Most About pages begin with qualifications, experience and a summary of someone’s career.
Those things matter, but they don’t tell you very much about the way someone thinks or what it’s like to work alongside them.
I’d rather begin somewhere else.
The questions I return to again and again have shaped the way I think throughout my work with children, young people, families, practitioners and organisations.
Why can the same experience feel so different depending on who’s living it? Why do some experiences stay with us long before we have the words to describe them? How can people leave the same conversation with completely different understandings of what was said?
Those questions continue to shape my work today.
Experience has taught me to be curious about first explanations rather than satisfied by them. Understanding rarely comes from rushing. It grows when we slow down enough to notice, reflect and become curious about what we may not have considered before. Looking a little more closely often changes what we come to understand.
Creativity has always been central to how I think and how I work. It has never felt separate from understanding; it’s another way of developing it. That curiosity led me to explore creativity and understanding through my doctoral research, but it continues to influence the way I work every day.
I’ve trained across a wide range of therapeutic approaches and creative ways of working, giving me the flexibility to draw on different ideas, models and techniques depending on the person in front of me. The approach should fit the person, not the other way around. Understanding comes first.
I don’t believe understanding is something we arrive at. I think it’s something we continue to develop.
The questions that continue to shape my work are just as important as the experience that has shaped it.
Professionally, I’m an integrative creative psychotherapist, educator, trainer, researcher and senior clinical supervisor. My work brings together therapeutic practice, teaching, research and creativity, informed by specialist trainings in range of play and creative arts therapies, trauma-informed practice and a broad range of therapeutic approaches.
Outside of work, you’ll usually find me with a decent coffee, walking Orca (my therapy dog), reading, writing or trying something creative I’ve never done before. My pile of books is always growing, I’m endlessly curious, and I love learning, exploring new ideas and seeing familiar things from different perspectives. Whether it’s through creativity, conversation or another book added to the pile, I’m always interested in discovering something I hadn’t noticed before.
People come to Creating Calm for many different reasons. You may be looking for support for yourself, someone you care about, a child in your family, a pupil in your school, or support for your team or organisation.
There is no single way of working that suits everyone. Different approaches offer different possibilities, and sometimes they are brought together. The way we work together is guided by the people involved, the situation and what is likely to be most helpful.
Everyone’s story is different. My practice is trauma-informed, neuro-affirming and inclusive, offering a space where everyone is welcomed.
For those who would like it, Orca, my therapy dog, may also become part of the therapeutic experience. Some people enjoy her quiet companionship, while others simply appreciate knowing she is nearby.
As Orca is usually present in the studio, even when she is not involved in sessions, it’s important to let me know if you have a significant allergy to dogs or a fear of dogs. Together, we can then consider how we might work together.
Whether you are seeking support for a child, looking for supervision, exploring training opportunities or considering support for a team or organisation, a free 10-minute conversation can help you decide what may be most helpful.
