About Me

If you’re reading this, maybe out of simple curiosity, or possibly because something on the website particularly resonated with your being, you might be interested in who I am and what brings me here. After all, in a field such as counselling it’s the personal relationship and rapport that’s equally important to any ideas or concepts I could offer.

On my initial draft for this page I had focused on my background, my transition in life from completion of post-graduate academic study into nearly two decades of competitive sports as an athlete and coach, relating some of the insights and lessons of this experience and how it shaped my understanding both of myself, as well as those I had the privilege of guiding and supporting on their own paths. I’d also discussed some of the challenges I’d faced in my own personal life journey and analysed the key roles they’d played in expanding the nature and scope of my awareness. I had thought this provided a strong synopsis of my experiences in life combined with an in-depth analysis of the ideas that resonate powerfully with me. In reviewing my writing however, I found myself ironically guilty of ignoring one of the most powerful realisations life has provided me time and time again – it’s often not what we say that’s of importance, but rather our ability to be truly present for our fellow man/woman.

As wonderful and vital to life as the gift of our intellectual and analytical faculties might be, when it comes to connecting with others these place a distant second to our ability to hear and empathise with another’s predicament. I’ve been fortunate to lead a life where both my personal and professional journeys have gifted me many years of experience at either end of mentor/mentee and coach/student relationships. From the invaluable time spent on both sides of these roles, through all the ups and downs life presented, what became abundantly clear was that no amount of technical knowledge, logical analysis or theoretical frameworks however brilliant could replace the importance of being heard and understood. It can be easy to fall into the trap of academically extolling one’s own story or theories (just as I did on my first draft of this writeup) to others, but is it always useful?

Over my years working with individuals of all ages and backgrounds, I’ve noticed it’s this ability to be deeply present and engaged with another’s life experience that both clients and friends have repeatedly conveyed to me has been most powerful in our interactions. Likewise, through those times when the role was reversed and I found myself struggling with moments in life that shattered my own equilibrium, I learned firsthand just how important a support this could be as I went through my internal journeys of healing and self-discovery.

Perhaps it’s something you might find helpful too.

“A human being has so many skins inside, covering the depths of the heart. We know so many things, but we don’t know ourselves! Why, thirty or forty skins or hides, as thick and hard as an ox’s or bear’s, cover the soul. Go into your own ground and learn to know yourself there.” – Meister Eckhart