Category: Counsellor

Senior Social Work Practitioner / Counsellor 

Qualifications 

BSSc – Queen’s University, Belfast
Dip in Social Work – Edinburgh University
Accredited Member of the British Association for Counselling and
Psychotherapy (AMBACP)
Accredited Member of the British Infertility Counselling Association (AMBICA)

Experience

I was employed initially as a Trainee Social Worker in the Royal Victoria Hospital and on qualifying as a Social Worker, moved to work in a Community-based Family and Child Care Team where I also carried out Adoption Home Studies.

On joining Family Routes, a full range of adoption work formed the foundation of my employment.

As a staff group, a number of referrals were received from those ending fertility treatments. In the late 1980’s, together with two colleagues, I set up what is now known as the Fertility Counselling Service ni. Over the years we have expanded the service to offer an extensive range of Therapeutic and Implications Counselling. Along the way CBT skills were added to my initial Person-Centered training.

With BICA I served on the:
Executive Committee
Accreditation Committee
Represented BICA on PROGAR (British Association of Social Workers Project Group on Assisted Reproduction).
With a colleague, co-authored a BICA Pubilcation Practice Guide.

I am also a founding member of the Irish Fertility Counsellors’ Association.

Continuing in Family Routes, I am now the lead for our Fertility Counselling Services and also Next Step.

More recently I have joined the Adoption Routes Adoption Panel.

What do you like to do in your free time?  I re-upholster old chairs, and thoroughly enjoy going for a walk while catching up on Podcasts.

All time favourite TV series? ER and The West Wing.

Counsellor – Fertility Counselling Service NI

Qualifications

I trained as a Registered General Nurse in The Royal Victoria Hospital Belfast qualifying in 1990 and retiring in 2004. During this time, in 1997, I obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree with commendation in Business studies from the University of Ulster.

Through my nursing experience I developed an awareness of the important role of Counselling and achieved a Diploma with Distinction in Clinical Hypnosis from Queens University Belfast in 2010, going on two years later to complete a Foundation Degree in Integrative Counselling from The University of Ulster and Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) 2014.

I am a Registered Member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (RMBACP) an Accredited Member of The National Counselling Society (AMNCS) and an Accredited Member of the British Infertility Counselling Association (AMBICA).

Experience

With 15 years’ experience in nursing, mostly in critical care, I transitioned to counselling and psychotherapy in 2012.

I worked as the in-house CBT counsellor and psychotherapist for three different GP surgeries for nine years.

I began my experience in Fertility Counselling in 2016, working as a Sessional Counsellor, joining the team in Family Routes in January 2021 as member of staff within the Fertility Counselling Service.

I hope to bring a wealth of diverse experience to help and support individuals on their unique journeys to achieving family.

In my free time: I love nothing better than heading out on a long walk with my two dogs. I love cooking, and eating it is even better!

My all time favourite TV show: I never tire of watching repeats of Frasier.

Counsellor

Qualifications:
FD Integrative Counselling Ulster University, MBACP, BICA.

I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)and the British Infertility Counselling Association (BICA).

Special interest/experience
From personal experience of infertility, I have a deep understanding of the psychological and emotional impact of this diagnosis. I offer a safe confidential space for conversations aiming to address grief and loss as well as anxiety, work and relationship issues.
I am passionate about providing support and hope to individuals and couples through what can be one of the most challenging and emotionally difficult times in your life.

Additional information
More about me: I have more than twenty five years’ experience of working with people within diverse business, public and private sector environments. In my private practice, I work with individuals, couples and families facing a wide range of mental health and relationship issues.

For the last nine years, I have been an independent member of the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust Adoption Panel. More recently I joined the Family Routes Adoption Panel.

What do you like to do in your free time? Beach and forest walks with Lola our Springador.

All time favourite tv shows: MasterChef and Grand Designs.