Meet the Team
I have a great team of qualified practitioners working with me who all have a variety of experience in working with adults and children. We are all fully up to date with safe guarding procedures and attend compulsory safeguarding training yearly. All the have an enhanced DBS certificate.
Joanne
Manager / Director
Accredited Integrative Counsellor
Coach
Positive Psychology Practitioner
Neurodivergent Informed Practitioner
Clinical Supervisor
Safe-guarding lead
Domestic Abuse Champion
Adults, Children/Young People.
Andrea
Assistant Manager
Counsellor
Adults, Teenagers & Children
Family Practitioner / Couples
Coach
School Counsellor
Neurodivergent Informed Practitioner
Assistant Safe-guarding lead
Domestic Abuse Lead
Almira
Assistant Manager
Counsellor
Adults, Teenagers & Children
School Counsellor
Neurodivergent Informed Practitioner
Clinical Supervisor
Assistant Safe-guarding lead
Domestic Abuse Champion
Angela
Counsellor
Neurodivergent Informed Practitioner
Adults, Teenagers & Children.
Couples
School Counsellor
Marilyn
Counsellor
Adults, Teenagers & Children
Neurodivergent Informed Practitioner
School Counsellor
Tracy
Counsellor
Adults, Teenagers & Children
Neurodivergent Informed Practitioner
School Counsellor
Joanne
My name is Joanne and I was inspired to become a counsellor after my own experience of personal therapy, which helped me through some difficult issues I encountered in my life. Counselling allowed me to understand myself, and taught me that I had the ability to change. I had the answers but lost the ability to listen to myself and trust my own decisions. Counselling helped me to rediscover my full potential. This feeling was so empowering and felt like nothing I had experienced before. From that moment I knew that I wanted to help others to experience that feeling. I know that life can be challenging and painful at times and making the decision to seek help can be quite daunting. The stigma associated to mental health and counselling can make it even harder, you may feel judged by others about how you should, think, feel and behave. You just want to fit in and be accepted, so sometimes it’s easier to just carry on and pretend everything is ok. This can be exhausting and eventually stopped working for me. It does not have to be this way. If you decide that you deserve this support to free your mind from the pressures that life can bring, then here is how I can help you understand yourself and provide you with the tools to continue to help yourself and unlock your true potential.
I believe for therapy to be successful, the first thing you need is the therapeutic relationship. I want you to feel safe and at ease with me, so that you can share your experiences without fear or judgment. The space that I offer, is yours for 50 minutes, and I will be led by you and what you need. I will always be honest and transparent with you. I want to understand your world, and how you view your world. I will do this offering empathy and compassion.
In addition to my private practice, my professional experience ranges from working with bereavement in a hospice, Counselling students in a college setting, and counselling children in both primary and secondary schools from ages 6-16. I was also a school project manager, where I managed a counselling project within a school for a large organisation where I had to work with multi-disciplinary teams
Andrea
I am a qualified counsellor with a wide range of experience, working in various settings with children, adolescence, adults and couples.
I work to provide a safe, confidential and non-judgmental space for you to explore and identify your difficulties, at a pace that is comfortable to you. Whatever you are going through we can work together to help you make sense of your experiences.
I use an Integrative approach which means that I have trained in various models of therapy. These include Humanistic, CBT, Psychodynamic and TA. I decided to train in this way as it enables me to offer alternative methods of helping and allows me to adapt my approach to suit your individual needs and circumstances. I believe that therapy is not about telling you what to do, it is about nurturing your personal growth, becoming self-aware and guiding you so you are able to find your own solutions and make positive changes.
I am a relational counsellor and the essence of my approach is empathic understanding and emotional connection with my clients. Some clients have attended their first session expecting it to be quite formal, which they soon realise it isn’t. There are no airs and graces. It is important that we are comfortable with each other, and can build a trusting therapeutic relationship. A lot of us put on masks and put up barriers to the external world, but in the counselling room you are free to be yourself. I will not judge you and I will accept you as you are. Your feelings are real and valid, and will be acknowledged in our counselling space.
I decided to become a counsellor due to the difficulties I have experienced in my personal life. Counselling helped me to understand myself, and I became aware of how my thoughts and feelings impacted my mood and behaviours.
Therapy can offer you the space to unload the stresses of life in which you can experience being heard. It can help you to heal and provide you with the tools so you are able to help yourself in the future.
I also work with couples and children from the ages of 5-18. I work in primary, secondary schools as well as an agency setting. I currently work at Barnardo’s as a link therapist for the family support service. This involves working with individual family members or whole family support.
I have also run social inclusion projects for young people that are in, or are leaving the social care system. The participants of the group have a range of difficulties and are from diverse backgrounds. I offer support with many social issues: domestic violence, drugs and alcohol, gang involvement to name a few. Mentoring and coaching as well as emotional support were part of this role.
Almira
Hello, my name is Almira, and I am a qualified adult, teenage and child counsellor and a member of BACP. I work as an Integrative counsellor which means I use various therapeutic models and counselling tools to support individuals depending on their needs. I also work in various schools providing counselling/play therapy to children which also includes children who are in care system. I work with neurodivergent clients both in schools and at Light and Shade Counselling. I help clients, parents, and schools in identifying potential neurodivergent traits and offer guidance with referrals.
Having had personal therapy, myself and seeing how it helped me through challenging times of my life and having discovered my full potential was the drive for me to become a counsellor.
I feel very passionate about counselling and want to help people to access the support they need, in a place where they feel safe to explore their emotions without feeling judged. Therapy is an empowering experience to help people to have greater self-awareness and continued growth during and after therapy has ended. Too often people compare themselves to others and do not believe in their own qualities and strengths. So together I can help you with being able to express yourself, process emotions and develop coping skills to meet your unique needs.
I support clients with a range of issues in an accepting and non-judgmental way. You might be struggling with past experiences, facing new difficulties or life changes, like divorce, separation, bereavement and more. You might feel misunderstood or struggle to express how you feel because it is hard to find the right words. Working through these issues together I can help you discover the reasons you feel this way and to help you accept certain aspects of yourself and your life.
My training includes various models, Psychodynamic, Humanistic, CBT and play therapy. I use a variety of techniques that enable me to adapt my approach to work with the client’s needs. I also use creative interventions for those clients that feel comfortable to do so. It is not always easy to talk and find the right words for how we feel, so using emotions cards and creative approaches make this easier for some people to express how they feel.
I also work with children and have worked in various school settings for large organisations such as Place2Be. I use art and play therapy to help the children to be able to express themselves, process emotions, build resilience and develop coping skills to meet their unique needs. I do continue professional development training to help people in various areas of challenges they face including ADHD, Autism and more.
Angela
Hello, and welcome,
I am Angela, a qualified adult and child counsellor and a member of the BACP. I offer therapeutic support to children, teenagers and adults here at Light and Shade Counselling. I also work as a school counsellor in local secondary and primary schools as well as supporting with Special Educational Needs (SEN) at primary school level.
It was my SEN role that led to my interest in counselling. I was responsible for co-ordinating support for two siblings in foster care. They had complex needs due to the adversity they had experienced in their young lives and were struggling with anxiety, low self-esteem, anger, lack of motivation and challenging behaviours as well as suspected neurodivergent needs. I liaised with many professionals to provide support for them, including a counsellor.
Over time, the positive impact of the counselling was amazing! I was inspired to find out if I could offer this kind of support too.
I received counselling as part of my training and experienced the transformative benefits for myself. I gained invaluable insights, ‘unpicked’ my life experiences and understood how they shaped my view of the world, relationships and of myself at a much deeper level. The trusting, open, non-judgemental relationship with my counsellor enabled me to feel safe to be vulnerable and ‘dig deep’. I was enabled to shift my perspectives, shed some redundant patterns of behaviour, and make positive changes in my life.
How can I help you or your child?
I use a range of therapeutic models and counselling tools to support and collaborate with you on your counselling journey.
I draw on several theories – Humanistic, psychodynamic, CBT, Transactional Analysis – adapting to what works best for you.
I use various tools – mindfulness, visualisation, art therapy, play therapy, journalling, emotion cards, reference objects and more to help develop your self-awareness.
I will also offer support in the form of psychoeducation, we may explore trauma theory, attachment theory, love languages or neurodivergence and consider how these may relate to you.
Most importantly we will build a trusting counselling relationship.
You will be offered a safe, confidential space for you to explore your thoughts, feelings, and experiences free from judgement. You will receive empathy, compassion, warmth, understanding and acceptance. We will work together so that you are empowered to realise what you seek from counselling.
I have personally benefitted from the positive life changes a trusting counselling relationship can facilitate. I am passionate about supporting you to experience this too.
What can I help with?
Anxiety, stress, feeling overwhelmed, low mood, low self-esteem, self-harm, lack of motivation, relationship difficulties, anger, people pleasing, dealing with life changes such as divorce, separation, redundancy, coping with bereavement, domestic abuse, sexual abuse, self-confidence, depression.
For many years I have helped support a wide range of Special Educational Needs in Primary School. My role involves co-ordinating assessment and support for children to help ensure any special education needs are understood and supported. I liaise with a wide range of professionals including CAMHS, speech and language therapist, occupational health, specialist SEN teachers, physiotherapists, educational psychologists amongst others. I help support parents with any concerns about their children’s needs and ensure they are supported and informed about SEN processes. I understand the complex process of applying for support and gaining an EHCP.
This knowledge and experience enables me to offer great insight to parents/carers of children with SEN such as autism and ADHD and to adapt my counselling style according to the needs of children with SEN
Eloise
I’m a qualified integrative counsellor registered with the BACP who specialises in working with both Children and Adults.
I am a friendly, compassionate and empathic person who prides themselves in being sincere and reliable. I am a visual learner by nature and work creatively with all ages to allow space for self-expression. I have worked with adults and children in educational and clinical settings, enabling me to meet a variety of individuals with highly differentiated experiences.
Relationships, societal pressures and everyday life events can make it challenging to manage and understand the way we feel, regardless of age. My role is to listen, understand and work with you (or your child) in ways tailored to your needs, giving you the best opportunity for self-reflection, creating change, or finding acceptance.
In our sessions, I will support the building of a relationship which will enable you to feel safe, accepted and validated through the counselling process. I use a number theories and techniques in my practice to support each individual, helping to build emotional resilience and learn ways to move forward once therapy has concluded.
Everyone is capable of making decisions and finding solutions for themselves, no matter the situation. It is my role to explore with you the emotional struggles which contribute to poor mental health and may be preventing you from finding peace and contentment. Having battled mental health throughout my adolescence and 20’s, I found counselling invaluable. It has allowed me to become my true, authentic self, enabling me to take back control of my life by understanding who I was (warts and all). This inspired me to leave a corporate career of 12 years and become an advocate for those who require emotional support.
Talking to someone who doesn’t judge or have their own agenda is a unique and unparalleled experience, and I recognise the courage it takes to seek help. You’re in the right place.
Lisa
My name is Lisa, and I use an integrative approach to counselling and I work with both children and adults. My journey to becoming a counsellor started when I was a foster carer. For 12 years I cared for children and young people that had suffered deep trauma, abuse, PTSD, grief, and other painful experiences and cared for children with ASD, development delay and foetal alcohol syndrome. As my foster children became young adults, I became aware of how their past still affects them in their adult lives and I knew I wanted to be able to help them process their past and understand themselves.
Studying to become a counsellor was also a life changing journey for me. Over three years I spent a lot of time in my own personal therapy with my counsellor who I developed a deeply trusting professional relationship with. She made me feel safe and never judged me no matter how embarrassed or silly I felt about what I was saying. She helped me explore deep thoughts and memories that I had locked away and helped me release feelings and emotions that I had supressed for years. Self-awareness can be a very emotional but life changing journey, I could not have done it without the support from my counsellor. She really inspired me, and now I am a fully qualified counsellor and a member of the BACP, and I support my clients by walking that difficult journey with them and giving them the care, empathy, and unconditional positive regard that my counsellor gave to me.
I will give you a safe and confidential space where you can be yourself and discover yourself without judgement. I will help you explore your negative thoughts and help you discover things from your past that are triggering you in the present. I will help you explore to find solutions and journey with you on your empowering journey to healing and self-awareness. I am also passionate about creative therapy and play therapy. This can be very helpful for those clients that cannot express just using words.
Maggie
I am very passionate about counselling and firmly believe that it is an empowering experience of personal discovery which leads to a greater sense of self-awareness enabling continued growth long after therapy has ended. Grounded in Person-Centred therapy, I use a combination of talking therapy and other creative processes, such as visualisation, focusing on the client as a whole, as our bodies experience the world at the same time as our thoughts and emotions.
As a qualified counsellor and a registered member of the BACP, I have specialist experience in bereavement, gained as a volunteer counsellor with Saint Francis Hospice, and also in substance misuse, gained while working with a local charity supporting those with drug and alcohol addiction. I also work with issues such as anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, emotional/physical/sexual/financial abuse, relationship issues and domestic violence all of which can leave clients feeling isolated, worthless or with deep shame.
I feel that it is an absolute privilege to work with anyone who has the courage to take that first step in counselling and so can assure you of a warm welcome into a safe, confidential space where you are seen and heard. I recognise the bravery it takes for a client to dig deep as they seek to understand themselves, their experiences and the world around them, and believe that the therapeutic relationship is key to the success of the therapy. I will provide an approachable and compassionate therapeutic experience where we can work collaboratively towards your desired goal, with you setting the pace and direction, as we explore what it is that is troubling you.
Life can be a rollercoaster and at times you may feel overwhelmed, confused, directionless or lost and struggle to find your own true sense of self, burdened by expectations of others or the fear of what’s in front of you. Together we will work towards identifying and overcoming any barriers, empowering you on your journey to greater self-awareness leading to growth and fulfilment, building on your self-belief and confidence.
I believe you have the resources within you to make lasting changes in your life and hope to part of your forward journey.
Marilyn
I am an integrative counsellor and a member of the BACP. I have deep commitment to supporting children, teenagers, and adults through their unique journeys of growth and healing.
As a neurodivergent practitioner, I bring both professional expertise and lived experience to my therapeutic practice, creating an environment where clients feel truly understood and accepted.
I work in various schools, and I also do voluntary counselling at my local foodbank.
My practice combines three core therapeutic modalities in an integrative framework:
Person-Centred Therapy – Providing unconditional positive regard and empathy to create a safe space for self-discovery.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) – Helping clients transform
unhelpful thought patterns through practical, evidence-based strategies.
Psychodynamic Therapy – Exploring how past experiences influence current relationships and life patterns.
This integrative approach allows me to tailor therapy to each clients unique needs. I work holistically with clients, incorporating creative elements that provide alternative pathways for expression:
- Drawing, painting, and arts and crafts activities for emotional expression.
- Creative techniques like collage-making and expressive journaling
- Sensory-based interventions for clients who struggle with verbal expression.
- These approaches are particularly beneficial for building self-esteem, emotional resilience, and communication skills.
As a neurodivergent counsellor with personal experience of anxiety, depression, PTSD, and addiction, I offer:
- Genuine empathy and understanding of neurodivergent experiences
- Neurodivergent-affirming approaches with flexible accommodations
- A space for authentic self-expression without pressure to mask.
I am dedicated to creating a therapeutic environment where every client feels valued, understood, and empowered to reach their full potential. My neurodivergent identity,combined with my integrative training and creative approach, allows me to offer truly personalized therapy that honours each clients unique way of being in the world.
Through our work together, I aim to help clients develop greater self-awareness, build resilience, and discover their own capacity for growth and healing in a space free from judgment and full of genuine acceptance.
Tracy
Hello, I’m Tracy, and I’m really happy to be part of Light and Shade Counselling Agency.
My path into counselling has grown from a mixture of study, work, and the many personal experiences that have shaped who I am today. I believe that blend helps me meet people with honesty, warmth and a genuine understanding of how complicated life can feel.
Over the past six years, I’ve committed myself to roles rooted in care and support. I spent two of those years working as a Learning Support Assistant, supporting children who needed a little more patience, creativity and reassurance. That time taught me so much about how differently every young person moves through the world, and how powerful it is when a child feels safe, understood and valued.
I am a fully trained integrative counsellor and BACP registered. Being an integrative counsellor means I draw from different therapeutic approaches, shaping the work around you rather than expecting you to fit into one particular method. I use this flexible approach with both children and adults, meeting each person where they are — whether you need space to explore your emotions, gentle support to make sense of your past, or practical tools to navigate day-to-day challenges. My counselling style is deeply influenced by my own life.
I am a mum to young children with additional needs, and I understand the pressure, exhaustion and emotional weight that can come with parenting, caring, and juggling everything at once, this has informed my counselling work with adults and children that are neurodivergent. Im aware of the impact this can have on the whole family. These experiences have grounded me and taught me how important it is to show up with empathy and steadiness, both at home and in the therapy room.
Another important part of my journey has been my own therapy. Growing up, I often felt alone with my feelings and didn’t have the emotional support I needed. It wasn’t until I began my counselling training that I finally had a space to explore my story and understand how my past was still affecting me as an adult. That work allowed me to recognise old patterns, make sense of long-carried emotions, and become a more grounded, compassionate version of myself. It also strengthened my belief that everyone deserves to feel heard — truly heard.
I care deeply about offering a space where you can come exactly as you are. A space where you don’t have to minimise your feelings or worry about being judged. A space where it’s safe to explore the parts of yourself that feel heavy, confusing or painful. Life can feel heavy and complicated, but I believe we can work through it together — gently, honestly, and at your own pace. My role is to walk alongside you, hold space for whatever you bring, and support you in finding clarity, strength and hope as you move forward.
Kevin
Hi, my name is Kevin and I am a fully qualified counsellor registered with the BACP.
I decided to become a counsellor after my own positive experience with therapy,
I have a real passion for it, and I am currently studying to teach counselling and
psychotherapy.
I also work at an East London college providing counselling support for students and members of staff. I work predominantly with adolescents and young adults helping them with issues of Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), depression, behavioural disorders, loneliness, and acts of self-harming, often triggered by social discrimination, exclusion, stigma, and the influential pressures of social media.
My approach encompasses three well-established forms of therapy – Person-centred, Psychodynamic, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) – which I adopt as necessary to meet my clients individual needs. I do not exert what ‘I think’ is best, preferring instead to work alongside my clients, valuing their autonomy and preferences, and tailoring their therapy to achieve the best outcomes.
As a counsellor, I see the value of utilizing different methods and the power of
collaboration between myself and my clients. By working together, I hope to build a strong therapeutic bond that offers empathy, compassion, and clarity.
Counselling offers a safe and comfortable environment to reflect and speak freely. A space to examine how you are feeling, free from judgement, advice, or opinions. Crucially, feeling heard supported and acknowledged, and free to realise your own strengths and values, healing emotionally painful wounds, and regain the self-belief to overcome personal challenges. Enabling you to gather your strength to step away from the pressure and expectations of others.
I love what I do, and becoming a counsellor was one of the best decisions I ever made. It has awarded me the privilege of meeting and working with some incredibly genuine and amazing people.
Melanie
Hi, my name is Melanie.
I am a fully qualified integrative counsellor, which means that I can call on different types of therapy to best suit your needs.
As a counsellor I am very passionate about what I do, and my aim is to offer you a warm, empathetic, non-judgemental space, where you feel seen and heard and truly listened to. A space where everyone is a unique individual. A time to reflect on what is happening for you today as life can be tough at times. As you become more comfortable with therapy and the trust in our relationship grows, we will work together with what you bring to the room, is there something happening today that you may have supressed from your past and are your current behaviours serving you well today.
Together we will work to build a trusting relationship to empower you to become more self- aware and conscious of your own individual needs, in order to bring about change, for you to be your true self. Are you looking for change? The best part is you get to decide and together we can help you thrive.
Before becoming a counsellor I worked in the corporate world managing and coaching teams to success, but counselling is truly where my heart is. Having personal counselling myself has been the best thing I have ever done for myself. It allowed me to get to know myself better, and understand why I did the things I did. Through counselling and having a trusting relationship with my counsellor, I was able to process what was going on for me, it empowered me to bring about change, acceptance and being able to let go.
I have worked with low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, anger, trauma, attachment issues, the effects the menopause can have on mental health, grief and families bereaved by suicide, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, and other common life issues that can have an effect on mental health.
