who am i...?

I am a Psychotherapist in Private Practice. I grew up in Durban, South Africa, where from a young age I knew I wanted to help people and started by volunteering in outreach programs at school in the Interact team. I then completed work experience with a few psychologists in the field, which helped me to realize that I wanted to study Psychology at university level.

I completed a Bachelor of Psychology - Counselling (Honours) at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. I completed my internship at the University Psychology Clinic as well as at the Student Counselling Career Development Centre. Here I saw a range of issues from general counselling, to relationships, financial and home issues. I also conducted psychological assessments on children, teenagers and adults. I completed research during my internship - my treatise is entitled:  A Psychobiography on Reverend Jim Jones – I was awarded a distinction for this treatise.  

I then went on to complete a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (Life Orientation - PSHE and Mathematical Literacy) at the same University. I completed my internship at St Georges College in Port Elizabeth. During my PGCE I had to complete a treatise and I chose to do mine on Depression as a Barrier to Learning in Adolescents. I was awarded a distinction for this treatise and chosen to present my research to the Department for a bursary. I won the bursary which prompted me to further this study at Masters Level.

In 2009 I opened my Private Practice attached to my residence. I also held down a job at a local High School where I headed up the Counselling Department as well as taught Life Orientation/PSHE.

In 2011 I joined SADAG's (South African Depression and Anxiety Group) local Support Group for Suicide and Depression, and ran that with Lori Barausse. We held meetings once a month for the community.

From time to time, I had the privelege of flying with Air Mercy Red Cross on the "10 Seater Flying Doctors Plane" to Pongola (Northern Kwazulu Natal) on the Swaziland Border to Counsel for the day at the Itshelejuba Hospital. Here we counselled any issue from Rape, Suicide, Depression to Children Assessments. It was extremely rewarding, and an amazing way to give back to the community.

In December 2013, I completed my Master of Education, a thesis titled "A Phenomenological Exploration: How Secondary School Teachers cope with Depressed Adolescents in the Classroom". In February 2014, I was informed by the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University that I had passed my Master of Education

- Cum Laude (Distinction).

In February 2014, I emigrated to England. Initially I took some time off to travel to various countries in Europe and to visit America. When I returned, I began the process of becoming a registered member with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. While I was waiting to become registered, I worked as a Special Needs Tutor in the Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames as well as the London Borough of Richmond.

In September 2014, I became a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and in October 2014, I wrote the Proficiency Exam to become a Registered Member. I then went on to work for Place2Be whereby I project managed and clinically supervised a Counselling Department at a secondary school in North London. I had intern counsellors who were training and completing their hours with me; I clinically supervised their work.

At the end of 2015, I moved to Bristol and started working for Children's Hospice South West in the palliative field. I was a Senior Team Leader: Family Support which involved Duty Managing the hospice as well as coordinating the family support services; namely bereavement counselling and support pre and post death. I also attended meetings with the palliative team at Bristol Children's Hospital regularly to parallel plan end of life cases; as well as liaise and network with other local services such as Jessie May Trust in Kingswood, Lifetime-Sirona in Bath, the Compass Team in Somerset and the Rainbow Trust in Chippenham.

I left the hospice in March 2020 to focus full time on my private practice and be able to achieve a work-life balance as a working parent. In March 2021, I moved my practice from my residence to Wapping Wharf in Bristol due to expanding and in January 2023 I moved from Wapping Wharf to a bigger practice room in Clifton. Natalina and Nicky have both joined me in 2023 to create "Vermonti Health" and due to growing faster than we had realised, we have moved to Southville at the end of 2023 where we have three spaces we can see clients in at the same time, plus our own entrance, waiting area, kitchenette and toilet facilities. 

I also have a strong interest in Adoption and Fostering; and understand the process personally having adopted my own three children in 2018 at ages 2, 3 and 4. I am also registered to see children and families through the Adoption Support Fund (ASF) and currently see children and families through Adoption West, BANES and other local authorities whether adopted or fostered.

Psychotherapy is my passion and I look forward to helping you through your therapy process. All Psychotherapy Sessions are CONFIDENTIAL. The only time when Confidentiality will be broken is when I feel in my professional opinion as your Psychotherapist that you are at risk of harming yourself or those around you.