Psychotherapy in Surrey

07/05/2026

Working in hospice has taught me that conversations about death, dying, and grief are also conversations about love, connection, and what it means to be human.

Not all are easy, but talking gently about these things can help us cope with impermanence and hold each other a little closer.

Sometimes I wonder:
Have you ever thought about what songs, if any, you would want played at your funeral?
Which melodies hold your memories, your love, your story?

And when conversations about death arise — your own, or the loss of someone you love — do they feel frightening, comforting, distant, or strangely peaceful?

There is no right way to feel.
Only the quiet invitation to reflect, to share, and to remember that these conversations, too, are part of life.

06/05/2026

Just back from a powerful Wild Therapy weekend near Hastings 🌿

Stepping out of the therapy room and into the woods brought a whole new depth to the work — through movement, nature, and connection.

Grateful for the practices, the horses, the laughter and tears, and all the brave therapists who shared this experience together 🌲✨

06/05/2026

Join us in our campaign for emotionally healthy schools - sign the pledge.
We want to campaign for an education system that equips children and young people to develop with the emotional and interpersonal skills to thrive in life.
Learning shouldn't be just about things 'out there'. Our young people also need to learn about how they work and about how they can contribute to individual and collective wellbeing. https://emotionally-healthy-schools.org/pledge?fbclid=IwY2xjawRoA_JleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe8OIhBg5wDI2USoHFgO1Ohm-zfVXq8ASDZH7oQk51gTCOXWe_oVWY221juf0_aem_DG9kjZcvKnHrE1i_1lTRZA

Nine commitments to make every school an emotionally healthy school. Add your name and join the movement.

23/03/2026

✨📚 Reading for Resilience 📚✨
Starting this Friday at The Story Sanctuary Croydon, we’re creating a calm, welcoming space for home educated and EOTAS young people aged 11–16 to come together through stories.
This is a relaxed, youth-led group where there’s no pressure to read out loud or speak — you can join in as much or as little as feels right for you. Together, we’ll explore books that reflect real life, helping young people make sense of emotions, identity, and resilience in a gentle and supportive way.
Led by an experienced young people’s psychotherapist, the group offers a safe space to feel heard, build confidence, and connect with others at your own pace.
You don’t need to be a confident reader. You don’t need to have the right words. Just come as you are — that is enough.
📍 Join us this Friday https://thestorysanctuary.org.uk/event/reading-for-resilience-11-16-yr-olds/2026-03-27/?fbclid=IwY2xjawQuG-FleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETAxQlZMellYTDROcFlRR2t2c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHrGGCMhpryf0vuPtH8YavVuQI-6zU-7eo13eWYkEzUgVQJYdikZkQltZnXJ9_aem_aKldKR_Ke3TKhrUHYqhFCA

09/03/2026

Last Saturday I attended the Children, Young People and Families Conference where a fascinating and very relevant topic was explored: “Likes, Lives & Layers: Unpacking the Digital Impact on Young Minds.”

The speakers shared research on how modern technology, social media, gaming and online content are shaping young people’s lives — in both helpful and challenging ways.

One message really stayed with me: this generation was born into the digital world. They didn’t choose it, yet they are often blamed for using technology “too much” or “in the wrong way.”

The conversation encouraged us to move away from blame and become more curious.
What are young people getting from social media, games or videos?
How do relationships with parents and caregivers influence how technology is used?

As therapists, parents and professionals, our role is not only to set limits, but also to listen, understand and support young people in navigating the digital world safely and thoughtfully.

I left with a deeper understanding and some valuable ideas on how to better support young people and families who struggle with the impact of technology and online content.

The digital world is here to stay — so our task is to help young people navigate it with awareness, connection and support. 💛

06/03/2026

New therapy spaces available after Easter.
Mondays & Fridays at Ingeldale Therapy Centre, Oxted.
Supporting young people and adults with:
• neurodivergence
• parenting challenges
• loss and life changes
A space to talk, reflect and work through things at your own pace.
Please get in touch if you’d like to enquire about a session.

05/03/2026

As it is The World Book day I would like to share information about my new project with The Story Sanctuary: Reading for Resilience

A relaxed, youth-led space for home educated and EOTAS 11–16-year-olds to come together to explore stories, share ideas, and connect through books that speak to real life. Help choose the books we read and the themes we explore — join in as much or as little as feels right for you. You don’t need to be a confident reader or speaker. Listening is okay. Sharing is optional. Being yourself is enough.

A relaxed, youth-led space for home educated and EOTAS 11–16-year-olds to explore stories, share ideas, and connect through books that speak to real life.

27/02/2026

Grief is not only something we feel when someone dies.
Sometimes grief arrives quietly in the middle of ordinary life.

Becoming the parent of a teenager can feel like a profound transition. One day you are holding the hand of a playful child who wants to tell you everything. Before you know it, you are living with a young person who feels like a completely different human being.

Many parents say, often with guilt and sadness,
It feels like I have lost my child.

What they are describing is often grief.
Grief for the cuddles that no longer come so easily.
Grief for the closeness that once felt natural.
Grief for the version of parenting that felt more certain and connected.

Alongside this can come confusion, self doubt, frustration, even anger.
And also love. Deep love.
And a quiet hope of rediscovering one another in a new way.

The teenage years are not only a transition for young people.
They are a transition for parents too.

This stage can become a time of rebuilding. A time of learning different ways to connect. A time of developing a relationship that is less about managing and more about understanding. But that does not mean it is easy.

If you are a parent feeling this shift, if your child's teenage years feel challenging, painful, or lonely, you are not failing. You are navigating change.

In therapy we can gently explore
• The grief and sense of loss
• The confusion and mixed emotions
• The patterns that no longer seem to work
• New ways of relating that honour both you and your growing young person

You do not have to carry this alone.

If this resonates with you, I invite you to get in touch.
Together in a safe and compassionate space, we can find what feels supportive for you at this particular moment in your parenting journey.

17/02/2026

What are the four attachment styles? Which one is yours?

A new infographic from https://xabierlopez.co.uk/ and Mick Cooper.

27/01/2026

Fitting In or Belonging?

Many of us learn that fitting in is about survival — getting through school, work, friendships, even family life. Young people often say fitting in means not being different, because being different can be hard, and sometimes unsafe.

But belonging feels different.

Belonging is not about changing who you are.
It’s about feeling safe enough to be yourself.
Belonging can grow in caring, compassionate environments — and sometimes we create those spaces slowly, intentionally, together.

For me, belonging feels like dancing with friends, laughing freely, enjoying the moment — not worrying about fitting in, just being present and alive. When I know myself and my safety needs, I can make choices that bring joy and connection.

Today, you might gently ask yourself:
✨ Where do I feel most like me?
✨ What helps me feel safe enough to be real?
✨ What does belonging mean to me?
Your journey towards belonging might be short or long — but it’s most likely worth it. 💛