I am an autistic clinical psychologist who is passionate about supporting neurodivergent young people and adults to overcome the impact of trauma and adversity. I have over 17 years of experience working with and learning from autistic adults, autistic young people, and parents of autistic children.

My priority is to create a non-judgemental and affirming space where you can feel safe to explore your internal and external experiences. Together, we can explore how our sessions can be adapted to reduce the barriers to therapy that neurodivergent people often face.

I take a non-pathologising approach to support people with experiences such as anxiety, low mood, burnout, and self-criticism. I understand distress as having multiple and varied causes, including life experiences, our environments, discrimination, and marginalisation, and I weave these understandings into my work.

I draw on a range of psychological models to suit the individual. I am a trained Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapist. IFS understands that we all have multiple parts, including wounded parts and parts that work hard to protect them, as well as a core Self that cannot be damaged. This approach can help make sense of the parts that work hard to protect you in a world not designed with your needs in mind (for example, masking parts).

 

I am also trained in EMDR and draw on Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) and Polyvagal theory.

I believe that societal changes such as reducing prejudice and marginalisation, and creating communities where people belong, are essential for improving community mental health alongside supporting individuals. In addition to my work with Beyond Barriers, I work for an autistic-led charity that provides a safe online community for autistic young people.

Working creatively and using a strengths-based approach are central to my practice. I have experience delivering therapeutic groups in creative, body-focused settings such as forest schools and climbing centres, and I have collaborated with artists to deliver therapeutic workshops for adults.

Outside of my clinical work, I enjoy being outdoors, especially swimming in open water. I’ve been learning to surf for a while, enjoy paddle boarding, and am always happy with a good book.

Highest Level Qualification:
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology