Newcastle Team
John
John has 10 years’ experience working in Mental Health Services and has joined James’ Place to help set up and manage our new service in the North East. He says "I became aware of James' Place when working in my previous role within an NHS urgent care mental health service and knew it was something I wanted to be a part of. I can't wait to see what James’ Place can achieve."
Susan
Susan is a BACP accredited Person Centred counsellor, and has worked for 17 years within a Primary Care setting, using a brief therapy model, with a mental health charity. Susan's interest in working in Mental Health began in her 20’s when I volunteered for Samaritans and later trained as a counsellor. She has also worked in the arena of Domestic Abuse. Susan likes to develop trust and warmth in the therapeutic relationship believing this can set the foundation for the work with a client. This is with the hope the client can find meaning in collaborative and empathic work leading them to find ways to understand and process their experiences and how this may impact. She also have a separate role supporting victims of violent crime in a project funded by Northumbria Police and Crime Commission.
Kay
Kay is a qualified counsellor. She spent 20 years with a large multinational corporation before retraining in counselling and psychotherapy. She is a UKCP Child Psychotherapeutic Counsellor, experienced in working with Children and Young People within educational settings, charity and the NHS. She has also spent time supporting older adults experiencing suicidal thoughts. Kays' experience with clients from a young age through to later life informs her adult practice, with a humanistic and psychodynamic approach, bringing warmth, empathy and full acceptance of the men she supports.
Abby
Abby is a BPS registered therapist and has a background in supporting people experiencing suicidal ideation; she has also worked with individuals bereaved by suicide. Abby has worked with people of all ages and believes in providing a safe space for people to openly explore their suicidal thoughts and move towards a place of hope for the future.
Amer
Amer is a qualified person centred therapist with 15 years of experience. He has worked in Medico Legal, EAP, homelessness and the charitable sector. Amer set up the first counselling service in Newcastle for Crisis Skylight, developed an assessment template to expedite access to therapy within the medico legal sector. Amer also currently works with children and adults presenting with complex trauma.
Sarah
Sarah is a COSRT registered therapist. She is experienced in delivering relationship therapy and couples therapy for depression. Alongside her role at James' Place Sarah works with both individuals and couples within an IAPT service. Previous to working as a therapist Sarah has worked with individuals with multiple and complex needs who were experiencing homelessness, drug and alcohol misuse, domestic abuse, mental health problems and those who are involved in the criminal justice system.
Estelle
Prior to her role at James' Place, Estelle was a mental health support worker for 6 years, working with a diverse range of individuals to promote independent mental health management in the local community. Estelle aims to provide a warm, friendly, safe and supportive environment for the men who use the service.