About Me

Previous Experience that has enhanced my role as a counsellor

I gained experience as a support worker for the National Autistic Society in a residential setting, assisting adults with autism to live independently. At East Kent College I worked as a Student Support Progression Technician responsible for a large group of young and mature students. Prior to all of this I left school and qualified as a hairdresser going on to run my own successful salon with a team of eight stylists including trainees. It was this early career that equipped me with excellent people & interpersonal skills, comfortable with meeting new people, helping others, good communicator, making people feel comfortable & relaxed. I returned to Relate as a Relationship Counsellor in November 2015 working at both their Canterbury & Gillingham provisions. I hold the CPCAB (Counselling & Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body) Diploma Certificate in Counselling both level 4 & level 5. I have also qualified as a Sex Therapist with ‘Relate’ accredited by the College of Sexual & Relationship Therapists (CORST) in early 2021, achieving the Relate Professional Certificate of Psychosexual Therapy. I am constantly looking to improve my knowledge and attend various continued professional development training sessions.

Privacy Statement

Your privacy matters. To supply you with my services I need to use information about you, and some of that may be personal or private. For example: I may need to know your name and address, details of how you would like to be contacted (e.g. your mobile phone number), or how you would like to pay for the services I provide you. As I do this, I’d like you to take some time to read this privacy statement. It will explain what information I may collect about you, why I collect it, what I may use it for, and who I may give it to. I’ll also explain your rights towards your information and how I look after it while I have it. What Information do we collect about you? The information I collect about you may vary based on what service I provide to you. Typically, I need details like your name and address so I know who you are and what services you need from me, your contact details like phone number or email so that I can keep in touch with you about my services. Your bank account or other financial details so I can manage your payment for our services. Some of my services require me to ask sensitive and personal questions. This information is kept separate away from your name and contact details so that only myself can reference which sensitive information relates to which client. I only collect information about you that I need to make sure you get the best service from me. We respect your privacy and we try to minimise what we do collect. At the end of your therapy your sensitive data is encrypted, stored electronically and kept for a minimum period as possible as required by my insurance. How do I collect information about you? I prefer to collect the information I need directly from you. That way, you know what I have, and I can be sure you’ve provided me with the most accurate and up to date information. I will usually do this: When you contact me for any reason or complete an online form. Face to face in the therapy room. What do we do with the information we collect about you? I use your information in various ways, such as to: Meet the purposes that you provided your information for. Provide you with the services you want. Let you know about goods or services I feel would be beneficial to you. Keep my records accurate and up to date & if required to comply with any legal or regulatory obligations I may have. Who do we share your information with? I appreciate that you have provided your information to me and may not want me to share it with other people or organisations, however sometimes it is necessary for me to do so. I only share your information where I am permitted or required to by law, or where you have requested me to do so. We may share your information with, for example: Any of your family, associates, or someone who represents you, where you have asked us to do so. Any person, organisation or regulator where I are required to because of a court order, regulatory responsibility, legal duty or statutory obligation. I am careful to minimise such sharing. Whenever I share your information I do everything I can to make sure it is protected from misuse or loss. How do I look after and secure your information? I am a registered ‘Data Controller’ with the Information Commissioner’s Office and hold a Data Protection Licence. Your data could be stored either in paper form or electronic form or a combination of both. When I use information about you I take all reasonable efforts to do so fairly and lawfully. I never use information about you unless it is lawful for me to do so and I have a clearly defined need or purpose. When I collect information about you I ensure that I minimise what I collect. I try not to keep your information for longer than I need it and I ensure that the records I have about you are managed properly and deleted promptly and securely when I no longer need them.