Cornwall Counselling Institute

Deborah is a Chartered Psychologist and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society. She has been practicing for over 30 years in the field of mental health. Her 12-year training was based in general psychiatry, where she worked across a variety of specialist units in hospitals. She specialised in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and worked predominantly with mood and anxiety disorders. She then moved into educational settings and spent 5 years supporting young people with acquired brain injury, learning difficulties and physical disabilities. Deborah has spent the last 10 years working for The Cornwall College Group, providing student counselling services, teaching on counselling and psychology courses and developing and expanding the professional counselling training programmes available at the Cornwall Counselling Institute.

Qualifications: BA (Hons) Psychology, MSc Health Psychology, MSc Counselling Psychology, Post MSc Diploma Counselling Psychology, CPsychol, AFBPsS, PGCE, CMI Level 5 Dip in Management and Leadership

Anne has worked in education for over 20 years including training adults to be playworkers. In 2011 she set up an organisation that delivered therapeutic activities in schools and the community to support people recovering from the trauma of the New Zealand earthquakes.  On returning to England in 2015 she completed her Nurture, Trauma Informed Schools training and gained Child Protection and Safeguarding qualifications to enable her to work with vulnerable children and their families. Training to be counsellor and working with clients has been an incredible part of her journey and has taught her the importance of lifelong learning.

Qualifications
BA Hons in Communication, PGCE in English and Drama, Diploma in Trauma and Mental Health Informed Schools,  Level 5 Diploma in Counselling and Therapy.

Ruth has worked as part of the Cornwall College Group since 2009 across a variety of departments.  She joined the Counselling Team in 2021 and supports them with a range of administrative duties and course enquiries.

Qualifications: Level 2 ECDL, Level 2 Counselling Skills, FdA Health and Community Studies, BA (Hons) Combined Social Science

Judy has had a varied professional background from organising pharmaceutical events, running her own vegan raw chocolate business and also has training in food intolerance testing. This has set her up well to provide the administrative support for the busy counselling team.

Qualifications: BA (First Class) Theatre, Media and Drama, Allergy Intolerance Therapy, Dip AIT, Advanced EFT and MR Practitioner, Diploma in Naturopathic Nutrition

Lucy has worked in education for nearly 20 years in a number of different roles. After volunteering with the Samaritans for a number of years, she decided training to become a counsellor was her next step. She has worked in a variety of counselling agencies and also has her own private counselling practice where she works with a variety of client issues. She loves the idea of facilitating growth and is a passionate believer in letting people find their own unique pathways. She embraces this approach in both her client work and teaching.

Qualifications:  Level 2 Counselling Skills, Level 3 Education and Training, Level 5 Diploma in Person -Centred Counselling, BA (Hons) Social Sciences with Social Policy

Celia originally trained and worked as a Registered Veterinary Nurse and spent many years in clinical practice before moving into teaching and training, where she spent 23 years teaching Veterinary Nursing at Duchy College and trained Clinical Coaches. Celia also worked as an examiner for City & Guilds and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. She then trained as a counsellor and supervisor and now runs her own private practice and provides supervision for counselling students and provides group supervision for the CCI Counselling Service. Celia also offers pet bereavement counselling services and also works as a content editor for Improve International, a veterinary CPD company.

Qualifications:  Level 4 Advanced Certificate in Counselling & Psychotherapy, Level 5 Diploma in Person-Centred Counselling and Therapy, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Registered Veterinary Nurse, CertEd, BA (Hons) Counselling Studies

Jenna has worked in the field of psychology and counselling for the past 12 years. She began her psychology career as part of the Psychology Services team at HMP Dartmoor Prison where she interviewed prisoners for offender behavioural programmes. She then moved on to work for Cornwall Council’s Clinical Psychology & Therapy service in a variety of support roles working with young people, before training to become a qualified counsellor. She has since specialised in working with trauma and abuse in a variety of services across Cornwall. Jenna currently works within the NHS Talking Therapies specialising in working with anxiety and depression. Jenna has a passion for animals and the outdoors and has worked extensively with horses. She is interested in combining her trauma focused therapy with the use of animals and nature.

