Profile

I am a registered social worker and UKCP registered psychotherapist with extensive experience of therapeutic and direct work with people. Before joining the teaching team at Lancaster University, I worked with problem drug and alcohol users in the NHS and Voluntary Sector for over 15 years. I have worked in Learning Disability Services, as a social worker in Children and Adult Services, with young offenders, and as a counsellor in the NHS. Alongside my role as a Lecturer at Lancaster University, I currently work at CancerCare in Lancaster, counselling people experiencing loss, bereavement and the sequelae of diagnosis and treatment.

I am a passionate teacher with over 30 years experience. I was Deputy Course Director of the ‘Post Graduate Certificate and Diploma in Drug and Alcohol Treatment’ at the University of Leicester Medical School (from 2004 to 2013). From 2008 to 2016 I was a Teaching Fellow on the ‘Foundation Degree in Drug and Alcohol Counselling and Treatment’, at the University of Leicester.

I began using and teaching Motivational Interviewing over 25 years ago. I really love MI as a way of working collaboratively in fostering change; I enjoy sharing the MI approach with others. I have taught MI at Leicester University, trained workers in a wide range of agencies nationally; and since 2017 on the Lancaster University Social Work Course.

I have a lifelong interest in mindfulness and completed my MSc in Mindfulness Based Approaches at the Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice at Bangor University in 2015. I have engaged in research into using mindfulness with problem substance users and have facilitated mindfulness courses in a variety of settings.

Mindful embodied presence is a key thread in my work with individuals, groups and in teaching. I consider self-care and resilience as essential professional skills and embed these throughout my teaching. I passionately believe in bringing heart into the classroom. This is consonant with our commitment to relational and trauma informed practice.