OUR TEAM - who are we?
We are very fortunate to have a wonderful team of volunteers and employees. Our 10 employed therapists are all qualified counsellors who have many years experience working with adults and children. We also have many qualified volunteer counsellors, and all are qualifed to at least vocational diploma in counselling.
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All of our therapists, whether volunteers or employees, are trained for a minimum of 3 years prior to working with clients. Counsellors in training, like Drs or Nurses, must have clinical practice (working with real clients) in order to qualify. Trainee counsellors are within a year of qualification when they begin working with Open Minds.
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We have male and female counsellors.
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Our counsellors come from a variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds, some are LGBTQ, and all are allies.
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Our core ethos is relational; we believe in people and connections.
The employees (our volunteers are equally valued but there are too many to list everyone here)
•Avis’ primary role is management of the charity’s finances
•This means she monitors our income and our expenditure, and makes changes to maximise our budget wherever possible. Avis also prepares the accounts for the accountant at the year end.
•Avis is one of the founders of Open Minds, in 2007, and attends meetings with our Board of Directors to make recommendations on potential developments
•Avis manages the office alongside Mel and supports counsellors by ensuring they are following our administrative systems appropriately
•Avis supports counsellors with case-work management, and supports clients by taking referrals and following up on scheduling and attendance
AVIS
•Mel's primary role is daily office management of the charity
•This means taking referrals and booking appointments and supporting counsellors to ensure they follow our administrative systems correctly. Mel also manages our client database and supports Helen with auditing.
•She is also a qualified counsellor and works with adults, specialising but not limited to bereavement and palliative care.
•Mel supports other counsellors with their own practice, and delivers training on ways of working that are particularly relevant to counsellors at Open Minds
•Mel is Practitioner Support Team Leader (internal supervision, safeguarding and other support) for counselling teams on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays
Office & Practitioner Support Team Leader
MEL
•Sam’s primary role is assessing children and adults referred to Open Minds.
•This means that Sam is often the initial face to face contact for adults with complex needs, and for children and young people. Sam identifies whether counselling is suitable for the client, and if not she makes appropriate external referrals or informs the client that counselling is not appropriate at this time.
•Sam is also a qualified counsellor and works with children and young people and adults, specialising in working with those who suffer complex trauma and who are suicidal
•Sam also supports other counsellors with their own practice, and delivers training on ways of working that are particularly relevant to counsellors at Open Minds
•Sam is Practitioner Support Team Leader (internal supervision, safeguarding and other support) for counselling teams on Wednesdays
Practitioner Support Team Leader
SAM
•April’s primary role is one to one and group therapy with children and young people
•She is a qualified Counsellor
•April works with groups of children, teenagers or adults, providing one to therapy
Children & Young People’s Complex Trauma Counsellor
APRIL
•Julian’s primary role is one to one and group art therapy to children and adults
•He is a qualified Art Therapist and a professional artist
•Julian provides a tailored programme of art therapy in which participants develop their creativity and use this to explore their identity, relationships and place in the world
Art Therapist,
Registered HCPC AS14849
JULIAN
•Louise’s primary role is one to one and group therapy with children and young people
•She is a qualified Counsellor
•Louise works with groups of children, teenagers or adults, providing one to therapy
Children & Young People’s Complex Trauma Counsellor
LOUISE
•Myke primary role is providing one to one therapy for children and adults
•Myke is a qualified counsellor and specialises in working with families with neuro-atypical children, and with adults with complex mental health issues
•Myke provides specialist assessments of his own devising, and reports thereon, to support clients in obtaining diagnosis or support with the complications of being neuro-atypical
•Myke also provides group support to families who have neuro-atypical children
Trauma, Behaviour and Family Therapist
MYKE
•Jenni’s primary role is one to one and group therapy with children and young people
•She is a qualified Counsellor
•Jenni works with groups of children, teenagers or adults, providing one to therapy
Children & Young People’s Complex Trauma Counsellor
JENNI
•Liz’ primary role is administrative support
•Liz supports the office alongside Avis and supports counsellors by ensuring they are following our administrative systems appropriately
•Liz supports counsellors with case-work management, and supports clients by taking referrals and following up on scheduling and attendance
LIZ
•Lydia’s primary role is one to one and group therapy with children and young people
•She is a qualified Counsellor
•Lydia works with groups of children, teenagers or adults, providing one to therapy
Children & Young People’s Complex Trauma Counsellor
LYDIA
•Tracy’s primary role is one to one and group therapy with children and young people
•She is a qualified Counsellor
•Tracy works with groups of children, teenagers or adults, providing one to therapy
Children & Young People’s Complex Trauma Counsellor
TRACY
Pictures of our team over the years
OUR PROMISE TO YOU
