I am a retired dairy farmer

I have two formal qualifications

HND in General Agriculture 
(Shuttleworth)
1984 to 87

Diploma in Adlerian Counselling 
(Bucks)
2013 to 20

I have personally struggled with depression at various times in my life, always ignoring advice to seek help. I told myself that I coped well with stress and saw it as a necessary part of my life to get things done. This strategy worked well  for many years, but when some of life's challenges eventually became too much, I reached a crisis point

My doctor again advised me to seek some therapy, to which I reluctantly agreed. Over time I came to recognize it was my own mistaken beliefs which had been holding me back. This became an opportunity for change and I took it

It was at this point I realized that I might be able to help others within the farming community, whose own lives might not be working out quite how they expected. In 2013, whilst still farming full-time, I started attending evening classes to study counselling and then in 2018, I joined Carers MK one day a week as a volunteer trainee counsellor. By gaining experience with clients I was able to achieve the standard required to be awarded my diploma in counselling

I have full professional liability insurance and hold a current clear DBS certificate

 My role is to listen, encourage you to find new ways, then nurture your fresh growth

 In many ways I am still farming

"The fairest thing in nature, a flower, still has its roots in earth and manure"

D. H. Lawrence