Dad, husband, author, counsellor – I am many things, but above all I aspire to be a compassionate, generous person who supports and helps others. I do this through my writing about being highly sensitive and through my therapy practice based near Totnes in South Devon.
Spreading the word on high sensitivity
Back in 2007, I became the carer of my two lovely daughters. What a wonderful learning journey I began! I am passionate about being a parent and truly believe it’s the best job in the world – but I am also acutely aware of how incredibly difficult and challenging it can be at times. Especially when you add high sensitivity into the mix.
That’s why, in 2014, just after moving to Devon I wrote and published my first book, Understanding the Highly Sensitive Child. Drawing on my experiences as a highly sensitive person parenting a highly sensitive child, I wanted to write a book to help parents and carers better understand this trait. The book is deliberately written to be simple and concise, and to clarify what can seem like a complex topic. Many readers have told me that the book reassured them that they are not alone. They have even found they can use it to influence and educate significant others, such as teachers, grandparents, partners and friends.
Following on from the success of my first book, I have written and published more books, and there are further ones in the pipeline. Each relates to high sensitivity, looking at ways we can better understand the highly sensitive person and support them to thrive.
High sensitivity (or sensory processing sensitivity, as it is also known) has a massive impact on my family’s life, and coming to understand the trait has transformed our lives – for the better. Before we understood high sensitivity, we were bumbling about in the dark; now we’re in the light.
I wish the entire world knew all about high sensitivity. What a wonderful world it would be if highly sensitive people were understood, accepted and truly valued for who they are. All I can do is to keep making a little bit of difference by spreading the word through my work.
Supporting through counselling
As a fully qualified counsellor, I aim to be non-judgemental and work sensitively according to my client’s needs, bringing warmth, openness, empathy, trust and presence to the therapeutic relationship.
I’m passionate about my work – about helping my clients to grow into who they are through personal discovery. A quote by the existential philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche beautifully defines what counselling means to me: ‘Become who you are.’
Since completing a Sharpham Trust Mindfulness for Stress Reduction training course near Totnes in South Devon back in 2015, I have regularly practised mindfulness, and I integrate this into my counselling philosophy. Being mindful means being really present with the client while they explore their internal world and practising acceptance without judgement.
I consider it an honour and a privilege to do this work, helping my clients to better understand themselves and to fulfil their potential.
A little about me
I live in the village of Stoke Gabriel in South Devon, located on the River Dart close to Totnes and Torbay. It’s an absolutely beautiful part of the world – heaven for a sensitive soul like me.
I have had a broad and varied experience of life. I was born and brought up on a small dairy farm in North Shropshire, England, and I went on to study a BSc (Hons) degree in Agri-food Marketing and Business Studies at Harper Adams University. Subsequently, I worked in the farming, wine, restaurant, insurance and financial services industries, before relocating to Stoke Gabriel for a new, quieter life as a counsellor and fully present dad.
In my spare time, I love spending time at home with my family. I’m usually to be found cooking in the kitchen or stone carving in my shed. I also enjoy walking, camping and wild swimming in and around the local areas of South Devon and Dartmoor.