About me
Welcome to 'Open Road Therapy', a confidential and therapeutic counselling service.
I am Marion, a qualified and experienced Integrative Counsellor.
I am registered with both the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) and the HCPC (Health Care Professions Council), and I'm committed to working within both ethical frameworks.
I provide an inclusive practice, and currently offer individual online and in person therapy to adults and younger people. ​
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My approach
My approach to life and my client work is one of openness, honesty, empathy and warmth. You will find me down to earth, approachable and easy to talk to.
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My counselling practice mirrors this openness, and is grounded by a deep understanding of person centred theory together with the impact of trauma, on us as individuals, and as a community. ​This means you and the relationship we build together are at the heart of our therapeutic work.
I integrate other evidence based practices into our work, such as Transactional Analysis, somatic practices and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) to enable an individual, personalised counselling experience that fits with your requirements.​
Who do I work with?
The counselling service I offer is for adults and younger people over 11 years old.
I am especially passionate about offering an inclusive and accessible service. My counselling service is a neurodivergent affirming space and I am always open to feedback and suggestions.
I have naturally found myself often working closely with neurodivergent individuals (being neurodivergent myself) and people with multiple ongoing mental health or physical health difficulties. I am qualified to work with people experiencing a broad range of life experiences and difficulties.
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"The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change." Carl Rogers
Open Road Therapy beginnings....
"Open Road Therapy" was born from my innate love of travelling and deep rooted desire to be on the move. The internal freedom I experience when exploring new places and physically moving, enables me to open up, unfold myself and breathe. I am firm in my belief of the ongoing journey we are all on and the significance of the connections we make in the world around us..
My experiences have supported me greatly with my own wellbeing journey and have a profound impact on my approach to counselling. I am an avid journal writer, practice mindfulness regularly and utilise my extensive knowledge of our sensory and nervous systems, all integral to my therapeutic work.
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In this world today, we can become stuck and disconnected, both mentally and physically. We may feel lost and unable to move forward. Perhaps we are repeating patterns or cycles that we don't understand how to change.
My Open Road philosophy supports my clients to access and navigate their internal and external pathways. This may be physiological, neurological, relational or spiritual. I truly believe that exploring ourselves openly and honestly within a trusted therapeutic relationship, has the potential to open us up to a whole new level of understanding, acceptance, change and possibility.
Eight years ago, feeling stuck myself, I spontaneously purchased a very old and somewhat rusty campervan. Today, rust free (ish) but still with her old charm and quirks, my campervan is the small but stable, "Open Road Therapy" headquarters from where I work. This is a cosy, warm and confidential space making it the ideal setting for us to work comfortably together.
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How I can support you?
There are many different reasons why you might be seeking counselling at this time. It may be for something very specific or perhaps a multitude of reasons.
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We experience so much during our lives, from childhood through to adulthood and the impact of these experiences stays with us. The world we live in can sometimes feel fragile, unforgiving and difficult to navigate. I believe everyone deserves to be heard and supported through difficult times and experiences.
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I can support you with deepening your understanding and connection to yourself, to your feelings and emotions, and to your relationships. This can help you to explore and make sense of what may be happening, whilst finding ways to navigate your own internal and external resources, developing boundaries and discovering self compassion.
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We can work in the present if this is more comfortable or we can begin to piece together a life time of experiences to help us understand how you have arrived in the place you are currently at. This exploration can strengthen your understanding, which may enable acceptance. It is in this state we can begin to adapt and evolve, or make appropriate and informed changes.
FREE 20 minute consultation
Please contact me for an initial free 20 minute chat where we will discuss your counselling needs and I can answer any questions you may have. We can decide if I am a good fit for you and how we can work together.
"People are just as wonderful as sunsets if you let them be....
....I don't try to control a sunset. I watch with awe as it unfolds."
Carl Rogers
Experience and Qualifications
My Experience
As well as running my private counselling practice, I am a therapist at a specialist service for adults and children with a multitude of different needs. Here I offer individual psychotherapy and group DBT therapy.
I have been a secondary school counsellor for several years and have other specific experience of counselling within a hospice setting for children and families experiencing bereavement, and for an charity for people impacted by sexual assault, violence and abuse.
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In addition, I have over 20 years experience working as an Occupational Therapist in many different areas both privately and for the NHS. I specialised in neurology and sensory integration, working in various neurological settings, eating disorder service's, rehabilitation settings, and with neurodivergent adults and children.
I believe this combination of experience, enhances my inclusive and diverse therapeutic approach.
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I am fully insured and certified.
My Qualifications
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CPCAB Diploma Integrative Counselling (2 years)
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CPCAB Certificate Counselling Studies (1 year)
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CPCAB Certificate Counselling Skills (1 year)
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APT Accreditation Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)
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Postgraduate Certificate Neuroscience and Sensory Integration
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Occupational Therapy BSc hons (1st class)
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Multiple short certified courses: IFS and parts work, Managing anxiety, Working/living with Neurodivergence, Complex trauma training, FND, Sexual violence, assault and abuse training, Gender, sex and relationship diversity and more.