My first exposure to trauma in others was with my Grandfather, a survivor of the Somme battles in WW1. He suffered from severe PTSD until he died with Dementia in his 80's. This combined with my own personal experience on Complex Trauma as a child, growing up in a deeply dysfunctional and violent family.

As I gained my independence in my teenage years, I became immersed in Martial Arts, Tai Chi, Chi Gung, Meditation, Mindfulness and Taoism, and this became the starting point on a lifelong journey into Holistic & Integrative Therapy.

At university I studied a degree I was "strongly encouraged" to do rather than what I wanted, but to my surprise I gained new insights into analytical thinking, human resources, emotional stress in the workplace and design. I graduated with a BSc(Hons)I.I.T. and went straight on to train as a therapist.

My therapy training was externally accredited to Level 5 on the new qualification framework, the level now respected as the appropriate minimum level for professional qualification in psychotherapy. My main subject areas of competency were Analytic Hypnotherapy, Psychotherapy and Stress Counselling, but as part of my project I incorporated CBT, NLP, coaching, psycho-education and Mindfulness among others.

As part of my therapy training 1993-6 I had to complete over 1,000 hours of training, and address a minimum of 200 clients with a minimum client satisfaction rate of 80% , as well as completing externally assessed examinations and course work (through a City & Guilds NVQ process). I then worked in clinical practice, while also cross training in youth work, nutrition and completing a University Certificate in Interpersonal Skills for Volunteering.

In 2000 I began the process of another accreditation, post graduate level with the NACHP professional body, leading to accreditation as a clinical psychotherapist, clinical hypnotherapist and Counsellor. I again incorporated mindfulness and CBT among other methods, and found I was becoming increasing psychoanalytic in focus.

After relocating to Scotland I decided to update my skills while building a new practice, and after completing a range of Continuous Professional Development updates in integrative psychotherapy, counselling, hypnotherapy, NLP, mental health and coaching (at levels 3 and 4) I then embarked on more University Study. Over the next few years I completed a MSc Psychology (specialising in neurology in mental health, identity and comparative psychology models), a BA(Hons) Open (specialising in Psychology, Philosophy and Politics), a BA(Hons) Psychology and Philosophy of the Mind, and a University Certificate of Education (specialising in Theology, Psychology and Scottish Philosophy). I also completed competency training in CBASP at Dundee University, and competency update trainings in MBSR, MBCT and CBT. I have also completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Complex Trauma, externally validated to level 7.

Since then I have completed Specialist Clinical Trainings in a range of subjects, all requiring a minimum entry level of a Masters Degree and full licensing to practice, and requiring a 80% examination score to pass. I have completed separate Clinical speciality trainings in Trauma, Complex trauma ( four different internationally recognised board certifications), and Dissociation, Hypnosis & Neurology based Mind-Body Clinical trauma, Depression & Mood Disorders, Anxiety, Grief, Advanced Grief, Attention Disorders, Anger Management and Integrative Medicine and Nutrition for Mental Health. I have also completed extensive additional CPD training in Polyvagal theory, Integrative trauma treatments, Attachment theory, parts theories including IFS, Addictions in trauma and Neurology. I have completed skills courses in Relational EMDR and DBT, as well as competency certification courses in Clinical Mindfulness, RO-DBT I and ACT.

My specialist trainings have included specialist training in the application of CBT and other psychotherapy techniques in a trauma informed way, including narrative based therapy, cognitive restructuring, prolonged or in vivo exposure, self regulation training, and other cognitive behavioural and psychoeducation methods.

My knowledge and competence in psychological aspects is combined through somatic and mind body and relational training to my knowledge of body and nutritional based therapy. I am a qualified Chi Gung (and other martial arts) instructor and Naturopath with post graduate training in somatic processing and naturopathy for trauma.

I have recently completed a 6 month cohort post graduate course in InterPersonnal NeuroBiology (IPNB) with Professor Dan Siegel (Professor of Psychiatry ULCA) through the Mindsight Institute, and a Post Qualification Certification in Immunopathology with Peter Kay PhD through the CMA.

All through my career the main areas of my practice have been Trauma, Complex Trauma, Domestic Violence, Trauma of Discrimination and Adverse Childhood Experiences. I have also worked in related fields where trauma has been present including long term depression, clinical anxiety, personality disorders and mood disorders. Getting officially certified in these areas therefore was a logical career progression.

People often like to know what my professional registrations are, and I am happy to oblige: