EMDR and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
about me
Professional Background
I am an accredited EMDR therapist in the UK and Europe, as well as a certified Sensorimotor Psychotherapist, utilising a body- and somatically-oriented approaches in my practice. I have incorporated EMDR into my therapeutic work since 2013 and have been practicing Sensorimotor Psychotherapy since 2021. I am currently completing further studies in Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP), which is an approach that helps children and young people who struggle with relationships, often due to early trauma, loss, or disrupted attachment. It focuses on creating a sense of safety, trust, and emotional connection between the child and their caregiver. DDP is easily integrated into EMDR and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy.
My core professional training is in Social Work, and I remain a registered social worker, having obtained my BA in Finland in 1999 and my MA at UEA, UK in 2002. Additionally, I am a qualified Practice Educator. I currently work as a Senior Specialist Clinician at Cambridgeshire Fostering, Regional Adoption and Specialist Corporate Parenting Clinical Service. Prior to this role I worked as a Psychological Therapist for NHS Staff Post Covid Trauma Service treating staff trauma and complex trauma and emotional difficulties. I have been a Senior Mental Health Practitioner at the National Deaf Child and Adolescent Mental Health service and over 14 years as a Child and Young Person’s Therapist/Mental Health Practitioner at the local Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS) service.
I specialise in trauma, particularly complex developmental trauma and associated mental health challenges such as PTSD/C-PTSD children and adults. EMDR and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy are well suited to addressing trauma-related dissociation.
In addition to my primary training, I am engaged in further training in Therapeutic Parenting, including Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (Level 2), and have completed Level 1 and 2 training in Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), which is effective for managing chronic pain, stress, phobias, and trauma.
I am a Solution Focused Brief Therapist and have trained in Cognitive Therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Therapies
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR utilises eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation to assist people process disturbing memories that have become "stuck" and are causing ongoing problems like flashbacks, anxiety, and depression.
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (SP)
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (SP) is a form of body-oriented psychotherapy, also known as somatic psychotherapy, which is a therapeutic modality for trauma and attachment issues. Sensorimotor Psychotherapy welcomes the body as an integral source of information which can guide resourcing and the accessing and processing of challenging, traumatic, and developmental experience. It is a holistic approach that includes somatic, emotional, and cognitive processing and integration.
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy enables clients to discover and change habitual physical and psychological patterns that impede optimal functioning and well-being. It is helpful in working with dysregulated activation and other effects of trauma, as well as the limiting belief systems of developmental issues.
Therapeutic Parenting
Therapeutic Parenting is a conscious, intentional approach to parenting that goes beyond typical discipline or guidance. It's especially beneficial for children who have experienced trauma alongside individual therapy such as EMDR and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy. The Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) by Dr. Dan Hughes is one of the therapeutic parenting approaches with it's PACE parenting. While the principles are designed for those with trauma backgrounds, they can also positively impact all children.
EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique)
EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) is a brief self-applied stress reduction technique using elements of cognitive therapy, with physical stimulation of acupuncture points. It is often referred to as ‘Tapping’ as it uses a two finger tapping process on known acupuncture points.
EFT can address a range of issues by simply focusing on the issue you would like to address with an acceptance statement, along with a simple two finger tapping technique.
Effectiveness has been established for phobias, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Anxiety, Depression, pain and more.
Fees
I offer prospective clients a free 10–20 minute telephone call, with no obligation, to explore whether my approach is the right fit for you
I charge £90 per therapeutic hour, offered either in person in central Ely, Cambridgeshire, or online via Teams. For longer EMDR processing sessions, a 90‑minute appointment (£135) is often most effective.
For dyadic or family sessions, a 90‑minute format (£135) is also recommended to allow enough time for meaningful work.