With a background in Engineering my path into counselling isn’t as obvious as other natural progressions. Having spent 20 plus years in the petrochemical industry I came to a point in my life where I knew I wanted more out of life. After some deliberation I embarked on a counselling skills course and then progressed onto a Counselling Diploma. I am passionate about supporting people within my role as a listener. I can testify to the benefits of ‘just’ listening to people. When we speak to family and friends, often we find they are trying to fix us, and bring their biases into the room, or are listening only to impart their opinion on us. Talking therapy is something very different. As a qualified counsellor what I bring into the session is a gentle way of being, reflecting back things said or sometimes unsaid during the session. I am also passionate about the link between body and mind and reflecting back body language and cues can be very beneficial for clients. Noticing patterns of behaviour that may be causing problems is a real strength of mine and I am open and congruent in sessions to verbalise what I’m noticing and this can lead to organic change and growth in people. Generally we live very hectic busy lives, never just pausing to reflect on ourselves and our automatic responses to events and interactions in life.