Advanced Diploma in Reflexive Supervision

Certificate in Equine Assisted Therapy

I am Cruse Bereavement trained in working with both adults and children, and I was a post primary school counsellor for 2 years.

I work within private and organizational practice.

I work with individuals with a wide range of presenting issues.

NISCC, Registered member

NISCC Standards of Conduct & Practice

· UU FdSc in Counselling (Integrative)

·  CPCAB Diploma Psychotherapeutic Counselling

· ASIST Applied Suicide Intervention

· Level 1 Foundation & Level 2 Intermediate – Motivational Interviewing

Diploma in Counselling

Diploma in Psychotherapy

NCS Accredited Counsellor/Psychotherapist, Integrative Therapy and a member of BACP

I have 12 years’ experience in the profession. I work with individuals and couples on a wide range of issues.

Safeguarding Children & Young People – UU

Suicide Awareness & Prevention –Assist

British Association Social Workers (BASW)

2017 Non Violence Resistance Training

2015 DDP Masterclass

2015 Dr K. Golding, Foundations for Attachments Trainer Programme

2017 Group Theraplay

2014 Theraplay Level 1 and MIM’s Assessment Model

2014 PQ Specialist Social Work Award 1-3 obtained and ongoing

2010 / 2011 DDP Levels 1 & 2

Incredible Years BASIC, ADVANCED and DINA Programmes

2007 Foundation in Family Therapy and Systemic Practice

2006 Young Minds Certificate in Child and Adolescent Mental Health

2003    Queen’s University Belfast
MSW DIP/SW Social Work

1995    Middlesex University BA Hons in Art Practice in the Community and Psychology

1992    Burnley College Foundation Studies in Art and Design

Throughout my professional journey, as well as my own personal experiences of adoption, I have been fascinated by relationships, how we interact, how we influence each other, patterns of communication, our expectations, hopes and wishes as well as our commitments in relationships and attachments. Given their complexity, relationships can require support to think about how best to understand ourselves and others in helpful and safe ways and to develop a level of attachment security.

Certificate on Solution Focused Counselling

Post Graduate Dip. In Special Education

B. Ed Degree

Accredited member of National Counselling Society

Code of ethics observed

NHS (National Hypnotherapy Society, Registered Member)

• BSc (Hons) Psychology & Sociology
• CPCAB Dip (Relate) Relationship Counselling
• FDSc Integrative Counselling
• Dip HypCS Hypnotherapy & Counselling
• Cert Person Centred Counselling
• Dip Mindfulness

My training areas are:

• Relate Trained Couple Counsellor
• TESSA Trained Adoption Counselling
• ASIST Suicide Intervention Training
• Mental Health & Wellbeing Coaching
• Cert in Alcohol & Young People’s Development
• Cert in New Psychoactive Substances
• Cert in Childhood Sexual Abuse

Cert in Managing Self-Harm

I currently work as a self-employed counsellor, hypnotherapist, and mindfulness practitioner.

I use a number of venues in the Northern Trust area and can offer appointments that are accessible and convenient including some evenings and weekends.

I also have 15 years’ experience working in the field of pregnancy, birth trauma, post-pregnancy related issues, bereavement, post-natal depression and anxiety.

In my current post I coordinate a counseling service and provide supervision and training for counsellors. I worked for five years with parents in community-based settings, supporting them to develop ways to communicate with their children and engage in difficult conversations. Part of this work was with foster parents.

I have also worked with birth and adoptive families at different stages of the adoption process. I have a good sense of how complex things can be and why it is so important that everyone involved receives the support they need when they need it.

I have my own practice room in North Belfast with availability daytime and evenings. My room is within a shared building, and is accessible on the ground floor. Free parking is available on site.

Willing to Travel:

Yes

BACP Certificate of Proficiency

Certificate in Anger Management

Certificate in Children and Young People’s counselling

Diploma in Clinical Hypnotherapy

BSC(HONS) Psychology

Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development certificate

Post Graduate Certificate in Further and Higher Education

I am fully qualified and a registered member of the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) and the NCS (National Counselling Society).

I practice within the code of ethics of confidentiality. I am also fully trained in Clinical Hypnotherapy and find this has very positive results with concerns such as anxiety, addictions and changing negative thinking patterns. I am fully trained in Anger Management.

