Cornwall Counselling Institute

Deborah is a Chartered Psychologist and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society. She has been practicing for over 30 years in the field of mental health. Her 10-year training was based in general psychiatry, where she worked across a variety of specialist units in hospitals. She specialised in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and worked predominantly with mood and anxiety disorders. She then moved into educational settings and spent 5 years supporting young people with acquired brain injury, learning difficulties and physical disabilities. Deborah has spent the last 10 years working for The Cornwall College Group, providing student counselling services, teaching on counselling and psychology courses and developing and expanding the professional counselling training programmes available at the Cornwall Counselling Institute.

Qualifications: BA (Hons) Psychology, MSc Health Psychology, MSc Counselling Psychology, Post MSc Diploma Counselling Psychology, PGCE, CPsychol, AFBPsS

Ben found his vocation as a therapist having previously run a theatre company as actor, writer & director, taught English, and managed a circus shop. He now runs a busy private counselling practice for all adult and young person client groups, and still writes the occasional play. He is particularly interested in supporting grief and loss, and in creative and holistic personal development.

Qualifications: Level 5 Diploma in Person-Centred Counselling and Therapy, Supervision Certificate (Cruse), BA (Hons) English, PGCE, MBACP (accredited)

Emma has worked across a variety of settings including private practice, counselling agencies and providing student support across colleges in Cornwall. She has 15 years’ experience working with children, young adults and managing safeguarding issues. Her specialism is in transpersonal therapy and integrated approaches and she is passionate about working creatively and experientially in both her practice and in her teaching.

Qualifications: FdA Counselling Studies, BA (Hons) Counselling and Supervision, PGCE

Anne has worked in education for over 20 years including training adults to be playworkers. In 2011 she set up an organisation that delivered therapeutic activities in schools and the community to support people recovering from the trauma of the New Zealand earthquakes.  On returning to England in 2015 she completed her Nurture, Trauma Informed Schools training and gained Child Protection and Safeguarding qualifications to enable her to work with vulnerable children and their families. Training to be counsellor and working with clients has been an incredible part of her journey and has taught her the importance of lifelong learning.

Qualifications
BA Hons in Communication, PGCE in English and Drama, Diploma in Trauma and Mental Health Informed Schools,  Level 5 Diploma in Counselling and Therapy (Pending)

Lucy has worked in education for nearly 20 years in a number of different roles.  After volunteering with the Samaritans for a number of years, she decided training to become a counsellor was her next step. She has worked in a variety of counselling agencies and also has her own private counselling practice where she works with a variety of client issues.  She loves the idea of facilitating growth and is a passionate believer in letting people find their own unique pathways. She embraces this approach in both her client work and teaching.

Qualifications: Level 2 Counselling Skills, Level 3 Education and Training, Level 5 Diploma in Person -Centred Counselling, BA (Hons) Social Sciences with Social Policy

Celia originally trained and worked as a Registered Veterinary Nurse and spent many years in clinical practice before moving into teaching and training, where she spent 23 years teaching Veterinary Nursing at Duchy College and trained Clinical Coaches. Celia also worked as an examiner for City & Guilds and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. She then trained as a counsellor and supervisor and now runs her own private practice and provides supervision for counselling students and provides group supervision for the Penhaligon Counselling Agency. Celia also offers pet bereavement counselling services and also works as a content editor for Improve International, a veterinary CPD company.

Qualifications: Level 4 Advanced Certificate in Counselling & Psychotherapy, Level 5 Diploma in Person-Centred Counselling and Therapy, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Registered Veterinary Nurse, CertEd, BA (Hons) Counselling Studies

Alice has had a varied career, having originally trained as a nurse and then moved into other roles over time, including working with bereaved children and their families and supporting parents of children with additional needs.  Alice is particularly interested in supporting clients experiencing loss and grief. Completing training as a counsellor and supervisor later in life, she runs her own private practice and also provides counselling supervision as well as clinical supervision to nurses in the NHS.

Qualifications: BA(Hons) Counselling Studies, Level 5 Diploma in Person-centred Counselling and Therapy, Cert.Ed., Cert. Management OU

Thomas is a counsellor who lives and works in Falmouth. He is interested in modern relational techniques, the intersection of research and practice, and works with people with a wide range of mental health concerns.

