• I'm not newly qualified.
• I've logged significant hours working directly with clients under supervision.
• My ethical decision-making and handling of complex cases have been formally reviewed and approved by senior peers in the profession.
• I work to the BACP Ethical Framework and have regular clinical supervision.

Counsellor or psychotherapist?

Counselling and psychotherapy are very similar. Because I have a degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy, I can also be called a psychotherapist. That additional training means we can work on deeper-rooted, long-standing difficulties, whereas counselling typically focuses on the present.

Qualifications

• Degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy
• Diploma in Integrative Counselling
• Couples counselling certificate
• EMDR Europe Association accredited training

Why “Azolla”?

Azolla is a small water plant that takes in carbon and nitrogen from the atmosphere and turns these gases into life-giving nutrients. In doing so, it helps purify its ecosystem.

I liked that image for counselling, because something similar can happen on the inside. Just as azolla improves the water it lives in, counselling can improve your inner world. You can bring whatever you're carrying: your thoughts, fears, chaotic emotions and past traumas. Together, we work to turn those difficult things into something that nourishes you, so that over time your inner world becomes a calmer, healthier place to be.