“ I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees.”

— Henry David Thoreau

Ethos

We all struggle at times, as we are all human. I take pride in delivering excellent psychological services guided by my values of compassion, trust, curiosity and nature connection. I can help you to understand yourself better, notice and step out of unhelpful patterns of coping and relating, develop healthier ways of living and connect with the natural world.

How I can help you

As a Clinical Psychologist I am highly trained and skilled in integrating a variety of psychological models and theories. This enables me to offer bespoke, creative, and holistic psychological support tailored to your individual needs. My approach is based on developing a compassionate and non-judgemental therapeutic relationship, as I believe this forms the foundation for meaningful therapy, reflection, and personal growth.

I draw on a range of evidence based psychological approaches to help people better understand themselves, their relationships, emotions, and patterns of coping. My work is primarily informed by Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT), alongside mindfulness based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and compassion focused approaches. I also have a special interest in involving nature within psychological work, whether sessions take place outdoors, indoors, or online.

I offer both short and longer term therapy, tailored to your individual needs and circumstances. Sessions are usually weekly, although flexibility can be discussed where appropriate. I work with both self funding clients and those covered by health insurance, including BUPA and AVIVA.

Alongside therapy, I also offer psychologically informed reflective work for individuals, professionals, teams, and organisations. This may include reflective practice, professional development, psychologically informed consultation, and relational reflective spaces that support greater self awareness, sustainable ways of living and working, and compassionate, psychologically informed ways of working.

Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT)

CAT explores how people’s earliest experiences and relationships, informs how they think and feel and the things they do. It helps people to understand how these experiences lead them to develop patterns of coping and relating with others that were helpful in the moment, but which overtime and as life changes, lead them to feeling stuck, may be unhelpful and at times even harmful. The therapy in based on the development of an empathic and compassionate therapeutic relationship between the individual and therapist, which is used as the key ingredient for therapeutic change.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

ACT is a mindfulness based talking therapy. It supports people to adjust to living well with things that cannot be changed. It enables people to develop effective skills to cope with distressing thoughts and feelings, so that they have less impact and influence over them. ACT also supports people to live their lives in line with their own personal values. Values are people’s deepest desire for how they want to live, who they want to be and what they want to stand for. ACT encourages people to take committed action to do things that are guided by their values, despite the challenges that may stand before them.

Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)

CFT is a mindfulness based talking therapy that teaches people skills to regulate their emotions through being more compassionate towards themselves and other people. It helps people to work through feelings of shame and guilt and to step out of patterns of self-criticism, which keep them feeling stuck. It enables people to develop self-acceptance and a sense of comfort with who they are.

Nature therapy is a collective term used to describe various activities that involve nature with the aim of reducing suffering and enhancing wellbeing and health. It involves elements of ecopsychology, which means the work is guided by the idea that we are fundamentally connected to and influenced by the natural environment. It emphasises that human-nature connections can improve our emotional wellbeing and interpersonal relationships.

Nature can be used in therapy in a number of ways:

  • Simply providing a natural backdrop for therapy to take place.

  • Observing and interacting with things in nature using our 5 senses.

  • Using nature-based metaphor, to enhance understanding, convey meaning and guide therapeutic change.

  • Connecting with the body as we breath, feel and move through nature.

  • Using our movement through terrain and landscapes to view our experiences from different perspectives.

Nature therapy / Ecotherapy

Hear from my clients

  • ★★★★★

    Abi instantly made me feel comfortable and relaxed. A few sessions in we took our therapy to the great out doors and this is where Abi is really great. Being in the outdoors I instantly felt I was able to be even more open and using some great metaphors out in nature Abi helped navigate through a very tough time in my life. I would 100 percent endorse Abi and her methodology of therapy in nature it really does work.

  • ★★★★★

    I am very thankful to Abi, and I would highly recommend her to anyone struggling with overworking, self confidence or stress. I believe she has helped me become more confident in myself and understand myself better, and with her I have learned strategies to cope with stressful and difficult situations, whatever those may be.

  • ★★★★★

    I would highly recommend Abi and outdoor therapy. I feel so lucky to have found her. Following 4 years of family, health and work issues I was lost, overwhelmed and struggling to cope. I’ve always loved the outdoors and find I can think better when I’m in nature and walking outdoors so Abi’s approach was perfect for me. Abi’s compassion, understanding and ability to hold space for me really helped me to work through the emotions I was suppressing and pushing into my body. Abi was flexible to my needs and knew exactly what I needed at every turn.

  • ★★★★★

    This experienced psychologist saved our marriage. I would highly recommend Abi to anyone struggling with a way forward in life.

  • ★★★★★

    I have been working with Abi for quite a while due to struggling with my mental health. The work we have done has been a big part of my recovery and I am now in a much better place. I am incredibly thankful to Abi for all she has done in supporting me and I couldn’t recommend her more. Thank you Abi!

  • ★★★★★

    I was drawn to Abi’s outdoor therapy model and from the first phone call felt safe to talk to her about anything. Being in nature allowed me to process trauma in a way that would not be possible for me indoors. Abi challenged my thinking in a way that I needed, and guided me to realisations with a caring, straightforward manner. I believe that without my therapeutic relationship with Abi I would be in a much darker place. As it is, I am hopeful for the future and trust in myself more than ever.

  • ★★★★★

    I enjoyed the outdoors, and after having read about the way in which therapy was offered, felt this sounded really innovative and something I really wanted to explore. I have worked with Abi for the best part of 18 months over what has probably been the most difficult time in my life.  I cannot thank Abi enough for the new outlook, reflective and regulating tools and self-compassion that I have come away with from this journey.  I feel far better equipped than I did at the start.

  • ★★★★★

    I was seeking help living with bipolar disorder complicated with binge drinking, which was beginning to cause significant issues in my life. I found it very easy to be honest and open with Abi from the very start and she was quickly able to understand and work with my situation, using many techniques that I was unfamiliar with (I have had various therapies previously) but which were, ultimately, unsuccessful. I was able to see myself from a completely different perspective and began to value the person I am, understanding that I wasn’t as ‘broken’ as I thought I was.

  • ★★★★★

    I was fortunate enough to work with Abi over the course of a few months. My days were filled with panic, fear and anxiety. My struggles had meant that I was feeling stuck, both emotionally and physically. I felt very disconnected from the world. Outdoor therapy allowed me to reconnect with the world and use it as a tool to soothe and self regulate. I personally also felt that being outdoors for therapy was less intimidating and confronting. I cannot recommend Abi enough.

  • ★★★★★

    For years I have been thinking about getting therapy but I didn’t know where to start. After my first session with Abi, I don’t know why I didn’t do it sooner. I cannot thank Abi enough for her help and support, for guiding me to slow down, pause and sit with feelings and emotions in a way I haven’t before. I felt truly heard and her style of being compassionate whilst still taking me out of my comfort zone has had a huge impact. Whilst it was tough and emotional at times, she guided me to understand things about myself that have changed my life and my outlook.

  • ★★★★★

    For years, I was severely depressed as a result of a diagnosis for an incurable neurological disease. It was a diagnosis that greatly affected my family life. Abi is a masterful therapist who truly listens and understands. She is compassionate, kind, and extremely knowledgeable. I felt safe and supported while in her care. Abi’s treatments have been invaluable and have allowed me to gain insight and clarity into my issues. I am forever grateful for the work she has done with me and highly recommend her outstanding services.

  • ★★★★★

    Abi is a skilled and compassionate therapist. She helped me navigate and understand difficult experiences, feelings and thoughts, within a safe and caring relationship, developing a highly personalised plan for my therapy. I highly recommend her.