Qualifications: Level 2 Counselling Skills, Level 5 Diploma in Person -Centred Counselling, PTLLS, BA (Hons) Broadcasting, MA Professional Writing, MBACP

Annie originally qualified as a Social Worker before gaining her professional qualification as a Person-Centred counsellor. She has had a variety of roles in social care, including working with young people who are homeless, struggling to engage and with addiction. She has 12 years’ experience working therapeutically in a drug and alcohol residential rehabilitation unit. She is passionate about working with people to reach their full potential.

Qualifications: Level 2 Counselling Skills, Level 4 Cert Training and Education, Level 5 Diploma in Person -Centred Counselling, Level 5 CQSW, Level 5 Connexions Diploma

Audrey worked for social services practicing exclusively in adult services for 25 years before becoming a trained counsellor. Specialising in supporting clients with PTSD, anxiety, depression, and addiction issues.

Qualifications: Level 4 Co-ordination of Learning and Development, Level 5 Diploma Person- Centred Counselling, Cert Ed, Diploma Neuro-Linguistic Programming, HND Health and Social Care.

Amey is a Person-Centred therapist, mum, and wife; busy nurturing her dual heritage family on the North Cornwall Coast. She is currently running a private counselling practice, facilitating domestic abuse prevention programmes, and working in schools delivering Anti-Racism and Inclusive Practice Training. She has a strong belief in the human potential for change, growth, and repair. She particularly enjoys supporting people to have more loving, fulfilling relationships.

Qualifications: Level 2 Counselling Skills, Level 3 Counselling Studies, Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling, TEFL

Simon’s areas of interest cover Men’s Mental Health, Sexual and Gender Identity, Suicide, and Self Harm. Simon works in private practice as well as volunteering for a charity supporting LGBTQ+ individuals of all ages. He is a Director of Pegasus Men’s Wellbeing Centre.

Qualifications: Level 2 Counselling Skills, Level 2 Suicide and Self Harm, ASIST, Level 5 Diploma Person -Centred Counselling and Therapy, BA (Hons) Music

Jenna has worked in the field of psychology and counselling for the past 12 years. She began her psychology career as part of the Psychology Services team at HMP Dartmoor Prison where she interviewed prisoners for offender behavioural programmes. She then moved on to work for Cornwall Council’s Clinical Psychology & Therapy service in a variety of support roles working with young people, before training to become a qualified counsellor. She has since specialised in working with trauma and abuse in a variety of services across Cornwall. Jenna currently works within the NHS Talking Therapies specialising in working with anxiety and depression. Jenna has a passion for animals and the outdoors and has worked extensively with horses. She is interested in combining her trauma focused therapy with the use of animals and nature.

Qualifications: BSc (Hons) Psychology, HND Applied Psychology, Level 5 Dip Person-Centred Counselling and Therapy, Dip Animal Assisted Therapy, Nat Cert Management of Horses, Level 3 Education and Training, Level 2 Counselling Skills, NONCN Level 2 Mentoring for Young People.

Vicky runs her own practice as a wellbeing coach, integrating coaching conversations, creative exploration and nature-based activities with clients. With a background in teaching, Vicky was introduced to coaching by her headteacher and loved the approach that people could find the answers they needed within themselves. This aligned with her belief that no one was broken or needed fixing and she soon left classroom teaching to set up her own social enterprise to support people to uncover this for themselves. She loves integrating ecotherapy, person-centred approaches and spirituality into her coaching.

Qualifications: PGCE, Certified mBIT Coach, Level 2 Counselling Skills, Three Principles Facilitator, Reiki Level 3, Suicide First Aid.

Jessica is a professional counsellor with a background of working in health and social care settings. Her specialties include working with autism and learning disabilities and difficulties, physical health conditions and illness. Her experience spans both the private care sector and providing palliative care for the NHS. Jessica also holds a private practice in counselling.

Qualifications: Level 2 Counselling Skills, NCFE – Mental Health First Aider, ASIST, Level 4 Certificate in Advanced Counselling, Level 5 Diploma in Person- Centred Counselling and Therapy

Emma is a Doctor of Educational Psychology and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society.  She has been working in the fields of counselling, psychology and education for 30 years in a wide range of settings. Her therapeutic approach is Person-Centred and she also draws from Solution- Focused practice and Cognitive Behavioural approaches. Emma has extensive teaching and training experience and has worked systemically with children and young people in the region, whilst practising as an Educational Psychologist.  Her research interests are supervision, supporting early career practitioners in the helping professions and the roles of self-efficacy, executive skills and self-determination in learning.

Qualifications: D.Ed. Psych, CPsychol. AFBPsS, B.Sc.(Hons) Psychology, PGCE, Level 5 Diploma in Person-Centred Counselling and Therapy, AEB Cert Counselling, CPCAB Cert Counselling

Susan is an experienced counsellor, integrative therapist and clinical supervisor with a private practice of 13 years. She has taught counselling and supervision for 12 years up to degree level. She has also worked as an external examiner for two universities over a period of 7 years. Her theoretical approaches are grounded in Person-Centred theory and she is also trained in Creative Process, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Positive Psychology, Coaching and Mindfulness.

Qualifications:
Levels 2 & 3 Concepts of Counselling and TA, BA (Hons) Counselling, PCGC, PgCert Counselling, PgCert Applied Positive Psychology, BPS Cert Clinical Supervision, AFHEA

Tristan works in private practice with adults and young people using an integrative counselling approach. He draws upon transpersonal and eco-psychology, health couching and has a firm foundation in Person-Centred theory. He also works for a counselling agency supporting young people on an individual basis and through groups, specialising in neurodiversity. His interests are in studying consciousness, phenomenology, and sensation.

Qualifications:  Level 2 Counselling Skills, Level 5 Diploma Person-Centred Counselling and Therapy, completing BA (Hons) Counselling Studies

Mike works in private practice as a counsellor and supervisor. He previously worked for many years as a registered nurse. He has experience in working with a broad spectrum of clients with a wide range of emotional issues. He also works as an affiliate Employee Assisted Programme counsellor providing online therapy to police officers, council workers and educational institution staff. He is particularly interested in supporting clients with work stress, bereavement, complex trauma, addiction and medical issues.

Qualifications: Level 2 Counselling Skills, Level 5 Diploma Person-Centred Counselling and Therapy, Foundation Certificate Bereavement Counselling, Diploma Nursing, BA (Hons) Counselling Studies, MBACP

Bess is a professional counsellor and health and wellbeing coach working with patients and GPs in a new wellbeing and mental health initiative. She also holds a private practice in counselling and yoga. Prior to this, Bess worked in Special Education for 15 years, supporting young people and their families living with additional needs.

Bess began on a journey of self-discovery when she trained and qualified as a yoga teacher in 2016. She has since trained in therapeutic approaches to support people to meet the needs of their bodies; using somatic connections to shift unhelpful patterns, trauma in order to create positive change.

Qualifications: Level 2 Counselling Skills, Level 5 Diploma in Person-Centred Counselling, BA Educational Professional Practice.

Gary is a qualified counsellor and comes from a background in Further Education, starting out as a sports and outdoor activities lecturer and then moving into safeguarding and student welfare. He currently works as a Health and Wellbeing Practitioner in the NHS but also works in private practice with clients. Gary works from a Person-Centred foundation and is interested in the use of the natural environment and activity as part of the therapeutic process.

Qualifications:

Level 5 Diploma in Person-Centred Counselling and Therapy, BA Hons Physical Recreation, PGCE

Sam has worked in education for over 20 years, mainly at primary school level. Whilst leading a Health and Well-being team at work, she developed a passion for supporting colleagues in the work place and has since studied to become a counsellor with the view to starting her own private practice. To compliment her work as a Person-Centred therapist, Sam has also studied mindfulness alongside her interest in the creative arts and nature as a way to accompany clients on their journey of self-discovery.

Qualifications: BA (Hons) Archaeology and History, PGCE, Level 2 Counselling Skills, Level 5 Diploma in Person-Centred Counselling and Therapy (pending)

Ruth has worked as part of the Cornwall College Group since 2009 across a variety of departments.  She joined the Counselling Team in 2021 and supports them with a range of administrative duties and course enquiries.

Qualifications: Level 2 ECDL, FdA Health and Community Studies, BA (Hons) Combined Social Science