Who we are
NWCH was founded on 1st April 2017 by Naomi Watkins and Alex Parkin. As co-founders, they felt there were gaps in the local community for supporting people’s mental health and wellbeing. They decided to create the Counselling Hub to fill those gaps. Their vision was to provide a central hub to support children, young people, adults, families and couples within Lincolnshire. NWCH Hub is doing exactly that.
Meet the Co-Founders
Naomi Watkins
Co-Founder
One of the UK’s leading Domestic Abuse consultants, as featured by BBC and commissioned by Lincolnshire County Council, Bristol City Council and University of Lincoln.
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Naomi has worked in the field of Emotional Wellbeing, Healthy Relationships and Domestic Abuse for 10 years. She is a CAADA trained IDVA (Independent Domestic Violence Advisor) working with high risk cases, at risk of homicide. She has chaired MARAC (Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences) and worked closely with the CPS (Crown Prosecution Services). She has been trained in Emotional Wellbeing by the NSPCC and ChildLine and worked with them for 8 years.
She has worked with young people from the ages of 0-25years and adults in varying capacities. She has been a nursery worker, deputy manager in a nursery, project worker, support worker, housing officer, drug and alcohol worker, counsellor, domestic abuse worker, ChildLine counsellor and supervisor. She has strong expertise in working with young people and adults, she has had specialist training in Emotional Wellbeing and Healthy Relationships from the NSPCC.
She is a qualified counsellor and has worked with those affected by domestic abuse, low emotional wellbeing, stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, low self-esteem and confidence.
Having delivered various training to volunteers, staff members, professionals, children and young people, she has become a highly experienced trainer. She has written workshops for all levels and delivered to small and large groups alike.
Alex Parkin
Co-Founder
Alex has 4 years’ experience working previously in nurseries and schools within Lincoln, having developed a passion for working with children with Special Educational Needs, Alex knew this is where she wanted to work. Alex has worked in children’s and adult’s residential settings for two years, providing daily support to them in a home from home setting.
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Alex recently returned to education and completed her BSc Hons Degree in Health and Social care at Lincoln University, during her time at Lincoln University Alex started volunteering for local organisations within the care sector. Where she met Naomi Watkins, Alex worked alongside Naomi for over a year teaching Domestic Abuse workshops to young people and teachers. As well as providing nurture groups for young children within schools.
Alex found her passion working with children and young people, whilst supporting them with various topics. Alex began by providing one to one support work with young people, since then Alex has developed a passion to run support groups for young people in Domestic Abuse relationships and for Young Parents.
Since graduating in May 2017, Alex became the Co-founder of NWCH CIC alongside Naomi, a new and unique counselling hub in Lincoln, set up to support and help people within the local community following Alex’s passion.
Alex is also a mum to young children and loves spending time with them visiting new places. Alex can be found reading books and taking long mindful walks with her dog in the local park.
The Hub
Our hub provides a warm and welcoming environment for all your counselling, support and training needs. We thought long and hard about how it feels to be a client, so we have designed our hub to feel safe and calm to allow you to feel comfortable.
Coffee provided by Stokes at our Hub
Chris Morris
Clinical Lead/Counsellor/Trainer
Prior to becoming a counsellor Christopher worked, for many years, in health and social care settings. Where he gained a great deal of experience in establishing and managing bespoke services for people with severe mental ill health, Autism and learning disabilities.
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Christopher has also worked as a vocational learning assessor and has delivered a range of Mental Health and Autism awareness training to front line staff, such as Teachers, GP’s and support workers.
Christopher is a qualified counsellor and registered with the BACP, he has experience of working with children and young people as well as with adults. Having trained as an integrative and relational psychotherapist, he is able to make use of a range of models and approaches to therapy. Furthermore, he places a great deal of emphasis on the need for a positive therapeutic relationship between therapist and client.
His work as a therapist is influenced by Existential philosophy, which explores what it is like to be Human and to come to terms with life in all its confusing complexity. After all, life can be tough, and many of us need a little help to make sense of the world and our place in it.
Christopher also believes that counselling should be available to everyone and has a keen interest in making therapy more accessible to people affected by Autism and Learning disabilities.
Sally Watkins
Office manager
Sally is a first-class administrative manager with a solid track record of achievement. A genuine ‘people person’ with sound business ‘know-how’.
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She is adept at understanding tasks, processes and people in order to deliver solutions that meets the needs of the clients and the organisation.
Sally has had a varied career spanning over 40 years and has worked in many client facing roles including retail, the car industry, relocation, and latterly in family law within solicitors practice. This has given her the poise and acumen to excel in the customer service environment and to understand the high standards demanded by clients.
