School Counsellor
I originally came to work at Sands School in September 2017 as a teaching assistant with a deaf student. Having previously done this work in a state school, I found Sands a breath of fresh air. I felt comfortable in the family-like atmosphere and the beautiful grounds. And over the years I have witnessed how the young people here are truly seen and heard and valued as individuals, with space and opportunities for their own unique talents to grow and thrive.
During my time supporting this young person at Sands, I also completed my diplomas in counselling and psychotherapy in my own time. After the student I was working with finished her time at Sands in summer 2022, I had the amazing opportunity to share the school counsellor role with Kate Day and have her as my invaluable supervisor for this work. During my training, I had a particular interest in working with young people, having seen how much my own children had benefited from an amazing counsellor who really helped them during a difficult time of change and loss for them. I also had many of my children’s friends staying at our family home, and witnessed the need for support for many young people to navigate what can be a challenging time in our lives, as well as the rich insight they bring. So I was keen to accept this opportunity, and I appreciate being in a school which provides for and values the importance of offering young people this kind of therapeutic support.
I have my original degree in the humanities and art history, and have travelled extensively, including a year spent in Sri Lanka teaching English. I have a level 2 qualification in British Sign Language.
