A disability can be any physical, cognitive, sensory, emotional or developmental condition that reduces or hampers a person’s ability to carry out everyday tasks. A disability can be present at birth or occur later in life, depending on the nature of the condition. Living with a disability or longterm health condition can be a long journey, mentally, physically and emotionally. Besides the person who is experiencing disability, chronic pain or ongoing health issues, friends, family and carers may too find it difficult to come to terms with and adapt to a condition.

I have personal experience of disability and over many years have acquired considerable knowledge and awareness through living with, working alongside and supporting people with disabilities. I currently work as an associate counsellor for several disability support organisations. You may find disability counselling beneficial if you are suddenly classed as disabled due to an accident. Similarly if you feel you have lost your confidence, identity and self-esteem over a period of time because of the challenges a disability has on your lifestyle, talking to someone in a safe space who won’t judge you could be the key to starting to trust and believe in yourself again. Whatever your difficulty, how big or small your issues, you will be made to feel welcome, will be treated with empathy and shown respect.

Caregivers are people who help others in their day-to-day life. For some, caring may become a sudden responsibility (for example, if a loved one is involved in an accident or becomes ill). The responsibilities carers have may depend on the nature of the illness of the person they care for. Everyday activities carers may help out with can include feeding and clothing someone, helping them to shower or have a bath, to taking them out and socialising. Juggling the caring role with other commitments such as work and family life can be difficult. Often carers can find themselves in situations where their needs take second place to the person they care for. They can find caring both rewarding and frustrating. It is common for carers to suffer from heightened stress, anxiety and depression.

Carer counselling offers you the opportunity to talk about your thoughts and feelings in a safe, confidential, non-judgemental and regular environment. I recognize the struggles, joys and responsibilities that you may encounter in your situation as a carer. I have extensive experience of supporting and working alongside people who have worked in a variety of caring roles. During therapy I will give you the time and space to think about your own needs. Counselling is not about telling you what you should be doing. It is an opportunity for you to talk about and reflect upon what is happening in your life as a carer.

Starting college or university can be like starting a new life. Many students are not prepared for the challenges of student life and can end up being overwhelmed by them. The first year of college or university can be especially difficult and daunting and for many young people it can be a culture shock, compared to how things were previously either living at home or attending school. Since it may be the first time being away from home for the majority of students, homesickness can strike hard.

Added to this may come the pressures of studies, cost of education, the challenges of finding new friends, housing problems and time management.

I have firsthand experience of being a student at a range of institutions so I can empathize with many of the issues experienced by this client group. During therapy I may be able to help you work out why you feel low or depressed, gain an understanding of why you behave in the way that you do and enable you to manage your anxiety or stress better. Student counselling may also give you the time and space to work through a trauma and bereavement, improve your self-esteem and confidence, look at how you relate with others and to explore how you could function better.

Although becoming a parent is rewarding, it can also be challenging.

Some common challenges parents might face include providing consistent care, attending to the needs of their child or infant, maintaining adult relationships and financial difficulties. Parenting is often physically demanding. Parents with young children may spend much of their day performing household tasks and as a result may feel overworked and sometimes feel resentful towards their partner. Parenting may become more difficult and complex when a child shows signs of behaviour issues, physical or intellectual disability or mental health issues.

Parenting counselling may be helpful for you if you are experiencing marital issues, going through separation or divorce or suffering any form of abuse, aggression or domestic violence. I have many years of experience working with parents while I was on placement at a Sure Start Children’s Centre and I understand that being a parent can be one of the hardest jobs in the world at times but also the most rewarding. During parenting counselling I will enable you to feel emotionally supported when you need it most. I provide a safe space for you to talk about what’s on your mind and about any difficulties you may be facing, whether this is as a result of what your child may be going through or the emotional impact upon you as a parent. During therapy I can help you to work through emotional family challenges and tackling mental and emotional wellbeing.

All close relationships have their ups and downs. There are so many pressures on our lives and on our time – from family to finances, from children to communication – that many couples can struggle and go through difficult times. When we’ve been in a relationship or marriage for a long time, it can be easy to fall into the trap of not listening to the other person or not communicating our needs clearly. Sometimes talking to someone objectively, with no connection to yourself or your partner, is all it takes for you to gain perspective. I’ve recently undertaken extensive training in couples therapy and if you choose to come and work with me I will apply the knowledge, skills, interventions and resources I have developed to guide you through your concerns.