We are very fortunate to have a wonderful team of volunteers and employees. Our 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 qualified to at least vocational diploma in counselling.
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.
We have male and female counsellors.
Our counsellors come from a variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds, some are LGBTQ, and all are allies.
Our core ethos is relational; we believe in people and connections.
The employees (in alphabetical order)
our volunteers are equally valued but there are too many to list everyone here
Office and Practitioner Support
AVIS
Finance Officer
•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
HELEN
Managing Director
•Helen's role is the strategic and operational management of the charity
•Helen is a qualified counsellor and works with adults, children and young people, one to one and relationship therapy
•Helen designs and delivers training to the public and professionals
•Helen supports other counsellors with their own practice as a Practitioner Support Team Leader (internal supervision, safeguarding and other support)
•Helen is one of the founders of Open Minds, in 2007, and attends meetings with our Board of Directors to make recommendations on potential developments
JENNI
Children & Young People’s Complex Trauma Counsellor
IMP;ACT Team supervisor
Trainer
•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
•Jenni designs and delivers to training to the public and to professionals
•Jenni is the clinical supervisor to the IMP;ACT Team
LIZ
Customer Support Worker
•Liz’ primary role is administrative support 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
MEL
Office & Practitioner Support Team Leader
•Mel is the daily operations manager and clinical co-ordinator of the charity
•Mel is a qualified counsellor and works with adults, specialising but not limited to bereavement and palliative care.
•Mel supports other counsellors with their own practice as a Practitioner Support Team Leader (internal supervision, safeguarding and other support)
SAM
Practitioner Support Team Leader
•Sam is 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 designs and delivers to training to the public and to professionals
•supports other counsellors with their own practice as a Practitioner Support Team Leader (internal supervision, safeguarding and other support)
Employed CYP Therapists
APRIL
Children & Young People’s Complex Trauma Counsellor
•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
JULIAN
Art Therapist,
Registered HCPC AS14849
•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
LYDIA
Children & Young People’s Complex Trauma Counsellor
•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
LOUISE
Children & Young People’s Complex Trauma Counsellor
•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
TRACY
Children & Young People’s Complex Trauma Counsellor
•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
The IMP;ACT Team
DANIEL
IMP;ACT Co-ordinator
• Daniel's role is to work with people who have attempted suicide, or intended to die, and to find ways forwards to help them find reasons to live.
You can learn more at
LYDIA
IMP;ACT Co-ordinator
• Lydia's role is to work with people who have attempted suicide, or intended to die, and to find ways forwards to help them find reasons to live.
You can learn more at
SIMON
IMP;ACT Co-ordinator
• Simon's role is to work with people who have attempted suicide, or intended to die, and to find ways forwards to help them find reasons to live.