In her spare time Sally loves spending time with her children and grandchildren, friends and has latterly become a dog lover and therefore now enjoys spending time with her daughter’s dog.
Diane Haines
Hub Co-Ordinator
A highly professional, people-focused person, Diane brings 33 years of experience working in Administration and Customer Service roles. She pays close attention to detail, is highly organised and enjoys meeting new people and learning new skills.
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Before joining the team on a full-time basis, Diane volunteered at The Hub two evenings a week. She has had a varied career to date starting in banking, moving to the water industry and on to a supermarket bakery and an RAF coffee shop whilst bringing her children up and travelling around the country due to her husband’s RAF career. Since moving to Lincoln in 2007, Diane has worked as the Work Experience Co-ordinator at a local secondary school and in the BG Futures: Careers, Employability & Enterprise Team at Bishop Grosseteste University as Administrator and, most recently, was seconded to the role as Projects Compliance Officer for 3 funded projects.
In her recent roles, Diane’s organisational skills were brought to the fore as she was responsible for organising Volunteering Fairs and was a key member of the team organising The Lincoln Teenage Market held 4 – 5 times a year in Lincoln City Centre.
In her spare time, Diane enjoys spending time with her family, baking, reading and looking after the family’s cats, chickens and fish! A keen motorsport fan, Diane enjoys watching virtually anything racing on 2 or 4 wheels and has been to Silverstone on a number of occasions. She is now looking to try out new experiences and, to that end, recently climbed over the top of London’s O2 Arena!
Ben Wright
Non-executive Director
Ben graduated from The University of Lincoln with a degree in Marketing, he then worked for JML, the Bauer Media Group and Local World/Trinity Mirror (formally Northcliffe Media).
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After a number of years working for large media organisations he set up his own digital marketing company which specialises in Social Media (I Want Fish & Chips – ask him where the name came from!).
In his spare time he enjoys playing rugby and watching his son play. He enjoys spending time with his family and loves drinking lots of coffee! Many great ideas and conversations start over a hot cup of coffee.
Ben’s involvement with NW Counselling Hub began with a friendship, due to an unexpected event he started to use the services provided by the team. After experiencing how counselling helped him, he wanted to get involved with the team to help raise awareness for people that need help.
Charlie Blackwell
Non-executive Director
Charlie is the youngest member of our team and started his Journey as a counsellor at 19 as a result of his own therapy and life experiences.
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Charlie has worked with both vulnerable adults and children who stem from difficult backgrounds resulting from the use of drugs and alcohol.
Born in the transition period to the “millennial generation” Charlie grew up in an age without social media and smart phones but by the time he became a teenager the early stages of this had started to appear. As a result of this Charlie is on the cusp of understanding a life without it and also understanding the implications the technology boom has created in the younger community.
Charlie personally believes there are a lot of negative side effects that have come with this advancement. He believes that the younger generation have lost the ability to communicate effectively and it’s also put a tremendous amount of pressure on how we “should” look and act.
Charlie’s childhood forced him to adapt by growing up quickly from an early age which has given him the ability to communicate effectively with all ages, providing him with a level of empathy that cannot be taught within a classroom. He’s a firm believer that with the right attitude and support we can get through the toughest challenges that life throws at us, which is why he’s passionate about what he does.
Charlie is very approachable and laid back, He tries his best to not take life too seriously as he truly believes we’re at our happiest when we’re in touch with our inner child.
Asthildur Sveinsdottir
Volunteer Administrator
Asthildur volunteers for NWCH, alongside studying a Psychology & Counselling degree at Bishop Grosseteste University. She is passionate about mental health and wellbeing after experiencing first-hand how important it is to prioritise your mental health.
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Previously, Asthildur has volunteered in a local primary school, and travelled to America where she was an au-pair to a family with 2 children.
She believes volunteering for NWCH is an amazing way to contribute to such an essential service, and that everyone could benefit from counselling in some way.
In her spare time Asthildur enjoys spending time with her family, looking after her houseplants and doing DIY with her partner.
Nick Briggs
Volunteer Administrator
Nick volunteers at NWCH helping to carry out the assessments with new clients before they are placed with counsellors.
He has extensive experience in client focussed roles having worked in financial service, independent dispute resolution and healthcare sectors.
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Nick currently works for the NHS. He has a 1st class BSc (Hons) Degree in Financial Services and is in the process of completing his Level 4 training with NWCH to become a fully qualified counsellor.
