About Me

I was raised in Wales, in the old industrial South Wales Valley. My playground was The Pit, which was the rubble and ruins from a 1960s colliery disaster. That land was full of sadness and loss, the ground was blackened, the river rust-filled, but what it taught me was how life can find a way through. 

The Pit is now a thriving nature reserve. 

At a young age, during a challenging time, I stumbled into a drama group. At that tender age, the drama group was salvation, it was an escape. I could BE someone else, not being me was what I needed to find myself. Playing different characters, and using my imagination to experience a different way of being helped me day to day. This set me on a course of studying theatre through college and into university, along the way meeting different artists, clowns, fools and philosophers. I found a way to channel my experiences, my feelings and my thoughts into art. 

After graduating, I volunteered and worked in different charities, including homelessness and domestic abuse services. I then started training in counselling and finally applied for Dramatherapy (prompted by a clown).

Dramatherapy is a creative arts psychotherapy, where we learn about ourselves through metaphor, active imagination and creative expression. We can use movement, dance, art, scripts, songs (I’m not a singer, but if you want to, I will), creative writing and play. 

I am a poet, I am bilingual, and I am dyslexic – I have an ambivalent relationship with words when it comes to my own self-expression. What I love about creative work is there doesn’t have to be a focus on what we say. We can express ourselves non-verbally and then find the words if we want. My love of words, as a poet, however, is very available for the Email Counselling I offer.

I have been working as a creative arts psychotherapist since qualifying in 2016, I have worked in a variety of settings with clients from age 11 to 70. 

I have gained other training through the years and have a bit of a blended approach as a practitioner I guess, but mostly I am human (when I’m not clowning) and I stay connected to the human experiences I support in my work. 

I also love to share my life and work with canine companions.  My most recently dog Spud has actually been a big challenge, He is overwhelmed by the world and can experience a lot of distress, through supporting him I have gained certification in dog training and through his teaching, I am now able to extend my services across species. I hope that I will again be able to offer Animal Assisted Psychotherapy either when Spud is ready, or with the future dogs that will join me in my life. 

'Forget not that the Earth delights to feel your bare feet and the wind longs to play with your hair'

Kahlil Gibran