Qualifications: BSc (Hons) Psychology, HND Applied Psychology, Level 5 Dip Person-Centred Counselling and Therapy, Dip Animal Assisted Therapy, Nat Cert Management of Horses, Level 3 Education and Training, Level 2 Counselling Skills, NONCN Level 2 Mentoring for Young People.

Paul is a qualified integrative psychotherapist and counsellor with a background in secondary education within alternative provisions across the county; working with disaffected adolescents.

Paul currently runs a private practice, predominantly supporting couples through marital and relational difficulties.

Paul has a particular interest in modern philosophy and existential psychotherapeutic approaches.

Qualifications: FdA in Integrative Counselling

Elizabeth began her career in Education Administration and Qualifications before training as a Clinical Hypnotherapist and NLP practitioner supporting clients with exam anxiety and professionals seeking to develop their work performance. Whilst living in Canada, she also trained as a Western Medical Herbalist/Phyto therapist, where she developed an interest in sleep and mental health. Keen to advance this specialism, she undertook a L5 Diploma in Person-Centred Counselling and Psychotherapy. She now runs a busy private practice in Coaching, Counselling and Medical Herbalism through which she helps clients with chronic and complex conditions, spiritual development and obtaining their personal and professional goals in a gentle, trauma informed manner. She enjoys working with a diverse client base, welcoming clients with lived experience of Neurodiversity and those in the queer community.

Qualifications:  BA (Hons) English & American Literature, Clinical Hypnotherapy Diploma with Neuro-linguistic Programming and Cognitive Behavioural Therapies (RC. Hyp., Dip. Hyp.) L5 Diploma in Person Centred Counselling & Psychotherapy, Diploma of Phytotherapy (Dip. Phyt.)

Victoria is a qualified Person-Centred therapist and Supervisor with a background in Health & Social Care and the NHS helping professions. She has run a busy private practice while continuing to develop her professional skills by training in Non-Violent Communication (NVC), Couples Counselling, Therapeutic Counselling Supervision and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR). Victoria also has experience working with organisations and agencies supporting military families, working with domestic violence and sexual abuse, loss, transgender issues, PDSD in adults and children and Gender, Sexuality & Relationship Diversity (GSRD). Her particular interests are working therapeutically with relationships, communication and identity.

Qualifications:  Level 6 Certificate in Therapeutic Counselling Supervision, Level 5 Diploma in Person-centred Counselling & Therapy, Level 2 Introduction to Counselling Skills, PTLLS, A1 Assessors Award.

Emma has worked in pastoral support within education and community outreach for over ten years. She works with Pegasus Men’s Wellbeing agency and is passionate about supporting those engaging in education through supporting their wellbeing with programmes such as the mental health mentor scheme.

Qualifications: L2 Counselling Skills, L3 Therapeutic Counselling, L4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling, Cert Ed, L6 Careers Advice and Guidance, FdSc Marine Science

Amanda studied for a BSc (Hons) Psychology at Birkbeck College, University of London, specialising in Psychopathology, Addiction and Psychoanalysis.

She has over 20 years’ experience as a Senior Lecturer and Programme Management in Higher Education. She has a keen interest in research methodology both qualitative and quantitative and the development of students academic skills across levels 4, 5 and 6.

Skilled in research design, data analysis, course management and curriculum development.

Audrey worked for social services practicing exclusively in adult services for 25 years before becoming a trained counsellor. Specialising in supporting clients with PTSD, anxiety, depression, and addiction issues.

Qualifications: Level 4 Co-ordination of Learning and Development, Level 5 Diploma Person- Centred Counselling, Cert Ed, Diploma Neuro-Linguistic Programming, HND Health and Social Care.

Thomas is a counsellor who lives and works in Falmouth. He is interested in modern relational techniques, the intersection of research and practice, and works with people with a wide range of mental health concerns.