Nick’s hobbies include travelling to new destinations on holiday, cycling, going to the gym and taking his dog Milo out for good mindfulness walks.
Ellie
Therapy Dog
Ellie has been registered as a pet therapy dog since December 2016, and has worked with us ever since. Ellie has a calm and soothing nature and is very empathic to people’s needs and feelings. Ellie loves walks in the long grass in her village by the lake, she loves to sunbathe in the garden and enjoys cheese as a snack. Ellie also loves getting a belly rub and receiving cuddles.
Andrew Cox
Counsellor/Supervisor
Andrew Cox has a long & varied experience working in counselling & social care settings.
He has worked in community settings all his working life. He is a qualified psychiatric nurse & while working as a nurse underwent counselling training.
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He has worked in both statutory & charitable settings with vulnerable people of all ages. This has included working in mental health settings, with families for SureStart, with Young Carers and more recently with children in schools and students at University.
He is a qualified Supervisor and has worked with trainee counsellors.
He is also a qualified herbalist and has a keen interest in nature and plants which adds to his approach as a person centred counsellor. He likes to use his skills in an integrative way and believes strongly in building trusting, therapeutic relationships.
He likes walking and cycling and is involved in community arts and drama. He is also a keen supporter of local sport particularly Lincoln City Football Club!
Debbie Washington
Counsellor
I qualified as a Therapeutic Counsellor in 2013. I enjoy working with children, teenagers and adults and am passionate about mental health issues and support. I have worked for CASY as a volunteer working with young people in schools and also for Park Practice supporting university students. I am a member of The National Counselling Association. I have three wonderful boys who, despite promising to stay forever, have all left home to living productive and happy lives. I enjoy Pilates, reading autobiographies, socialising and cooking in my free time.
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He has worked in both statutory & charitable settings with vulnerable people of all ages. This has included working in mental health settings, with families for SureStart, with Young Carers and more recently with children in schools and students at University.
He is a qualified Supervisor and has worked with trainee counsellors.
He is also a qualified herbalist and has a keen interest in nature and plants which adds to his approach as a person centred counsellor. He likes to use his skills in an integrative way and believes strongly in building trusting, therapeutic relationships.
He likes walking and cycling and is involved in community arts and drama. He is also a keen supporter of local sport particularly Lincoln City Football Club!
Emma Bonsall
Counsellor
Emma is a qualified counselling therapist with an Honours Degree in Person centred therapy. She is also trained in Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Child play therapy (CPT) and Relationship therapy. She is a member of the BACP and has over 15 years experience working in the Health and social care sector.
Her experience has given her a great opportunity to work with fantastic clients, Counselling isn‘t her ’job‘ it’s her absolute passion and she offers an understanding environment where genuine empathy will be experienced.
A mum of 3 boys who keep Emma on her toes, she enjoys a meal at out with friends, cosy nights on the sofa with a cup of tea and spending time with loved ones.
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Zaavit is a people person and values greatly the relational connection between two individuals. She is always involved in volunteering and supporting the community. Her experiences are varied; working for Age UK as well as in private care homes allowed Zaavit to support the elderly and their families. Training on working with dementia patients and their families endorsed Zaavit to offer therapeutic support in these challenging times. During her time volunteering for the NHS in the oncology ward at the Queen Centre, Castle Hill Hospital, Zaavit was able to offer emotional and psychological support to patients, carers and staff.
Zaavit is a trained Cruse Bereavement Care volunteer and a qualified group support facilitator. Her ongoing training for Cruse has allowed her to gain an extensive amount of knowledge through her experiences of different roles within Cruse; therapeutic one on one work as well as leading bereavement group support for Cruse Hull and East Riding branch. Zaavit was a member of the Cruse ‘Lets Talk’ team, as well as a member of the training committee; delivering internal training, on loss and grief, for Cruse and the Recovery College, Humber NHS foundation trust.
Alongside her volunteer work, Zaavit works as a college counsellor, supporting young adults experiencing challenging situations. She also runs a successful private practice in Hull, where she supports clients with a variety of issues, such as loss, self-esteem, bereavement, chronic illness, end of life for patients and relatives, anxiety, depression, relational issues, parental struggles and more.
Zaavit is continuously taking on further training in order to expand on her professional development, and keep up to date with new research on approaches and methodologies in the field.
Zaavit was born in South America and has lived in many countries over the years, which has allowed her to experience different cultures and has exposed her to the beauty of diversity. In her spare time, Zaavit loves spending time with family and friends, cooking and baking, as well as going for walks, playing board games and watching comedies.
