I joined EDNE as Chief Executive in October 2022 from VONNE where I was the Deputy Chief Executive.

I’m responsible for managing and developing EDNE’s counselling services and counselling team and ensuring a welcoming, safe, sensitive and confidential service that is responsive to people’s needs.

I describe myself as an integrative, person-centred counsellor, meaning I am led by my clients with what they want to bring to sessions, and I will introduce creative work, different theory, and coping strategies when necessary.

I’m a qualified supervisor, Master Practitioner (Eating Disorders and Obesity) and hold a Practitioner Diploma in Eating Disorders.

I enjoy running, swimming, reading, knitting and crafts.

I’ve worked in the community and voluntary sector for over 15 years with most of my experience being in youth work. I’m passionate about young people and wellbeing and look forward to working across the sectors to deliver awareness on eating distress.

I deal with initial enquiries for clinical and other support and information and register new clients to our services. I work with the management and board to ensure the charity complies with its legal obligations.

I’m a volunteer at Streetcare, a voluntary group who supply cooked meals for those in need, either from necessity or loneliness and am a member of Soroptomist, an international organisation who seek to transform the lives and status of women and girls through education, empowerment and enabling opportunities.

I also like to Nordic walk, sea dip, and travel

I am an Integrative Counsellor, which means as well as using the core foundation of Person-Centred Therapy I also use a variety of modalities including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Gestalt and Transactional Analysis (TA). I provide confidential, high-quality counselling both face to face and by telephone or online to people aged 16+ affected by eating distress/disorders

I joined the EDNE team in April 2023 after working for Mind as a CYP counsellor.
I am an integrative, person-centred counsellor who puts the client at the centre of the process and is led by their needs.

Additionally, I work with an array of different creative media techniques which also give client’s a voice in a different way as well as working with different modalities such as attachment theory; TA; Gestalt and CBT.

I love reading, music, history, and crafts.

I joined EDNE in July 2023 from Northumbria University where I was a sessional counsellor for students.

I am an integrative Psychotherapeutic Counsellor. This means I work in an empathetic, non-judgmental, collaborative way that is ultimately lead by you. As we work together, I might introduce a variety of ideas or approaches that I think might be helpful, and together we establish whether they serve to help you towards your counselling goals. I would describe my counselling style as a blend of straight-forward compassion, kindness, empathy, and authenticity.

I am a queer, LGBTQIA+ affirming counsellor, and a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.

When I’m not at EDNE I work with The Jonathan Upshall Foundation- a charity that provides accessible counselling to individuals who otherwise couldn’t afford it. I also work with various organisations to provide counselling support to their employees.

In my spare time I like to tend to my many house plants, spend time with my dogs, and cycle around the coast.

Hi, my name is Clair, and I joined the EDNE team in August 2023.

I am an integrative counsellor which means that I use different therapeutic approaches to meet each client’s individual needs. By putting the client at the centre of the process I will provide you with a safe, accepting, and empathic space where you can express yourself, be heard and feel understood. Together we will work at your pace.

Prior to joining EDNE I worked therapeutically at a young people’s counselling service, with adult survivors of domestic abuse and with adopted children and their families.  Alongside this, I am a registered Social Worker with several years of experience of working with children in care.

Outside of work you will find me with my nose in good a book, dancing like no-one is watching or catching up with friends & family.

As an integrative psychotherapeutic counsellor, I believe in the idea that there are many ways in which human psychology can be explored and understood and that no one theory alone holds the answer. This means that I work to meet each person where they are and use elements of different therapy approaches to help you explore your thoughts and feelings in a safe space. At the centre of my practise, I hold the belief that every person needs to be considered as a whole and counselling techniques must be tailored to their individual needs and personal circumstances. I hope to help you feel heard and acknowledged, as we work to achieve what you need from our time together.

Outside the counselling room, I love taking my Border Collie Willow on long walks as well as spending more relaxed time with his little sister, tabby cat, Nutmeg.

I work in a “person centred” way which attempts to work collaboratively with you, rather than advise you, on greater insights, understanding and awareness.

