NEW LIFE COUNSELLING - Key Persons
Alison holds a BSc (Hons) Degree in Geography, PGCE, Diploma in Counselling and a Post Graduate Certificate in Therapeutic Work with Children, OCN Certificate in Clinical Supervision and ILM Diploma in Leadership and Management. Alison has 10+ years experience as a Supervised Counsellor working with children and young people, previously employed by NSPCC and Barnardos. She is accredited with BACP. Alison started in New Life Counselling in January 2011, initially as Assistant Team Leader for ICSS East team. She moved to the post of OKAY Team Leader in July 2012.
Job Titles:
- Head of Clinical Services
Andrew joined New Life Counselling in July 2017. He is a registered Counselling Psychologist with HCPC (UK) and has been a Registered Psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia since 2004.
Andrew holds a Bachelor of Psychology (Hons) degree from the University of Wollongong, Australia and a Post Graduate Diploma in Psychological Practice. He worked as a Psychologist in the private sector in Sydney, firstly in organisational psychology and later in occupational rehabilitation, assisting injured and traumatised people return to employment. In 2007, Andrew relocated to N. Ireland and has worked in the Statutory, Community & Voluntary sectors since that time, leading multidisciplinary teams and developing health-based programmes. Andrew has co-ordinated modules on the Trauma Studies degree at QUB and has delivered trauma training internationally, including Bosnia & Herzegovina. Andrew recently completed the American Express Leadership Academy in London.
Angela is an associate Partner in Harbinson Mulholland, Chartered Accountants, Belfast.
She is also a fellow Member of Chartered Accountants Ireland, a member of Chartered Accountants Ireland Training and Education committee and a member of the Institute of Directors. Angela joined AMH in 2014 as an Independent Member of the Audit & Risk Committee and now sits on the Finance Committee. Angela joined the NLC Board in April 2018.
Job Titles:
- Support Services Coordinator
Bernie has been with New Life Counselling since September 2010 initially in the role or Finance Administrator moving to Support Services Coordinator in 2011. She has 20 years experience working in the area of finance and administration within the voluntary sector. Bernie studied with the Open University and gained a Level 5 Certificate in Social Science, Understanding Social Change in 2001, The Professional Certificate in Accounting in 2011 and The Certificate in Professional Communication Skills for Business Studies in 2014.
Damian has been a civil servant for 25 years working in a range of areas including equality, energy, and economic development and as Private Secretary to a number of Industry Ministers. Damian has been a Director at Invest Northern Ireland since 2003, dealing with Strategic and Corporate Planning, EU Funding, Governance and most recently as Director of Advanced Manufacturing & Construction promoting the development needs of over 600 of Northern Ireland's key exporting companies. He has been a member (and Past President) of St Brigid's Conference of the Society of St Vincent de Paul in South Belfast since the early 1990s. Damian joined AMH in 2014 as an Independent Member of the Audit & Risk Committee and is now Chair of the Business Development Committee. Damian joined NLC Board in April 2018.
Job Titles:
- Consultant
- Psychiatrist
- Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists
Gerard is a consultant psychiatrist employed in the Northern HSC Trust. Since his appointment in 1994, he has worked in both community and inpatient psychiatry, and is currently a consultant and clinical lead in the Trust's crisis resolution and home treatment team, which he helped set up in 2009. He is clinical director for mental health and is involved in a wide range of management and governance structures.
Dr Lynch is a fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and has been involved in mental health quality improvement projects in Northern Ireland, England and Scotland. He joined the Board of New Life Counselling in 2015.
Gabi has many years of experience as youth and community worker and has worked in Health and Social Care for the past 19 years. She has extensive experience as a board member of small and mediu m sized community and voluntary organisations. Gabi also holds a ‘coaching for work' qualification and is a trained mediator. Gabi was appointed as an NLC board member in 2013.
Jenny has been selected as an Apprentice Board member with New Life Counselling via the Boardroom Apprentice Programme 2018. She has worked for NI Audit Office since 2005 and has managed a variety of public sector audits including government Departments, local Councils, North-South bodies and other agencies and NDPBs. She took a two year career break between 2009-2010 where she travelled the world for a year and gained wider experience by working in internal audit in a housing association. She is a qualified member of the CIPFA (The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy) and has over 10 years of post qualification experience. Jenny is from Belfast and lives in Carlingford with her husband Shane and their daughter Cliona.