Ian Gillman
Counsellor
Ian has been a qualified counsellor for the last five years gaining extensive experience of working with children and adolescents within the NHS, schools and colleges as well as managing contracts on behalf of a charitable trust.
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After qualifying in 2012 Ian became part of the NHS working as part of a team within the Emotional Health sector. Since then Ian continues his work with the NHS alongside his counselling in schools, specialising in working with children who may have additional needs. Ian also supports families who are struggling and helps couples to find solutions and a way forward in their relationships.
Ian is married with four daughters who have a variety of pets and always manages any challenges in a calm and considerate way having a positive approach to life.
James Barker
Counsellor/Trainer
James has been a Primary School teacher for 16 years and during this time he has taught across all age ranges from 3-11. He has had a number of different roles in school including deputy headship, senior leadership, children’s safeguarding officer and supporting children with English as an additional language. Currently he works 2 mornings a week in a local primary school as a target intervention teacher.
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James’ counselling training began by attending the RELATE Basic listening skills courses, and since then he has continued his professional development and has gone on to qualify to Advanced Diploma Level. He has also attained certificates in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Art Therapy and Working with Children and Young People. James is a registered member of the BACP.
Since qualifying James has worked as a counselling volunteer for the YMCA. He is also employed at Park Practice Counselling, Lindum Counselling College, Lincoln College and the Lincoln Centre for Grief and Loss. He has been accepted on the British Sand play Society training due to start in September.
In addition to these roles he is a qualified Yoga Teacher with the British Wheel of Yoga.
Jane Hutty
Counsellor
Jane qualified as a counsellor in 2017 in Person Centred Counselling and is a registered member of The British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy. She has experience of working with anxiety and depression as an IAPTUS counsellor under the ‘Let’s Talk’ programme. Jane is currently also employed at a sixth form college as college counsellor for both staff and students. Other experience includes working for Rape Crisis and Occupational Health for the NHS. Additionally she has a background as a trained bereavement volunteer for Cruse. For Jane relaxing includes, dog walking and family time especially a weekly games night.
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She has previously worked at the Lincolnshire Centre for Grief and Loss, and for CASY (Counselling and Support for Young People). She currently works in a variety of settings including schools, children’s homes, and Park Practice (working with university students). She also sees children and adults through her private practice.
In her spare time, Tina enjoys spending time with family and friends, walking her two dogs, yoga, cooking and gardening.
Karen Hopper-Peart
Counsellor
Karen is an experienced Counsellor and a registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy and has been counselling for seven years.
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Since qualifying Karen worked for a Charitable Counselling Service working with adults from a wide spectrum of social and emotional backgrounds and within Secondary Schools counselling students aged 11 to 18. At the same time Karen has continued her professional development and graduated with a BA (Hons) in Person Centred Counselling from the University of Hull in 2015.
Karen finds her work with Young People to be fulfilling and immensely rewarding and finds that engaging in an empathetic non-judgemental way helps clients feel safe and confident, enabling them to relay their thoughts and feelings in order to find strategies, coping mechanisms and create personal awareness.
Karen through her own difficult life experiences has encountered counselling first hand and and has come through the other side a grounded and non-judgemental person.
Karen is a Mother of a teenager and enjoys a busy family life. However, she can always find time to walk her Rhodesian Ridgeback dog and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the countryside.
Katy Roberts
Counsellor/Trainer
Well my background and route into Counselling is varied to say the least!
Having spent many years working in The Hospitality industry, I moved into teaching in Further Education 16 years ago.
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During this period I particularly enjoyed the tutoring and mentoring aspect of my role, this lead me into training to become a young persons counsellor.
I have worked in 6 different Further Education providers, in both rural and urban settings and have gained a deep insight into the pressures and issues faced by young people in society.
Since qualifying I have worked for a number of children and young peoples charities in a variety of Secondary and Primary schools across three counties.
My partner and I are experienced foster carers and I am also a therapist for a national charity, working with children in both foster and adoptive care and I have a keen interest in issues around attachment, trauma and abuse.
In addition to these roles I teach Counselling skills to adults, run bespoke training courses for a number of organisations and also see clients in my private practise.
In my spare time I enjoy caring for our many rescue animals, these include my beloved dogs, donkeys, alpacas and ex- battery hens, very fulfilling.
I find my work with children and young people very rewarding and feel very privileged to have the opportunity to support and counsel a client group who entrust their lives, feelings and emotions during our time together. A huge honour.