Qualifications: Level 2 Counselling Skills, Level 5 Diploma in Person -Centred Counselling, PTLLS, BA (Hons) Broadcasting, MA Professional Writing, MBACP

Eugenie is a registered member of the BACP and BPS with a background in Early Years and Primary Education.  Her role in schools was providing emotional support to adopted and neurodivergent children. She went on to work within the NHS as a trainee Education Mental Health Practitioner, working with children and adolescents using low intensity CBT to reduce anxiety, phobias and other mental health difficulties.

Eugenie now runs her own private practice as a qualified counsellor offering a neuro and gender affirmative space.  Her specialty areas are menopause, relationships difficulties, trauma and anxiety.

Qualifications: L5 Diploma in Person- Centred Counselling, MSc Psychology, BA (Hons) Education & Training

Chris works in private practice with adults (his special interest is working with new fathers) and bases his counselling practice on a Person-Centered approach. He specialises in working with groups, particularly within the men’s work environment. He has accumulated 300+hrs of peer supported and facilitated led group work with archetype and shadow work at its roots. Chris has been self-employed for many years within the digital marketing and website industry and has been passionately involved in deepening his self-awareness and communication abilities prior to training as a Person-Centered counsellor.

Qualifications:  BA Steiner (Waldorf) Education, BFT Shadow Work Facilitation, Level 2 Counselling Skills, Level 5 Diploma Person-Centred Counselling and Therapy

Rene is a Person-Centred Counsellor with over twenty years of experience in the voluntary, health, and charity sectors, working with organisations such as Macmillan, Age UK, and Women’s Aid. She has extensive experience working with trauma and PTSD, including supporting veterans and their families, and those affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence. She has also worked with families navigating complex caring roles, provided advocacy and therapeutic services for older adults, and supported individuals dealing with bereavement, terminal illness, and chronic health issues. Her experience spans diverse populations, including neurodiversity, trauma histories and the LGBTQ+ community. Rene has also worked with the NHS in the field of preventative healthcare education. In her private practice, she integrates somatic and creative approaches, nature-based sessions and therapeutic writing. She is currently training in couples therapy and psychotherapeutic supervision, and is working towards a pluralistic approach, tailoring therapeutic interventions to meet the unique needs of each client.

Qualifications: BA (Hons) Performance and Writing, Level 5 Diploma in Person-Centred Counselling and Therapy, Level 3 Award in Education and Training- PTLLS

Abi runs a private practice specialising in supporting individuals to process traumatic experiences and those who go on to develop trauma-related disorders including PTSD, cPTSD and dissociation.

She works particularly with adults who have been impacted by childhood trauma and people who experience chronic trauma through their occupations (such as emergency service workers).

Before training to become a counsellor, Abi worked in the education sector for 16 years and absolutely loves delivering workshops and lectures.

Qualifications: BA English Lit, PGCE, Level 5 Diploma in Person-Centred Counselling and Therapy, Trauma-Focused CBT, Certified TRiM (Trauma Risk Management) Practitioner.

Nik started her career supporting adults experiencing complex mental health issues and learning disabilities before joining the corporate world where she led and coached high performing teams in a global technical consulting organisation focused on driving cultural change and organisational strategy.

Coming full circle to her original academic roots in psychology and neuroscience, she now runs her own private practice in Truro and combines her passion for neuroscience to offer a unique and compassionate approach to counselling and coaching, focusing predominantly on anxiety, chronic stress and neurodivergence.

Her approach is from a scientific, empathetic, and Person-Centred perspective, offering evidence-based strategies tailored to each client.

Qualifications: BA (Hons) Psychology, MSc Applied Neuroscience, PgDip Learning Disability studies, Level 5 Diploma in Person-Centred Counselling & Therapy, Level 2 Introduction to Counselling Skills, PROSCI certification.