I work “integratively” which simply means I will adopt different approaches depending on your preference and need. I encourage you to engage with me and tell me what is working, and what is not, so we can adapt how we work together.  

Prior to working with EDNE I gained clinical experience at the charity Anxious Minds after volunteering as a Samaritans telephone listener. I am currently also a freelance counsellor at Tyneside and Northumberland Mind. I have extensive experience as a support working for adults with learning disabilities and Autism, as well as a personal care assistant for a university student in London.

I strongly believe in living a balanced life and am passionate about self-care, enjoying exercise and being outdoors (especially hiking and walking my golden retriever).

I joined EDNE in September 2023, previously having worked at a student counselling service and having supported clients with learning disabilities.
I am a psychodynamic counsellor, which means I usually look at how past experiences, conflicts, or trauma impact on your current distress. We might explore underlying issues of your eating distress, look at self-esteem, or introduce new coping strategies if you find this useful. First and foremost, I put the client counsellor relationship at heart, offering a non-judgemental, safe space where you can explore whatever you need. 

In my spare time, I enjoy being in nature, a sea dip, yoga, and travelling.

I joined EDNE as a Group Worker in September 2023 after working as a Sessional Worker for Changing Lives, where I worked supporting people struggling with homelessness. Alongside this, I am continuing my role as an Integrative Counsellor working in other organisations in the wider area.

Kay is an experienced Non-Executive Director, with a proven track record of business transformation and culture change and brings a wealth of experience from multiple sectors and roles to the EDNE Board.

Her current role is  Head of Business Support & Innovation at Newcastle University and she is a qualified coach, mentor, mediator and Mental Health First Aider. Kay also has a coaching and consultancy business Forster Jones Consulting

Lauren has been a Trustee since 2018 and is a member of the HR sub-group. She is a previous service user of Eating Distress North-East (formerly NIWE).

Work as Café Coordinator for Café Beam run by Smile For Life Children’s Charity. The café offers young people with learning difficulties and disabilities with a work placement to learn skills and develop confidence so that they are ready for the world of work. The young people are supported by dedicated volunteers.

Other general interests
Learning Japanese as well growing fruit and vegetables on my allotment and caring for my chickens.

I was keen to join the trustee team as eating distress has also affected those close to me and I wanted to ensure I could support this invaluable work. I heard about Eating Distress North East through the Community Foundation Tyne and Wear as a part of their Trustee Match Scheme

Emily joined the EDNE Board in 2022. Having lived experience of eating distress, she wanted to use her skills and expertise in profile raising and strategic planning to support EDNE in their vision of getting the right support to people struggling with eating disorders or eating distress.

Emily has over a decade of communications and marketing experience across the charity and B2B sector in the UK and Canada. She holds an honours degree in Communication Studies and two Level-6 Chartered Institute of Marketing certifications, and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations. She is currently working as Internal Communications Officer at Action for Children.

Jo joined EDNE Board as a Trustee in May 2023 and has recently been appointed Treasurer.

She has had experience as a charity trustee for the last 7 years for a local scout group, as well as being their Treasurer for 6 of those years.

She is ACA qualified and has had more than 15 years experience in senior finance roles across a multitude of sectors, from housing to transport. She is currently Group Financial Controller at Altelium, who provide warranties, insurance and consultancy to empower businesses working with batteries, at all stages of their life cycle, on the path to net zero.

Callum, an experienced data architect and engineer with 15 years of expertise in the tech sector, joined the EDNE Board of Trustees in May 2023.

He has worked with a range of organisations, ranging from the UK government to multinational consultancies, specialising in creating data systems and leading data strategy. His current role is the co-founder of Insightano, a startup building a data platform for social sector organisations to help them define, measure and act upon their social impact.

Sarah has worked in the not-for-profit sector for 23 years and is the Chief Executive of Tandem (formerly Morrison Trust), a Darlington charity providing support with employment, training, skills and personal development. Sarah joined the EDNE Board in September 2023.

Caron Joined EDNE in sept 2023. Being close to someone who has experienced eating distress brings home the importance of EDNE and the deeply valuable services it offers to service users and families.