As I have lectured for over 20  years in Health and Social Care and Early Years, I deliver workshops and information sessions on many areas such as mindfulness, parenting and attachments, Autistic Spectrum and ADHD,  Anxiety and stress reduction, depression and also anger management.

Having worked as a respite foster carer for the past ten years, I have had many wonderful experiences of the children in my care, however, I also have an understanding of the many worries and concerns that fostering and adoption may bring.

Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) Level 1 (Dan Hughes model)

MSC Health Promotion

PG Dip Specialist Practive Nursing & CBT

Sleep difficulties

I also work with couples. The presence of a traumatised adopted child in need of therapeutic parenting can have profound effects on the relationship of the couple. Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy enables the couple to get beyond the negative cycle of disconnection and to discover a loving connected secure attachment with each other. With my husband, we also facilitate the ‘Hold Me Tight’,  two-day workshop for couples.

I also facilitate Mindfulness Workshops and use Mindfulness as part of the Therapeutic Process where appropriate.

BACP

BACP

Currently completing MSc Autism Spectrum Disorders

Fundamentals of Equine Assisted Growth and Learning

MSc Art Psychotherapy

UU Diploma in Counselling

Level 3 OCN Community and Drugs Awareness training

BA Hons Art and Design

Therapy Experience:
Sessional Art Psychotherapist and counsellor with Wave trauma centre – providing counselling and art therapy sessions to individuals affected by the Northern Ireland Troubles.

Art psychotherapist and counsellor with Contact NI – manning the crisis helpline and providing one to one short term counselling and art therapy sessions to adults and children affected by suicide or self-harm. I also work on the ART project, which is a longer term service, supporting children affected by aggression related trauma.

Trainee art psychotherapist HMP Magilligan – as a trainee art therapist I provided an art therapy service on a one to one and group basis.

Trainee Threshold – As part of my training I provided group and one to one sessions to adults with long term enduring mental health issues as part of a therapeutic community.

Support worker SHAC – Supporting vulnerable tenants of a housing association to maintain their tenancy.

Part-time outreach worker and youth council coordinator – working in the community with young people to encourage engagement in youth programs and prevent antisocial behaviour.

Reg. Member of the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC)

Diploma in Integrative Counselling (Person-centred & Psychodynamic); Diploma in CBT Skills & Theory; PG Diploma in Practitioner Skills for Eating Disorders.

My Social Work qualifications are…
BA (Hons) Social Work; Post-qualification Award in Social Work; Advanced Award in Social Work (Competencies 1, 3 & 5); An Introduction to Research Methods & Quality Assurance in the Health & Social Sciences

Publication…
Post-adoption Face-to-Face Contact with Birth Parents: Prospective Adopters’ Views

Turkington, S & Taylor, BJ
Child Care in Practice Vol 15 Number 1 January 2009

I currently work as a self-employed counsellor, part-time lecturer in counselling and I am a self-employed social worker speciaIising in adoption.

I provide workshops on stress management to help people identify any triggers that may cause stress, become more aware of physical and emotional signs and symptoms, and develop greater self- awareness. I use a number of tools and coping strategies, including mindfulness, to help re-balance the sympathetic nervous system by working on the relaxation response. This proves very effective in stress management and in stress-related health conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome and chronic fatigue. My counselling service is adaptable to meet each client’s need to manage symptoms and promote healing. I am keen to provide counselling to adoptive parents due to my own experience growing up in a home that provided both long-term and short-term foster care. I know how stressful this can be both for the parents and child being fostered/adopted and the impact it has on other siblings in the family. Support and guidance vital in helping families cope with both emotional and behavioural issues that may arise.

My Theoretical Approach:
I am an integrative counsellor offering a professional, confidential counselling service. As an integrative therapist I use a combined approach, tailoring therapy to meet the client’s need. Therapy is an opportunity for each client to have the time and safe space to explore distressing or challenging issues. The aim is to promote healing and facilitate wholeness, ensuring that a person can function to their full potential.

·       Foundation Degree in Counselling

·       Certificate in Complex Trauma and Childhood Abuse

I have also worked in two GP Surgeries over the past six years where I have gained wide ranging experience with a variety of different issues.

I am very passionate about my work and enjoy being able to support people through difficult stages of their lives in a non-judgmental and empathic way.