Sarah has extensive clinical experience working with trauma, sexual abuse, domestic abuse and sexual offending. Sarah works with local DASV charities with a varied and diverse client base across Mid Cornwall. Having qualified as a Person-Centred counsellor, Sarah widened her practice integrating Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and works in a nurturing and empowering way. Sarah has also co-facilitated domestic abuse recovery support groups and has worked in refuges supporting families fleeing abuse.

Sarah has a private practice which includes supporting individuals who have sexually offended or pose a sexual risk and she facilitates a therapeutic rehabilitation programme to help manage sexual offending.

Qualifications:
Level 5 Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Level 4 Diploma in Person- Centred Therapeutic Counselling, Level 4 Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Theory, Level 3 Counselling Skills, Level 2 Counselling Studies. Stop So COFRA 121 Therapeutic rehabilitation programme.

Sam has worked in education for over 20 years, mainly at primary school level. Whilst leading a Health and Well-being team at work, she developed a passion for supporting colleagues in the work place and has since studied to become a counsellor with the view to starting her own private practice. To compliment her work as a Person-Centred therapist, Sam has also studied mindfulness alongside her interest in the creative arts and nature as a way to accompany clients on their journey of self-discovery.

Qualifications: BA (Hons) Archaeology and History, PGCE, Level 2 Counselling Skills, Level 5 Diploma in Person-Centred Counselling and Therapy (pending)

Nikki is a BACP registered qualified counsellor, with her own private practice working with clients across the country.  As a Trauma-Informed Practitioner, Nikki invites clients to explore the impact of trauma in their lives in a safe, trusting environment. She works with individual clients and particularly enjoys working with students aged 16+ years. She also works as a Specialist Mentor with higher education students across England. Nikki is currently teaching a Level 2 Counselling Skills course at the CCI.

Qualifications:
Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling, Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies, Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills, Trauma-Informed Practitioner, Suicide First Aid

Ian has worked in education for over twenty years and is a counsellor with a local charity. His Integrative, Person-Centred practice draws from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Gestalt. He has worked with a range of presenting issues including depression, anxiety, addiction, and interpersonal relationships. Ian continues to work in education, including supporting learners with diverse educational, health or care needs and is currently teaching a Level Counselling Skills

Qualifications: MA Applied Theatre: Theatre in Education and Drama in the Community (CSSD), PGCE, Level 4 Diploma in Counselling (NCPS).

Stella originally studied a BA in Dance and Culture, with a focus on anthropology and genealogy where she explored how identity, history, and cultural expression shape who we are. This planted the seeds of her interest in the human experience.

Stella’s professional journey began as a well-being chef and event organiser and she also trained as a yoga practitioner, running well-being retreats for people to reconnect to themselves through the outdoors, movement, and mindfulness, before training as a counsellor.

Stella’s counselling approach is rooted in Person-Centred therapy. She currently offers a therapeutic space in private practice and eco-therapy walk-and-talks.

Stella teaches on the Level 2 Counselling Skills course at our Newquay Campus and runs Counselling Taster days.

Qualifications: BA (Hons) Dance & Culture, FdSc in Counselling & Psychotherapy, Level 5 Diploma Person-Centred Counselling and Therapy

Alice has had a varied career, having originally trained as a nurse and then moved into other roles over time, including working with bereaved children and their families and supporting parents of children with additional needs.  Alice is particularly interested in supporting clients experiencing loss and grief. Completing training as a counsellor and supervisor later in life, she runs her own private practice and also provides counselling supervision as well as clinical supervision to nurses in the NHS.

Qualifications: BA(Hons) Counselling Studies, Level 5 Diploma in Person-centred Counselling and Therapy, Cert.Ed., Cert. Management OU

Tristan works in private practice with adults and young people using an integrative counselling approach. He draws upon transpersonal and eco-psychology, health couching and has a firm foundation in Person-Centred theory. He also works for a counselling agency supporting young people on an individual basis and through groups, specialising in neurodiversity. His interests are in studying consciousness, phenomenology, and sensation.

Qualifications:  Level 2 Counselling Skills, Level 5 Diploma Person-Centred Counselling and Therapy, completing BA (Hons) Counselling Studies