• My father was in the military, which meant that I was born in Scotland, raised in Japan, shaped by a Mexican American/Scottish family and a Japanese-American community. Living across cultures, I know what it’s like to pause at “Where are you from?”, to hold multiple identities, and to keep adapting as life changes. This informs how I work: with cultural sensitivity, curiosity, and respect for the stories people carry.

    Outside the therapy space, I enjoy nature photography and dance, I am drawn to the impact that time in nature can have on mental health and the connection between mental and physical health.

  • Professionally, I am a qualified pluralistic counsellor and psychotherapist with over five years of mental-health experience, having supported people across a wide range of emotional and psychological challenges.

    Experience

    • Counsellor

    • Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP)

    • Support Worker

    • Infants, children and young people development support

    Qualifications

    • Diploma in Pluralistic Counselling & Psychotherapy
      Grounded Learning Ltd.

    • PGCert Low Intensity Psychological Therapies
      Newcastle University

    • MSc Foundations of Clinical Psychology
      Newcastle University

    • Certificate in Counselling Skills (COSCA Accredited)
      Centre of Therapies

    • BS Psychology
      University of Maryland University College

    Memberships

    • British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP)

    I aim to bring this blend of study, therapeutic training, and lived experience into my work.

  • Pluralistic counselling and psychotherapy

    I feel passionate about this way of working. Pluralistic counselling and psychotherapy means there isn’t one “right” way to do therapy. We work collaboratively to explore what feels most supportive for you, not only in a general sense, but from session to session. Some sessions might feel spacious and reflective, others more practical or structured. We stay responsive to what you might want or need.

    At the heart of therapy is the relationship we build together. Feeling safe enough to be honest, to be unsure, to explore difficult or tender parts of yourself, it all happens through connection, not just tools or techniques.

    In our sessions, I aim to offer a space that feels warm, respectful, and genuine. At times, we may also gently notice what happens between us in the room, for example, moments you feel hesitant, misunderstood, relieved, or close. Often, those moments can reflect patterns you experience elsewhere, and exploring them together can bring insight, choice, and change. Pluralistic therapy values this deep connection alongside practical tools. Your voice and inner sense of what feels right are part of the process.

    Here are some of the approaches I may draw from, depending on what supports you best:

    Person-centred

    My work is grounded in a person-centred way of being: warmth, acceptance, and a deep respect for your experience. This means I trust in your capacity to grow and I aim to meet you as you are, without judgement or pressure to perform.

    Psychodynamic

    We might explore how past experiences and relational patterns could be shaping how you feel or respond in the present. This is explored gently, with curiosity rather than judgement. This isn’t about blaming the past, but about understanding what you’ve learned and what you might want to change.

    Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

    We can look at the interaction between thoughts, emotions, and behaviours, and use practical tools to support change where that feels helpful. I also draw from “third-wave” CBT approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT).

    This might include learning ways to relate differently to difficult thoughts, making room for feelings rather than fighting them, building self-compassion, and reconnecting with what matters to you (your values) so you can move forward in a more grounded way.

    Psychoeducation and guided self-help

    Sometimes people want something more concrete. I can offer resources, information, and structured support such as grounding techniques, coping tools, or helping you make sense of a psychological concept in a way that feels usable in everyday life.

    Most importantly…

    While these approaches offer different lenses, we draw from your own experience, beliefs, creativity, and ways of knowing - all the parts of you that have carried you this far, especially when things have felt heavy. Therapy becomes a space to bring your inner resources into the light.

    If you’re unsure what you might need or prefer, that’s completely okay. I can offer a “therapy preference form”, we can explore this together, or offer options if that feels helpful.