Why I Became A Therapist
I would like to give you a little background information about my journey into the 'therapeutic field'........
Prior to embarking upon my counselling studies, I felt privileged to have an overseas career in the travel industry.  One that spanned several years and proved to be a rewarding yet challenging experience that helped shape, what for me, became a very personal and enlightening journey.  Part of my role as area manager was to train and facilitate personal development of the overseas staff. In doing so I drew upon my earlier training in Organizational Transactional Analysis but I additionally always searched for other creative methods. Spending several years in The Far East, and South East Asia, I found myself in a part of the world that very much challenged me to think, beyond, or outside, what I knew or had already learned, both on a professional, as well as personal level. It was whilst there, that I was first introduced to Buddhist philosophy.

"Most intriguing to me was the idea that we could all be in control of our own suffering............"

I arrived in Sri Lanka after the uprising in 1990 when the state of emergency in the country had just been lifted and it was declared safe again for tourism. Consequently I had a lot of questions about what had taken place.  What struck me was, despite having lived through an uprising which brought about horrific and brutal atrocities upon the nation, the people of Sri Lanka upheld a personal dignity and inner strength that appeared unshakeable. I simply needed to know more about it. Fortunately during my time there I was privileged to meet some dedicated, and very patient Buddhist monks who encouraged me to spend time at  Sri Dalada Maligawa (The Temple of the Tooth in Kandy) and the cultural center for learning. I was drawn in particular to understand Buddhist teaching in relation to the workings of the human mind, and the causes, as well as cure, for human suffering. Most intriguing and of particular interest to me was the idea that, according to Buddhist teaching, we could all be in control of our own suffering......
That was the start of my journey into the field of counselling and psychotherapy and after returning to the UK,  I became a member of SGI UK(Soka Gakkai International UK) a lay Buddhist movement linking more than 12 million people around the world. For more info visit www.sgi-uk.org, I additionally embarked upon my therapeutic studies graduating from Sheffield Hallam University in 2001.  
I am respectful of, and happy to work with issues relating to any spiritual belief system and have gained experience working with a few such as; Christianity, Buddhism, Catholicism, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Sikhism, Shinto, Taoism, Mysticism, New Age, Occult & Magical.

Training, Qualifications And Experience
Post Graduate Cert. Counselling Supervision
Diploma In Counselling & Psychotherapy
Cert in Therapeutic Counselling
Cert In Counselling Skills

Prior to starting my private practice -Inner Clarity Counselling and Psychotherapy, over ten years ago, I gained experience working for community projects such as Home Start, supporting families facing threat of crisis or breakdown and as a counsellor/co-ordinator at Touchstone Community Enterprise, a project for people coping with long term unemployment and affected by mental health issues.

I have taught counselling courses at Chesterfield College, Assertiveness and anger management programs for Derbyshire County Counsel  Person Centered Counselling diploma at Manor College Chesterfield.  I have training in Organizational Transactional Analysis and over twenty- five years experience in teaching in the area of organizational and personal development.  I facilitate workshops and training courses in my field of work, for businesses and organizations and I continue my study and practice of Buddhism and have been a member of SGI UK Sokka Gakkai International UK, since 1995.