Director of Operational Services.

I joined the team at Village Orchard East CIC in October 2019 as the Office Manager and immediately saw the value of the services being offered here, I became more and more involved in the day to day running and planning and in May 2020, I moved into the role of Director.

My focus now mainly lies in providing support to our wonderful team of practitioners, students & volunteers, helping create & support new projects, securing funding opportunities, nurturing & creating relationships with groups, charities, services & organisations in the area, as well as growing my skill set to help serve our not-for-profit to the best of my ability.

If it sounds like The Village Orchard East could provide the personal support you need, or if you feel like we could combine our efforts to create a working relationship, project or plan, or that we could simply learn from each other, please do get in touch, Community over Competition is an ethos we value highly and we’d love to chat.

Co-Founder & Director of Clinical Services.

As Director of Clinical Services, my priority is to offer our communities an exceptional, trauma responsive service from the moment they contact us to the end of their sessions. This includes clients, our own practitioners and other professionals.

My core profession is art therapy and I am also a clinical supervisor. Throughout my career, I have worked with clients from a range of cultural and social backgrounds who have experienced a variety of issues. I aim to provide a safe, containing space for the client to feel secure and listened to; able to begin their personal journey of change.

My life with Village Orchard East is challenging, thought-provoking, exciting and very rewarding. To be a co-founder and director at The Village Orchard East CIC, and to have the opportunity to work alongside this team, is an enormous privilege. I am lucky to say, loudly, that I love my job.

Clinical Manager & Dance Movement Psychotherapist (MA and BSc).

I graduated from Derby University. I am a registered practitioner with ADMP and DSB checked.

Dance Movement Psychotherapy (DMP) uses movement, as well as other creative tools, talking and reflection etc, to explore the body-mind connection. I find movement often aids expression and communication. Mindful movement can help increase energy, confidence and self-esteem. 

DMP is great for anyone who has an interest in creative therapy, who maybe has a dis-connect with their body and/or for clients who would prefer an alternative to talking based therapy. 

I have experience working with individuals and groups. With young people and adults, from all walks of life and needs. 

I graduated in 2019 and this year I’m looking forward to going back into education and training as a supervisor, to be able to support other professionals in the caring industry.

Psychotherapeutic Counsellor.

Hi! I’m Susie and I work with children and young people as a Psychotherapeutic Counsellor. I am a musician first and foremost and qualified as a Music Therapist many years ago which I am now in the process of revisiting.

I had a career break to focus on having my wonderful family which has been an amazing journey. I spent time during Covid working with Families and realised that I needed more training which led me to VOE for a placement. I have been fortunate that VOE had an opening for me to join this vibrant and passionate team. It is such a privilege to work with young people and share their experiences of life.

Outside of the therapy room I love spending time with my children, dogs & cats (of which there are many!) I am a keen traveller and thoroughly enjoy meeting new people, tasting fabulously different food and absorbing myself in the world’s breathtakingly, beautiful and varied cultures.

Trainee in Counselling Psychology and Psychotherapy.

My name is Gervase and I am currently studying for a Doctorate in Counselling Psychology and Psychotherapy at the Metanoia Institute. My career in health and social care has provided me firsthand experience of the many problems that people face in their journeys through life and this has motivated me to try to find effective ways of helping.

I am to provide a “pluralistic’ way of working which means I will draw on whatever knowledge I have of different approaches to always try to meet people where they are - rather than where I’m at. The focus will always be on collaborating to work out what people find the most helpful and I feel very privileged to be supported in this by The Village Orchard.

Art Psychotherapist.

My name is Mark. My background is in mental health support work, and I've also worked with young people leaving care.

My practice is informed by a psychodynamic approach, placing the therapeutic relationship at the centre of the work. I believe it's a space where exploration, containment, and healing can take place. I take a pragmatic and collaborative approach, supporting clients to shape the direction of therapy in a way that feels right for them.

Art and creativity are at the centre of my work. I view art not as a skill but as a form of communication available to everyone, a means of expression that can often reach where words cannot.

Beyond my therapeutic practice, I’m a self-taught artist who enjoys working with paint and clay, as well as making music. I’m also passionate about analogue photography, particularly 35mm film, and often spend time outdoors capturing the textures and rhythms of nature.

Trainee Integrative Counsellor.

Hi, I'm Rob, and I'm starting my third year of training as an Integrative Counsellor at Matrix College of Counselling and Psychotherapy in Wymondham.

Before training as a counsellor, I worked across health, education and mental health settings, including NHS services and adolescent mental health. These experiences inspired me to pursue a career in psychotherapeutic counselling.

I'm particularly interested in attachment, relational working, and understanding how our experiences shape the way we relate to ourselves and others. I believe that feeling genuinely heard, understood and accepted can create the conditions for meaningful change.

Trainee Art Psychotherapist.

Hi! My name is Ellen and I’m in my second and final year of Art Therapy, at the University of Hertfordshire. I have previously completed a placement at a SEND school in Cambridgeshire, and now I am doing my final placement here at Village Orchard East CIC.

Before I began my training as an Art Therapist, I worked as a Nursery Practitioner, gaining my Level 3 qualification as an Early Years Educator. I have also worked in a summer camp, alongside young carers, volunteered with various art therapy charities in schools and with outpatient services, as well as with social integration groups for refugees.

Within my practice, I focus on being very client-led, taking a relational and co-productive approach to work we would do together. Art is very important to me, I believe it heals and that EVERYONE has the ability to make art that is meaningful, despite what you might have been led to believe in your life.

Trainee Art Psychotherapist.

Hello, I'm Catharine. I'm a Trainee Art Therapist in my final year of studying at the University of Hertfordshire. My background is in working creatively in community for charities that support people of all ages with challenges to their mental and physical health, as well as with people with learning differences and neurodiversity.

My way of working is trauma informed, flexible and centred around you; I understand how important it is that we work together to ensure your sessions are comfortable and accessible. 

As well as being creative, I love animals and nature, especially spending time at the beach and in the woods. I swim all year round even when it's freezing and enjoy playing Mahjong with my friends.

Psychotherapeutic Counsellor.

Hello, I’m Charlotte. I work with clients over 18 as an integrative relational counsellor, which means our work together will involve exploring your thoughts, feelings and patterns with care, curiosity and, at times, gentle challenge.
I’m a big believer in the importance of making space for the stories we carry and the experiences that have shaped us. It isn’t always easy to understand what we’re feeling or why we respond to things in the ways we do. Having a space where we can slow down, feel heard and explore these things without fear of judgement can help us begin to make sense of ourselves and develop a deeper understanding of who we are and what we may need.

My background in care-experienced settings and the creative industries has shaped my appreciation of the complexity of being human, and of the many different ways we express ourselves, connect with others and find our place in the world. I hope to offer a space where you can feel comfortable being yourself, bring whatever feels important to you, and explore it in your own time.