Lindsay Lewis
Counsellor
Lindsay Lewis is experienced in working with clients up to the age of 82. She has supported those caring full time for family members with serious illnesses and dementia who have found this has a negative impact upon their own well-being. Lindsay has also worked with clients of all ages following bereavement as a result of illness and of suicide.
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Lindsay has worked in primary schools for over a decade. She is TaMHS (Targeted Mental Health Support in Schools) trained and has extensive experience of working with children aged between 4-11. She has worked closely with Educational Psychologists, Speech and Language Therapists, Social Workers and MacMillan Cancer Care. With children, Lindsay uses a range of strategies including Drawing and Talking Therapy, play therapy and sand tray work.
Lindsay is a registered member of the BACP (British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists). She has worked with adults, young people and children affected by depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and those who have lost a sense of self-identity. In addition to her counselling qualifications, Lindsay holds a BA (Hons) Degree in English Language and Literature. Having been a student twice, with her children all having undertaken higher education and with family and friends in the education system, Lindsay has a particular
interest in education and the challenges it presents to all those working within it, from pupils and students to those whose profession it is.
In her free time, Lindsay spends time with her grown up children, husband and friends. She enjoys reading, gardening, cooking and music. She follows cricket, rugby union and football.
Maggie Flint
Counsellor
Maggie has had 18 years of experience working with children within schools in Derbyshire, which has included working with Special Educational Needs children 1:1, many of which included working with children that were Autistic and had Attachment Disorder and developed an interest in both these areas. Maggie also previously worked within School Nursing for 9 years, promoting health and well-being within primary and secondary schools, this is where she realised there was a gap in schools for counselling, especially secondary schools.
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Maggie returned to education and has recently achieved a Level 4 Diploma in psychodynamic counselling, the course included volunteering as part of the course, she
volunteered with The Children’s Bereavement Centre in Newark, counselling children who had experienced loss and St Barnaba’s Hospice in Lincoln, counselling adults for
bereavement. She is a member of BACP. Maggie continues to work within a village primary school and has just enrolled on a Working with children and adolescents Diploma course.
In her spare time, Maggie enjoys spending time with her 2 grown up children and family in Derbyshire and is to become a Grandma early next year. She also likes walking her dog Pip gardening and reading, which helps her to relax in her free time.
Sindy Wade
Counsellor
Sindy is a qualified counsellor registered with the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP). She is a trained Cruse Bereavement volunteer and works with Blue Door/Rape Crisis as well as providing a drop-in counselling service at a local independent school.
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Sindy works regularly with survivors of domestic and sexual abuse, bereavement, loss and trauma, mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, self-harm, personal/family difficulties as well as career and educational challenges. Sindy has worked with a diversity of social and cultural clientele and engages well with young people.
Leisure time is spent reading, walking and practising yoga and attending the gym. She enjoys time with family and friends and currently lives in Grimsby.
Tina Scott
Counsellor
Tina qualified as a counsellor in 2013 and is a registered member of The British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy.
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She has previously worked at the Lincolnshire Centre for Grief and Loss, and for CASY (Counselling and Support for Young People). She currently works in a variety of settings including schools, children’s homes, and Park Practice (working with university students). She also sees children and adults through her private practice.
In her spare time, Tina enjoys spending time with family and friends, walking her two dogs, yoga, cooking and gardening.
Wayne Otter
Counsellor
Wayne has over 25 years experience of working with people of all ages including families and children with complex and profound special needs. He has worked across a number of environments using a creative approach to engage, allow and enrich connection and understanding.
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He is a registered member of the BACP (British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists) and works within the standards of its ethical framework as a Professional
Body. Wayne has achieved a Level 5 Advanced Diploma in Counselling Skills and a Counselling Children and Adolescents Diploma. He continues to attend CPD courses and has also completed a Level 5 Personal Development Course.
Wayne has also used music and sound therapeutically to engage communication in children with complex needs and completed a PGCert in Music and Special Needs to support this.
Before becoming a member of the team at NW Counselling Hub, Wayne’s previous experience has included supporting Lindum Counselling Service and CASY, (Counselling and Support for Young People) Wayne also currently provides counselling for University students in Lincoln. Wayne implements a number of Psychological Therapies from a person centred approach, this has developed through his extensive learning of integrative counselling skills.
This gives him the ability to draw on many counselling modalities including Psychotherapy to work holistically with clients, ensuring that together in the therapeutic relationship you are able to find out what the most appropriate kind of therapy looks like for you. Wayne believes that a person should not be defined by their particular issue, concern or problem as each person will experience them in an entirely unique way. In his spare time Wayne like to read, listen and play music, spend time with family and hang out in coffee shops!
