A little about me…
Hi, I’m Rebecca and my journey into counselling hasn't been a conventional one. After a long career in IT, I retrained as a Nutritional Therapist, where I developed a particular interest in the relationship between food, emotions and wellbeing.
During my training, I qualified as a Master Practitioner in Eating Disorders through the National Centre for Eating Disorders (NCFED), and later trained in Julia Buckroyd's Understanding Your Eating approach.
As I began working with more people experiencing emotional eating, binge eating and difficulties with body image, something became increasingly clear. Often, it wasn't really about the food itself, but what food was doing for that person. Whether offering comfort, distraction, relief or a way of coping with difficult emotions, eating behaviours often have a much deeper story behind them.
I wanted to understand more about what lay beneath these patterns and support people beyond the nutritional aspects of eating. This led me to retrain as an integrative counsellor, bringing together my knowledge of nutrition, eating behaviours and psychological wellbeing.
Alongside my professional training, I also bring lived experience of binge eating disorder, having navigated my own relationship with food and body image for much of my adult life. This has given me a personal appreciation of just how complex our relationship with food can be, and how rarely it's simply about willpower or knowing what we 'should' be eating.
Outside the counselling room...
When I'm not working, I'm a devoted cat lover and happiest when I'm surrounded by nature. The sea is my happy place. I love spending time outdoors, appreciating the simple things and finding moments to slow down.
I love travelling, exploring new places and spending time with family and friends.
I believe warmth, humour and genuine human connection have an important place in life, and they're qualities I bring to my work as a counsellor, too.
How I work
My approach is integrative, meaning I draw on different therapeutic approaches depending on you and your individual needs. At the heart of my work is person-centred counselling, grounded in empathy, understanding and respect, alongside elements of psychodynamic therapy and CBT-informed approaches where appropriate.
I don't believe there's a one-size-fits-all approach to therapy. We're all shaped by different experiences, relationships and circumstances, and I believe counselling should reflect that.
Alongside general counselling, I have a particular interest in emotional eating, binge eating disorder and body image. Combining my professional knowledge with lived experience has shaped the way I work, helping people explore their patterns and understand the emotions and experiences that may be influencing them.
Rather than simply trying to change a behaviour, I'm interested in understanding why that behaviour makes sense in the context of your life. My aim is to help you develop greater self-understanding, a more compassionate relationship with yourself, and meaningful, lasting change.
My work with eating and body image isn't about diets, food rules or telling you what you should or shouldn't eat. It's about curiosity rather than criticism, and understanding rather than judgement.
