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Tuesdays and Thursdays 10am to 5pm

I am an existential humanistic psychotherapist and counsellor specialising in working with people who have, or have been affected by cancer, or a life-limiting illness. This includes family members, friends and carers, and those who are experiencing related grief, bereavement and loss.

Having cancer or a life-limiting illness can give rise to powerful feelings of anger, anxiety, fear, depression, denial, despair, guilt, failure, hopelessness and meaninglessness. It's as if your life has been shattered and is now full of uncertainty and a profound sense of not knowing can ensue. You can feel very alone, isolated from others, in a place where the outlook is bleak and where you are confronted with your mortality.

Equally, a search for meaning and purpose can arise that may lead to new discoveries about yourself, who you are and how you might want to make changes in your life that are creative, life-affirming and fulfilling. This can sometimes lead to an exploration of your spirituality and possible transcendent ways of being.

I offer a safe supportive space where we can take time to talk through the many concerns and fears you may have. This can include coping with the treatments and their side-effects and managing the uncertain trajectory of the disease as you navigate your way through the many healthcare pathways. We can examine your relationships with others, your work, physical activity, social interactions, personal and spiritual concerns. Past and present traumas can also be revealed that may need facing and in working together we can look towards healing these over time.

My way of being values an interactive and relational approach to therapy where I can assist and facilitate a greater awareness of how you are living and what changes you might want to make.

Working existentially allows me to be alongside you at this difficult time, a place we can talk, look, explore, share and feel with a view to finding new meanings, purposes and connections with others.

I have had over thirty years experience as a cancer and palliative care nurse specialist and nurse practitioner with adults, young people and children so am very familiar with the physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual impact that a diagnosis can have on a person's life at all levels.

I undertook a further MSc in counselling and psychotherapy at the University of Brighton as I was motivated to work with people at a deeper, psychological and spiritual level.

I currently work part-time as a counsellor for a cancer charity in Exeter that provides psychological support for people with cancer at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

I also have a private practice in Totnes, South Devon where I offer existential psychotherapy/counselling sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays - 10am to 5pm. The basic rate is £50.00 per hour but negotiable concessionary rates are available for those facing financial hardship. The sessions last one hour.

Generally, I encourage in-person, face-to-face contact but can offer online sessions via Zoom or on the telephone as required. There is the opportunity for longer-term work that may or may not follow treatment recovery where significant issues have arisen that you wish to address. Equally I can offer shorter-term work.

To get in touch please fill out the contact details on this page so we can arrange an initial free phone consultation. We can then talk further about how I work and arrange a first session.

This first session provides an opportunity to get to know each other and explore whether existential therapy will suit you. It will last one hour and incur my normal fee.

It includes an assessment covering your personal details, what has brought you to therapy and a brief personal history. If relevant, you can also provide details of your current medical situation.

Finally, we will discuss the timing and frequency of future sessions, the amount and method of payment, and the cancellation policy.