"A safe space to talk"

My name is Rachel, and I'd like to share a bit about myself. I have over 30 years professional experience of working face to face and managing projects supporting people, in a wide variety of settings, for both statutory and voluntary organisations.  

This experience includes working for domestic abuse charities, addiction services and a national eating disorders charity. I have also worked for Relate and volunteered with the Samaritans. As area manager for a national children's charity, I oversaw counselling and therapeutic services.

Gradually my career has focused on supporting adults with their wellbeing, drawing upon my professional background. I work with most issues including relationships, self-confidence and self-esteem, anxiety and depression, parenting, domestic abuse, transgender and identity, mens mental health, eating disorders and menopause.

I began my career working as a youth worker, delivering therapeutic programmes for young people at risk of exclusion, experiencing bullying, struggling to attend school and helped young people improve their self-esteem and develop strategies to cope. I went on to work for CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services), providing advice and support to professionals about mental health, as well as working with children and young people to improve emotional well-being, and parents to better support them to support their child.

Alongside my career, I was also a foster carer for 20 children and young people. I really enjoy supporting parents and young people around fostering and adoption, as well as some of the trauma that might be associated with this.

As a person I have been described as warm, empathic and approachable.