meet the briym team

Founder & CEO

BA (hons) Cert Ed. DHP.MAPHP (SUP)

Lecturer at RBCCH Trained Supervisor

Charlotte has been working in education for over twenty-five years. Previously she worked in secondary schools as a teacher and during that time was a very successful Head of Year in an outstanding school. She retrained as a therapist and now has a successful private business supporting young people with mental health issues. Charlotte has worked in many schools over the last 10 years promoting mental health. She and her team now support schools to help provide young people with practical techniques to deal with their mental health issues.

BSc (hons), MA, DHP, LAPHP

Jane has twenty years experience as a Design & Technology teacher and has also worked closely with students as a Deputy Head of Year. She has retrained as a therapist and she has a thriving private business working with adults and young people.

She is passionate about wellbeing in schools and believes supporting their mental health is a fundamental part in preparing young people for their adult lives.

In addition to English , Jane is fluent in Cantonese.

B .Ed, NPQH, DHP, LAPHP

Louise is a qualified teacher and has worked in five different secondary schools in Oxfordshire and Berkshire. For the last 18 years she was an Assistant Headteacher in an outstanding secondary school, leading on pastoral care and safeguarding. She has recently retired and is focusing on supporting the mental health of young people.

Louise also has a successful private therapy business and works with young people to help support their mental health.

BA (hons), DHP, LAPHP

Emma has over 15 years experience in the design field, specialising in Interior Design, along with owning her own successful business.

Her drive and passion in life is to help others. Having now retrained as a therapist, Emma is able to bring her design experience and her support role within schools, enabling her to combine her creative background with therapy. This brings a unique, inspiring and fun approach when helping children and young people with their mental health and well being.

DPhil (Oxon) DHP

Nikki has worked as a secondary school teacher for nine years. She currently holds Head of Chemistry and House Coordinator roles at her school.

A number of years ago Nikki retrained as a therapist. She now has a successful private practice helping teenagers work through different issues, a role she finds incredibly rewarding. In addition, Nikki continues to teach and applies her therapist skills in a pastoral capacity to support her students and the many challenges they face today.

Art (MA)

Elske is a qualified Art teacher and has worked in various teaching settings over the past 10 years.

Elske is a trained Art therapist and began her career at Bath Royal United hospital supporting adults who suffered with chronic pain disorders and used her art as a tool to manage their pain and engage them in a fulfilling activity. She also supported children with mental health issues within the hospital.

She loves to work creatively but is also able to adapt to the needs of each young person.

BA (hons), CPCAB 2&3

Kelly has worked as a secondary school teacher for 15 years.

She currently holds the position of music teacher , choir leader, and vocal coach roles at her school. She also does 1:1 mentoring and mindfulness activities in addition.

When lockdown hit, she decided to retrain as a therapist, and alongside her knowledge of singing for health and well-being projects at school is very passionate about the mental health of young people today.

She believes that if everybody had one person who could give them unconditional positive regard, the world would be a better place.

BA (hons) English and Psychology, Level 2 in Counselling skills.

Kay has twelve years’ experience in supporting vulnerable young people in school environments and a further twelve years as a qualified teacher, specialising in English. With three of those years as a middle leader, Kay has been Head of English and more recently Head of a Year Six. She has retrained as a therapist and continues to teach in schools on a supply basis.

Kay is passionate about building healthy relationships with children, focusing on developing a growth mindset to achieve their desired goals. She believes in supporting with mental health needs by being an active listener and being able to offer strategies to help guide young people through their difficult times.

BA (hons) , DHP, LAPHP

Lee has 16 years experience as a secondary Physical Education teacher. During that time he has worked as Head of Year, Head of Department and roles relating to Primary School transition. He is a trained therapist, and has his own private therapy business, helping adults and young people with their mental health.

With his background and experience in sport, Lee has worked with many young people to help them overcome the pressures and stress this lifestyle can place on them.

BSc (Hons), MEd, CMgr FCMI, DHP, LAPHP

Gemma has been working with young people and teachers in secondary schools for 18 years as a science teacher. She has led in pastoral, departmental and staff development roles in this time, and is now an Assistant Headteacher to secondary and sixth form students.

Gemma is committed to supporting schools in getting the best out of young people and young people in getting the best out of school; they can and deserve to leave with more than just great grades.

Additionally, Gemma is a trained therapist to adults and young people to help them realise their potential in a sustainable way; prioritising good mental health, understanding stress and overwhelm, and gaining agency.

Gemma is Director of The WAY, a leadership development program in emotional intelligence and mental health resilience.

BSc (hons) Psych, DHP, LAPHP

Lucy has a background in psychology, specifically working with young people across a range of settings including schools, prison, youth offending, behaviour and addiction teams. Lucy believes that addressing mental health concerns during childhood can have a profound positive impact on a child’s long term development and wellbeing in addition to their prospects educationally, socially and societally.

As a trained therapist and NLP Practitioner, Lucy is committed to providing therapeutic and emotional support to young people navigating life’s challenges. She is passionate about encouraging and coaching young people to improve their sense of wellbeing and mental health, and helping them develop invaluable life skills such as resilience and confidence.

Lucy is also part of a small team of therapists working with adults and children in a private practice across South Oxfordshire and Berkshire.

