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Areas of expertise
Live-In Support
As an experienced mental health nurse, I offer round the clock live-in care, home visits, and phone and video appointments for you or your family member. Many of the people that I work with have long-term, chronic, mental health conditions and may have been in and out of the hospital system many times. Sometimes, they may have lost hope of ever staying out of the hospital on their own.
I provide peace of mind to you and your family, knowing that I am there with you or your family member to support you throughout the day and night. During this time, I will monitor your mental and physical state and maintain my communication with the psychiatrist and your wider medical team at all times. This means that you are cared for and medically reviewed by your team when necessary from the safety and comfort of your own home.
Day to day I promote mental well-being through habits and routines, and acts of daily living. I aim to provide a supportive and nurturing environment in which you can thrive. I take a person-centered approach to my care and I adapt to each mental health need. I firmly believe in providing individualised care that focuses on your unique preferences, needs and rehabilitation goals. From my experience, this approach ensures you are supported and respected in an environment that fosters the highest level of recovery and well-being.
The length of time that I spend with people varies, from a few hours, days or weeks, up to a month. It depends on the level of support that you or your family needs and therefore the service is completely personalised to you.
Post-Hospital Discharge Support
If you or someone you know has been in the hospital or suffered an illness, you may need temporary care to help you get back to normal and regain your independence. Maybe you have been recently discharged from the hospital following a stay for either a mental health crisis or a physical health issue and you are worried about how you will manage your new medications and their possible side effects. Perhaps you have had a fall, or you haven’t been home in a while and feel overwhelmed at the prospect of leaving a busy ward in the hospital and going home alone. That is where I am here to help. I can be there in those first few days or weeks to support you and help you create a new daily routine where you are in control.
It may be that you need a helping hand to get back on your feet and assistance with tasks such as cooking and companionship while you recover. This discharge support can help you avoid returning to the hospital if you do not need to. I remain in close contact with your medical team and psychiatrist at all times, providing a link between you and those in charge of your care. It is my goal to make sure you have the right level of care on your recovery journey and that you feel supported at all times. You can be confident you are in the right hands. Together we will work closely to provide a bespoke support plan that provides you with the care you need to feel safe and settled at home following your hospital discharge.
Personality and Emotional Difficulties
Experiencing high levels of distress and emotional dysregulation can be overwhelming and isolating. It may feel like you are on a rollercoaster with constant emotional fluctuations which can make it difficult to maintain stable relationships with others in your life. Perhaps you find yourself in arguments with others and you feel misunderstood. This can be challenging to understand and control.
As a mental health nurse, good communication, active listening and being non-judgmental are the best ways to approach this distressing situation. By using mindfulness techniques and basic skills used in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) I can support you in understanding and accepting your complicated feelings and emotions. Then, together, we can identify and learn skills and approaches to manage these feelings and strengthen your bonds with the people in your life.
My approach to treatment
It is completely normal to feel overwhelmed and confused when it comes to the best treatment and support for you or your family members. Feeling anxious about the recovery journey ahead is understandable and I am here to assure you that you are making a positive step in you or your family's recovery by seeking the right support.
For live-in services or post-hospital discharge, the first time we meet would be in a place where you feel comfortable. I believe that building a trusting therapeutic relationship is very important early on so I want to connect with you and find out about your interests and hobbies. During this first meeting, I will introduce myself and explain a little about my role and experience. I think it's important to make sure you and your family feel at ease with me so I will give you time to ask any questions you may have to get to know me better. This is also a chance for you to tell me what you are looking for and what your expectations are of us working together.
I will listen to your concerns and anxieties and offer reassurance. Once I understand your goals, I’ll explain my approach to you and answer any further questions you have about the process. My aim is for you to feel heard, validated and hopeful that there is a pathway forward for you and your family.
Personalised treatment plans
I always take an empathetic and non-judgmental approach to my work and I make sure that it is highly personalised to you and your needs. Following the first meeting, I will create a highly personalised step-by-step plan for you or your family member to move forward. I will then support you to implement each step.
I believe it is important to always involve you and your family members in the creation of your treatment plan. Discussing expectations, hopes and goals for the future and recovery is key to creating a treatment plan that will work. Together we will review this plan regularly to identify how it can be improved or altered to suit you as your progress through your recovery journey. Your treatment plan should also be holistic and unique to you. It will include all aspects of your life and pathways to recovery as well as an agreed crisis plan. This means that you and your family members can feel empowered and reassured knowing what to do in times of crisis.
The first step in your treatment plan, aside from live-in support, will be psychoeducation about your condition, symptoms, and medications that are personalised to your unique situation and circumstances. I will then make sure to integrate lifestyle interventions based on your preferences. I believe that nature can be healing in many ways and will always try and incorporate this into your treatment plan, along with diet, exercise and sleep techniques where necessary. All of these lifestyle interventions can have a positive impact on both your mental and physical health. I also like to focus on social support, especially when I am supporting your post-hospital discharge or as a live-in nurse. Social connection is important but often overlooked, especially as we age. I will always make sure to support ways to integrate into a community that you feel you have a connection with.
Medication
As a nurse, I believe that medication can be beneficial for people ideally for a short amount of time but in some cases, long term is necessary. In my role, I work closely with the psychiatrists who are prescribing medication to their patients. Part of my role is to administer medication and monitor for benefits and side effects, especially in the first few weeks of taking new medications. Though I believe medication is beneficial for some people, I strongly support combining medication with positive lifestyle behaviours and talk therapies for a well-rounded holistic approach to care and long-term recovery.
Education & Training
I’m a mental health nurse registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, with over 17 years of practice in this field. I am experienced in all areas of mental health nursing, assessment, and care and I have worked with people of all ages, across the stages of mental illness and recovery both through in-patient units and at home. I have worked with people at all stages of their recovery from crisis to the point of discharge. This has enabled me to have a good knowledge and understanding of mental health nursing.
Currently, at the London Psychiatry Clinic, I’m providing live-in services to patients in their own homes for 24/7 mental health nursing care. I also work as a live-in counsellor at a specialist treatment centre in Switzerland.
With regards to my education, I hold a BSc (HONS) in Mental Health Nursing from the University of East Anglia and I have basic training in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) skills, mindfulness and emotional regulation.
Personal interests
In my spare time I enjoy outdoor activities, growing vegetables and spending time with my family. I am lucky to live in a beautiful place and I love spending time outside going to the beach or walking in nature. Also love animals and have two dogs and three cats.