Jonathan is a civil servant working for the Department for the Economy in the NICS, and previously has worked for the Departments of Social Development and Agriculture.
Jonathan joined NLC Board as a Boardroom Apprentice in September 2017.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Head of School
- Treasurer
Louise is Associate Head of School, Belfast School of Art, Ulster University. Over the past two decades she has led a number of research and arts-based community engagement projects with groups in Northern Ireland and England focused on challenging attitudes towards mental ill health. Most recently these projects have included the use of digital technologies and social media platforms to aid dissemination of the findings and encourage engagement across wider audiences. Louise Joined NLC Board in September 2017 .
Norma Joined New Life Counselling in September 2017 having worked for 3 years in the Higher Education sector and 10 years in the Community and Voluntary sector as a Senior Manager and CEO. Prior to this she worked for 10 years in the field of community relations. Norma has a level 5 Diploma in Management she also has significant experience in fundraising, strategic and operational planning as well as staff and resource management. Norma is an accredited counsellor with BACP and a Play Therapist and Creative Supervisor trained by PTUK. She also has a psychology degree from QUB. She has worked in the field of Adult and Child Therapy for over 20 years.
Roisin is a busy mum and Ward Park Runner. Rosin is the 2019 Boardroom Apprentice for New Life Counselling.
Job Titles:
- Adult Team Leader
- Nurse at Cardiff University Hospital of Wales
Sarah trained as a Learning Disability Nurse at Cardiff University Hospital of Wales qualifying in 1991. She specialised in challenging behaviour and dual diagnosis (mental health) and is trained to work with children, young people and adults. She worked for 15 years in nursing/ nurse management within the NHS and Social Services in institutional and community settings. She completed a Certificate in Counselling in 2002 whilst managing an NHS residential/ respite unit (challenging behavior). She then worked as a SSAFA nurse for two years with military families overseas. Since moving to Northern Ireland in 2005 she has completed an Advanced Diploma in Counselling, Certificate in Cognitive Therapy Methods and Certificate in Clinical Supervision Level 6. She has 12 yrs of experience as a Counsellor and Clinical Supervisor within the Community and Voluntary sector. She joined New life in 2008 and has worked as a Youth and Schools Counsellor, Assistant Team Leader (Adult Project) and Assistant Team Leader then Acting Team Leader (Self-Harm Intervention Programme/ Postvention Service) before recently becoming the Adult Project Team Leader.
Stephen's background is in psychology and he works as an Associate Lecturer with The Open University, teaching social psychology, child development and childhood studies. He is also a qualified counsellor and psychotherapist and has worked with a number of community counselling services and, more recently, in private practice. Stephen was appointed as a board member in January, 2016.
Susan's background is in operational hotel management when she moved into personnel and training and has since transferred these people skills to other industries, including retail and wholesaling, lecturing - she is currently an HR specialist with a global contracted services company, looking after Northern Ireland. She has always been involved in voluntary work and community groups of all kinds and was a helpline volunteer for Parenting NI for a period of time - she has seen first hand the benefits which facilitation, counselling and support can bring and has since trained as a mediator.
Susan was appointed as an NLC Board Member in May 2017.
Susan is single mum to two 'grown up' girls and has a wide range of interests - being a keen tennis player is just one of them.
Job Titles:
- Family Team Leader
- in 2009 As a Trauma Counsellor
Wendy joined New Life Counselling in 2009 as a trauma counsellor, working with adults and families. Previously Wendy worked for 17 years as a group facilitator and counsellor in a substance misuse treatment unit. Since completing her degree in Psychology (QUB) in 1993, Wendy gained for her Diploma in Counselling (1997) and BACP accreditation in 2012. Gaining her Diploma in Social Work (2001) she went on to acquire her Post Qualifying Award in 2005. In 2008, Wendy gained her Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Social Studies, Intermediate Systemic Practice (with Distinction). In 2012 Wendy completed her Diploma in Leadership and Management Level 5.