Senior BACP Accreditation as a counsellor, psychotherapist and supervisor
Psychological First Aid Training, John Hopkins University via Coursera
Accredited EMDR Training,The EMDR Academy
Post-Graduate Certificate in Person-Centred Supervision, Temenos, Sheffield
BACP Accreditation
BACP Accredited Practitioner Course in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), University of Birmingham
BACP Accredited Diploma in Person Centred Counselling and Psychotherapy, University of Warwick
Level Two Certificate in Counselling Skills and Studies, Thomas Danby College, Leeds
Introductory Counselling Certificate, Thomas Danby College, Leeds
I have also attended a vast number of training courses addressing, but not limited to:
- Solution focused brief therapy (SFBT)
- Working therapeutically with children and young people
- Working with suicide and self harm
- The ‘Rewind' technique for trauma and phobias
- Introduction to Male Psychology and Mental Health
- Safeguarding children and young people
- Child sexual exploitation (CSE) and trauma
- Working with teenagers and adolescents
- Working with children and trauma
- Walk and talk therapy training
- Working online in the counselling professions
- Certificate in online and telephone counselling
- Male-Friendly Therapy
My personal experience
I first became interested in counselling as a career in the late 90s after having my own personal therapy, which helped me to address the violence and bullying I experienced in school.
Whilst working as a trainee therapist I found myself counselling a number of boys and men who had experienced various forms of sexual abuse.This, along with my own experience of being sexually exploited as a child, and raped as a young adult informed my decision to specialise in working with males who had experienced recent and/or historic sexual abuse, assaults and exploitation.
At sixteen I was sexually exploited by an older man who manipulated me into engaging in sexual activity with other adults.At twenty, I was raped by a man who I believed to be a bouncer whilst on a night out.
After the rape I was able to recognise that what had happened to me was sexual assault, but I did not recognise that I was sexually exploited at sixteen until I was in my late twenties and working with a boy who himself was being sexually exploited.
I responded to the rape by drinking heavily and looking to get into physical fights with people.I believed my masculinity had been damaged and that this was how I fixed it.The problem was that I had rather rigid and unhealthy ideas about masculinity and what it meant to be male in the first place, and it was these beliefs that stopped me from overcoming the adverse effects of the rape.
Through my work with abused boys and men I have seen that healthy beliefs about masculinity can in fact, help boys and men to deal with their abuse.This doesn't mean talking about how you feel, crying a lot and expressing your emotions (although there is nothing wrong with that), it means using elements of masculinity such as strength, control, action and problem solving in a way that can help abused males overcome their abuse and get something useful out of therapy.
It is not masculinity that is toxic!it is the rigidity and the attitudes towards masculinity that is toxic.
Prior to recognising that I was sexually exploited at sixteen, I spoke to a counsellor about the rape I'd experienced.It wasn't easy.I felt like I was weak.I thought I should just "get on with it" but getting on with it was easier said than done.Whilst I'm not sure that the counsellor's approach was for me, looking back I was able to see that going to therapy wasn't a sign of weakness!it was a sign of me making a decision, taking action and taking control of my situation to improve my life, even though it was a difficult decision to make.This was a sign of strength!
You can read more about my story of abuse byclicking hereand reading an article which featured in the May 2018 edition of Happiful Magazine.
My counselling experience
Counselling, psychotherapy, supervision and training provided by a fully qualified and BACP senior accredited therapist with over 19 years experience, gaining thousands of hours working with hundreds of people.
