About Billie
I have over 20 years experience of working within the mental health field (which makes me feel really old!). I started my career in drug and alcohol services, working within the criminal justice system, later moving to work in a large NHS Mental Health Trust. Over 15 years, I gained extensive knowledge of addictions, mental health and the psychosocial and medical interventions available. I later entered the 3rd sector, working for the largest drug and alcohol charity in Europe in a number of different managerial roles, giving me a great insight into balancing team dynamics and key performance indicators.
I completed an MA in Counselling at the University Of Manchester, qualifying in 2014 and I am now an accredited member of BACP. I have undergone additional training to become an accredited EMDR therapist and hold post-graduate certificates in Attachment Perspectives in Therapy, Couples & Relationship Counselling, Supervision in the Helping Professions and Diversity, Culture, Race & Anti-Discrimination Practice, as well as being a qualified Cyber Therapist.
Sports Psychotherapy
I initially specialised in working with male survivors of sexual abuse and from this started to work on the Sporting Chance network, supporting those who had been abused within football. My specialism has grown organically since then and I now work predominantly supporting those who have been involved in professional sports.
I’ve always enjoyed sports from an early age, both playing and spectating so developing a specialism in this area immediately felt like a good fit. I have a good understanding of the Sporting world and the unique pressures it brings with it. Added to this the years that I have worked in the mental health arena, I believe I am well-placed to support professional athletes.
More recently, I have started to develop psycho-education courses aimed at supporting athlete mental health. This feels like it’s a great opportunity to further my reach and be able to support more individuals outside of the therapy room.
Trauma Informed Work
I have worked extensively with individuals who have been affected by trauma; particularly those who have experienced childhood sexual abuse or rape. I work with both men and women and recognise that everyone’s experience is unique.
I work with clients to support them in gaining an insight into their traumatic experiences and to develop an understanding of how the legacy of abuse impacts on their ability to function in relationships and how they view their self-identity. I recognise that for some people, they may not want to explore the trauma they have experienced so will work with them to develop robust coping mechanisms and build their resilience.
EMDR (eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing)
I am an accredited EMDR practitioner; EMDR (eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing) is used for the treatment of psychological problems such as depression, anxiety, bereavement and loss, addictions and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. EMDR is recommended by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) as one of two treatments for PTSD. EMDR focuses on any negative experiences, which may be hindering an individual’s current life and reprocesses them to allow people to have a more positive and fulfilled life.
Substance & Alcohol Misuse
I have a number of years experience of working within drug and alcohol services, supporting clients to gain control over their addiction or dependency and to be able to effectively live their lives.
I understand that there are many complex reasons that drive people to use drugs or alcohol problematically and often this can build up over time, having an impact both on the individual and those around them. I work with individuals to support them to gain an insight in their behaviours and to empower them to work towards their goals; be this total abstinence or a reduction in consumption.
I also have experience of working with people who have wider issues of addiction such as gambling and will support people to help them gain an insight into their behaviours and how they can start to make changes.
Both my work in trauma and substance misuse has given me a unique understanding in to the impact these issues have on family and friends. I am able to support individuals to understand their family member or friend’s behaviour and come to terms with the impact this has had on their relationships.
Relationship Counselling
I hold a certificate in Couples Counselling and am able to support couples to manage and work through any relationship issues they are experiencing. I can support you to develop positive communication strategies to address changes in your relationship and will work collaboratively with you to help you find a constructive way forward.
What to Expect
I offer both face to face and remote sessions, depending on your preference. My office is based on a quiet residential street, with ample parking and good public transport links. Remote sessions can be done over Zoom, Teams, FaceTime or What’s App, based on client preference. Sessions are charged at £95 for individuals and payment can be made by bank transfer; I do also offer a limited number of spaces at a concessional rate to work towards therapy being accessible to everyone. Sessions last for 50 minutes and we will generally meet on a weekly basis. I do offer both short and long term work and ensure that we regularly review the work we undertake to ensure we are moving towards mutually agreed goals. I am able to provide invoices for those who have private medical insurance and I also take referrals from Employment Assistance Programmes.