The Trustee Group

I am a person-centred therapist working with children and young people predominantly. I also work with Asian people from the Indian subcontinent, mainly with adults who have language challenges. 

My passion for the person-centred approach began at the trainee practitioner stage when I started my own therapy with a deeply person-centred therapist and being. The experience of change and transformation in the right environment, cemented my belief in the approach. Since then I have experienced numerous encounter groups, which are rooted in the person-centred approach. These are an experience in ongoing growth and development. The desire to support the person-centred approach has grown, hence. I am passionate about autonomy, personal power and acceptance. I strongly believe in trusting the process, which has brought me where I want to be in my private world. I am passionate about the person-centred approach which provides space to hold and contain varying views and co-exist. I want to be a part of tPCA so that I can contribute towards promoting this approach and spreading the love of it.

In my free time, I read, play with paints and pens, and write poems. I have been fortunate to be selected for many of my haiku and other forms of poems to be published in various anthologies, in print and online.

I graduated last year from a degree in Therapeutic Psychology at Roehampton University, and had many great teachers including Professor Mick Cooper who started out as a Person-Centred counsellor many moons ago. I’m currently working towards accreditation. 

My studies and training have allowed me to learn about a wide spectrum of theoretical concepts. I always found my orientation veered towards the person-centred approach which I’m passionate about and welcome the opportunity to support the PCA as a trustee.

I am a white, gender/queer, disabled person-centred counsellor, lecturer and researcher. In my private practice and my research I specialise in gender and sexuality and I’ve just finished my PhD looking at gender and sexuality in English sex education (and now i have some life back!). In my free time I read - a lot - and I play violin in my local orchestra. I love the person-centred approach and find myself frustrated often by the (external) belief that the PCA is the ‘easiest’ of approaches, when for me it’s one of the most complex. It’s a hill I’m prepared to die on… (In seriousness; I love having those conversations with people and learning about others’ opinions and how they relate to mine). I believe in community and for me, tPCA is one way of achieving that and I would like to be part of helping that grow.

I am a newly qualified person-centred counsellor employed at a local charity supporting survivors of rape and sexual abuse. I am also in the throes of building a small private practice.  

 I am particularly interested in promoting a non-pathologising approach and have recently taken on the task of administering meetings for the PCA non-pathologising group.  I have become fascinated by how the person-centred approach empowers and promotes agency for the client. I feel that this is a unique selling point of person-centred therapy that does not receive enough recognition, in fact, I think person-centred therapy does not receive enough recognition full stop.

Finally, I believe that as a community, we must work together to promote the person-centred approach. The respect for the actualising tendency and non-directive way of working gives clients a freedom, power and autonomy unlike any other therapy. I don't think the person-centred approach gets the credit it is due and I am delighted to be part of a movement that challenges that!

I am Director of Training at an East Midlands PCA counselling training centre.  I was the first link for tPCA Education and Training Working Group and I was co-opted as a Trustee for a short time back in 2020, so have considerable hands-on experience in supporting the Association in its aims and objectives. 

On a more personal note, I was once hit by lightning, and I’ve swum in both polar regions. I would recommend the latter over the former.

My interest in tPCA began while a student. Having qualified last year (2021), I remain a member and have recently joined a couple of the special interest groups.

I have found it challenging to find people to share the PC way of being and working since completing my diploma and am keen to build relationships with others whose work is person centred, particularly as my practice develops.

The benefits I have felt through the person centred training and ongoing learning result in an energy to promote this form of counselling. I would like to support tPCA in existing as an organisation where the person centred way of being can be welcomed and developed.