When I sat down with Faye for my interview for the NCPS Wales Representative role, it quickly turned into a proper conversation rather than a rigid corporate grill. To be honest, it was one of the first times in my career where an interview for a position felt truly personal – my own story was treated with just as much value as my clinical qualifications. It really got to the heart of why I do this work and what lies ahead.
Here is a look at what drives me and what I want to focus on in this role:
- The power of lived experience: Growing up navigating a lot of adversity, I rarely saw people who looked like me reflected in what is still a very white, middle-class profession. I chose to join the NCPS because they genuinely understand that our personal histories, resilience, and unique perspectives make us better therapists. Our stories are a strength, not something to separate from our professional identities.
- Reconnecting with home: While I wasn’t born in Wales, I moved here 17 years ago to start fresh. It became my sanctuary, the place I built my family, and where I grew my career. Lately, a lot of my work has been pulling me toward London, so this role feels like the perfect opportunity to bring my energy right back to the local communities that gave me so much.
- Grassroots and clinical roots: My early days in counselling were spent running a lottery-funded project for families in the Welsh valleys, which showed me exactly how much of a difference accessible support makes. Since then, alongside running my own private practice for seven years and supervising for three, I have focused my training and consultancy on minority stress, marginalised identities, and anti-oppressive practice.
I am so excited to get started and to work closely with the therapeutic community across Wales. You can read the full interview and read more about my plans for anti-oppressive practice in the latest NCPS journal here.