- I am a qualified counsellor and psychotherapist
- I am atherapist with The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
- Since 2004 I have provided one-to-one counselling and psychotherapy to hundreds of children, young people and adults of all genders
- I am experienced in working with anxiety, stress, trauma, bereavement, anger, low self-esteem, sexuality and more
- I have significant experience in working with those who have experienced recent and/or historic rape and/or sexual abuse/violence/exploitation
- I specialise in working with boys and men affected by recent and/or historic sexual abuse/violence including males from the world of sport
- Whilst I am experienced in working with issues affecting girls and women, I have significant experience in working with inequalities, disadvantages, prejudice and misandry affecting boys and men
- I have over six years' experience of counselling those affected by bereavement via Cruse Bereavement Care
- I have over three years' experience of counselling those struggling with their sexuality via Terrence Higgins Trust and Freshwinds Birmingham
- I have over two years' experience in working with children via Relate's Time for You service and a number of secondary schools
- Since 2007 I have worked in private practice and ran a counselling service in the Midlands
- I have provided counselling for ITV and a number of Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs)
My supervision experience
- I am a qualified supervisor
- I am asupervisor with The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
- Since 2010 I have provided supervision to practitioners working with children affected by child sexual exploitation (CSE)
- Since 2012 I have provided supervision to qualified and trainee counsellors
- I am experienced in providing Person Centred and also integrative/eclectic supervision
- I am experienced in supervising those working in schools, colleges, GP surgeries, voluntary sector services and other counselling organisations
- I have significant experience in working with safeguarding issues and supervising those working with vulnerable children and adults
- I am experienced in supervising those counselling clients affected by trauma and expressing suicidal thoughts
- I also provide supervision to practitioners working in other organisations such as youth services, sexual health services, domestic abuse services, children's charities, CSE services and sexual abuse counselling services
- I also with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) regarding the development of new resources
My specialist experience
- I specialise in working with males affected by recent and/or historic rape and sexual abuse/exploitation
- I have significant experience in working with boys and men affected by recent and/or historic sexual abuse
- I have provided counselling/support to hundreds of boys and men affected by rape and sexual abuse since 2004
- I have over nine years' experience of managing a male only sexual abuse/exploitation service
- I have developed and implemented various national initiatives and campaigns aimed at tackling the sexual exploitation of boys
- I have developed nationally recognised male CSE resources such as‘Alright Charlie', ‘Ryan's Story',‘Brandon's Story'and more
- Whilst managing the male only sexual abuse/exploitation service I was instrumental in theJack CSE serious case reviewwhere it was highlighted I provided good/consistent support
- I have appeared on TV and in local and national media.I have addressed:
- The sexual abuse of boys on BBC Look North andChannel 4 News
- The sexual harassment of boys and men on GB News
- Miscarriages of justice affecting men on after theAndrew Malkinson caseon LBC Radio
- Violence against men afterAlice Woodwas found guilty of murdering her fiance Ryan Watson
- I am an experienced trainer and public speaker addressing male rape and sexual abuse/exploitation
- Since 2009 I have delivered training to thousands of professionals across the country addressing the rape and sexual abuse/exploitation of boys and men and the difficulties they face in asking for help
- Between 2013 and 2015 I managed the national male CSE development project ‘Excellence for Boys' which saw male referrals to 20 CSE services increase from 91 to 249
- In 2014 my work in the field of male sexual abuse was acknowledged when I was also nominated for an' Unsung Hero Award' and was a finalist in the category, ‘Longest Journey Under Challenging Conditions'
- In December 2017 I featured in the BBC documentary ‘Male Rape: Breaking the Silence'
- I have published various blogs and articles addressing various aspects of the sexual abuse of males.Please visit Blog and publications page for further details
- I have contributed to various research, reports and publications on the issue of male rape and sexual abuse/exploitation
- In July 2023 my first book entitled‘The Sexual Abuse of Boys and Men: Creating an Approach for Neglected Victims'was released
- I featured in the 2017 publication ‘Child Sexual Exploitation After Rotherham' by Adele Gladman & Angie Heal
- I featured in the 2018 publication ‘Helping Male Survivors of Sexual Violation to Recover' by Sarah Van Gogh
- I featured in the 2023 short film‘MEN TOO – Domestic Violence Against Men'by ‘Dogs on the Run Production' addressing the abuse of boys and men
- I facilitate a monthly online men's group where we discuss all manner of issues affecting boys and men
- I facilitate a monthly online group for counsellors where we discuss various issues in the world of counselling and psychotherapy
My training experience
- As someone who has experienced rape and child sexual exploitation (CSE) and supported boys and men who have experienced sexual abuse I am appropriately placed to provide training addressing male sexual abuse and exploitation
- I have significant experience in public speaking and training professionals addressing issues related to male sexual abuse
- I have developed nationally recognised male sexual abuse/exploitation training
- Since 2009 I have delivered male sexual abuse/exploitation to thousands of professionals across the country
- Training is informed by my many years of practice, working with boys and men affected by sexual abuse/exploitation.This ensures that the content is kept up to date and that the voices of males are heard
- I deliver high quality training in a dynamic and engaging way, using interactive methods and anecdotal stories from personal and professional experiences
- I provide training that focuses on achieving realistic and measurable outcomes, aiming to make a real difference to boys and men
- I have developed and delivered training aimed at identifying boys at risk of sexual exploitation and challenging gender biased practice
- I have worked with various organisations and practitioners to help make their services and practice accessible to, and inclusive of males.
- I have delivered training to large children's charities, voluntary sector organisations, child sexual exploitation services, youth provisions, counselling organisations, CAMHS services, educational professionals, sexual health practitioners, other health professionals, housing workers, children's social care, safeguarding children boards and various police forces and local authority work forces
- I have delivered bespoke training addressing various aspects of male sexual abuse/exploitation
- I have also delivered training to various groups of professionals on other issues such as basic counselling skills and sexual orientation