Billy
My name is Billy and I am a qualified counsellor. I am also a registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy and adhere to their ethical framework of good practice.
Working for many years in HR roles in the hospitality industry, I have come across lots of different people, from all walks of life and experiences. This involves coaching and supporting teams and individuals through difficult situations, from addictions and health conditions, to discrimination, bullying and harassment. Patience, confidentiality, empathy, and attention to detail are just some of the skills required in such situations.
I sought therapy to overcome my own difficulties. I experienced the worries and thoughts that stop you from doing the things you want to do; that keep you awake at night; being someone other than yourself to suit others; the sadness, the fear, the pain, the loss.
When you don’t know where to turn, or what to do to overcome those difficulties. I turned to counselling for support. This support encouraged me to become a counsellor myself.
I have always wanted to help people; it is a passion of mine. Whilst a list of qualifications and experience can be helpful, I truly believe that whatever you are going through, we can work through it together.
I utilise a number of different counselling theories to best suit your needs and have a pragmatic and down to earth style. This is important because I want you to feel comfortable and free to speak your mind.
In a safe and confidential setting, free of judgment, we can further understand your difficulties. Counselling isn’t about advising you or telling you what to do – instead we work together to identify and utilise your own strengths, skills, and behaviours to help you enable the change that you desire.
Over the course of my training and career I have worked with and helped clients with their sexuality, relationships, bereavement and loss, anxiety, depression, disabilities – a big reason for me becoming a counsellor is to support as many men as possible, who often find it more difficult to reach out for help.
Mollie
Hi, I am Mollie. Welcome to Light and Shade Counselling! I am a fully qualified therapist trained with an integrative approach, I can use multiple methods to assist clients with their needs. These include Humanistic, Psychodynamic, CBT and TA. Areas I have worked with include domestic violence, abuse, addiction, autism, ADHD, depression, self-esteem, self-harm, anxiety, criminal convictions, exam stress, suicidal thoughts and many more.
My inspiration to be a therapist comes from personal life experiences, some of which led me on my own therapy journey. Being able to see from the perspective of both client and therapist enables me to tailor my sessions to suit each person individually. It is well known that different people need different things at different times!
As a therapist, my main aim is to provide a safe and non-judgemental space for my clients. During our sessions we will get to know each other and learn to trust each other, all at your pace. You are the expert of your life – I am simply here to guide and support.
The collaboration, or therapeutic relationship, between us will be key. Building a foundation from the very first session, with you leading the way, will help form the integral bond needed in therapy. We can work on individual goals, build confidence, understand boundaries, tackle anxieties, explore childhood, plan ahead and almost everything else in between. In order to work towards a more positive future, we can delve into certain patterns of behaviour and discover meanings behind important relationships, all with the goal of self-development to become the happiest and strongest version of yourself. I am very passionate and wholly committed to the well-being and progress of my clients. Seeking therapy can feel scary and overwhelming but you have already taken the biggest step by reaching out. The rest we can deal with together.
Rosemarie
Profile to follow
Kelly
Hi, my name is Kelly, I am a fully qualified counsellor working within the integrative model. Practicing from an integrative approach draws upon different methodologies which includes cognitive behaviour therapy, psychodynamics and person-centred therapy. This enables the sessions to be tailored to suit your needs.
I have experience of working with clients from all backgrounds and presenting difficulties, this includes those presenting with difficulties with mental health anxiety, depressions, trauma, stress and relationship difficulties.
Working from a wide variety of settings, with children, teenagers, adults and couples. I am also a family practitioner and have experience of working with families and multidisciplinary teams for the local authority.
Having sort counselling myself in the past which led to me training to be a counsellor, I understand that taking those initial steps to talk to someone about things that have happened in your life or are troubling you can be difficult. With this in mind I offer a confidential space where you will be able to experience a non-judgmental, welcoming atmosphere to enable you to be able to discuss the difficulties that you are experiencing.
Counselling offers a safe space to for you to be heard, helping you to gain a different perspective, challenge negative beliefs which can enable you to move forward with a more positive outlook of life.
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream” By C.S.Lewis