BSc, DHP, LAPHP

Emily has spent the last 12 years working in the medical profession as a senior nurse in the NHS. She has worked in many specialities but has spent the last 5 years working with adults and young people in sexual health clinics, offering physical and emotional support.

Alongside her role as a Nurse, Emily is a trained therapist passionate about improving well-being and supporting young people navigate todays mental health challenges. She is experienced in working with vulnerable young people and providing coping strategies in a safe and supportive environment.

Emily is also part of a small team of therapists working with adults and children in a private practice in South Oxfordshire.

BA (hons), MA & PGCE with QTS

Anita is a qualified teacher and has worked for over 10 years in education in various roles including Pastoral Head of Year. She has always been drawn to working with young people, not only to inform and educate, but to help them discover, develop and use positive tools for resilience and good mental health.

With her background in secondary and primary age groups across many different countries and cultures, she has a dynamic range of experience to draw from. She is also trained in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA accreditation), Understanding Mental Health (Level 2) and is pursuing Counselling skills to further support young people in building their capacity to pursue a positive and purposeful future for themselves.

B.Ed, NPQH, DHP

Debbie has enjoyed a forty year career teaching social sciences including Geography and Psychology.

Debbie's main passion was supporting students who needed help to thrive and in her pastoral roles in school, including Head of House she supported many students and their families. Debbie recently retired from her post as headteacher of a secondary school where she worked hard to build a strong cohesive community and fostered a sense of belonging for all students.

She has retrained as a therapist so that she can continue to provide support for vulnerable young people in schools and to help them flourish.

BA (hons), Cert. Ed, MHS, MNCPS Acc.

Jessica brings a creative approach to her work, whether this was in her teaching career of 18 years, or now as a therapist. With an extensive toolkit of training and techniques to offer, Jessica includes play and art-based approaches in her work as well as a love for the outdoors.

She believes in understanding and adapting to the modern age our young people are growing up in, and supporting them in their mental health in order to promote healthy adulthoods.

BA, BED, MA, DHP Psychodrama, Psychotherapy

Suki is Psychodrama Psychotherapist. With a Master of Arts in Drama and Theatre Education and a double undergraduate degree in Language Teaching and Education, she started out as a teacher and devoted a decade to being one. She has quite a number of interests, she has been a dancer, a percussionist, an actress, and a playback-er. Always wanting to do more for betterment, her latest attempt was publishing a book she edited about her hometown, Hong Kong. She speaks Cantonese, English and Mandarin, mainly sees private clients online, helping them with emotional support, life changes, trauma and mental disorders. With two sons and a plan to relocate, she started Mrs Socks on social media in 2021, to share the importance of quality parenting and reading for young children. She is passionate about parenting, nurturing children, educating and equipping young people so they can flourish, be themselves and make the world a better place together.

MA Education, BA History and Sociology, Level 4 Diploma Counselling and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Mental Health First Aider

Laura is a qualified teacher and Head of Year. She has worked in education for 16 years and supported countless students academically and pastorally. She is a trained mental health first aider and has completed a therapeutic qualification in counselling and cognitive behaviour therapy. She leads on mental health and wellbeing across her school and is passionate about promoting awareness of mental health. She has also devised and led mental health toolkit workshops across schools which focus on practical support strategies to help students experiencing poor mental health. She works hard to foster a culture of independence, giving young people the tools they need to self-manage their emotions and develop resilience.

BA (hons), NPQH, DHP, LAPHP, Cert. HE in Autism

DHP, LAPHP

Katie has over twenty years of experience in a corporate environment, where she specialised in supporting people through change in the workplace. She was actively involved in wellbeing groups, championing mental health awareness and psychological safety, and became a mental health first aider.

Her passion for helping others led her to retrain as a therapist, and as a mother of two boys, she now runs a successful therapy practice focused on young adults. Katie provides emotional support, compassion, and practical strategies to help them build resilience and confidence. Drawing on her professional background, she is dedicated to empowering young people to realise their potential and confidently navigate their progression into adulthood.

NASENCO, QTS, BA (hons) , FDSC, DHP

Michelle is a qualified Clinical Hypnotherapist, SENCO and Teacher and has worked with special needs and challenging behaviour for 19 years. After covid, Michelle  noticed a significant decline in young peoples mental health, specifically those with SEN. Since then, she has worked with students in a nurturing environment and trained in hypnotherapy.

Michelle is passionate about supporting young people's mental health and well-being and giving them tools to feel empowered.

Prof.Dip PsycC. DUD CST, Level 5 Creative play therapy and foundation systemic family therapy.

Rebecca is a qualified counsellor, working with adults, children and families.  Her passion is supporting parents, children and whole families. She recognises the parenting journey can have challenges along the way and will work alongside you to support you and help you find the way through. Works creatively with children, through play and creative therapy and incorporates some elements of this when working with adults.

Rebecca can also support families who are experiencing relational problems, providing families with a space to work through any issues they are experiencing, helping you find the answers which fit your family.

Before training to be a counsellor Rebecca worked in Early Years, running two children’s day nurseries for over 10 years, working for a large corporation delivering interpersonal training and initially as a police officer

BSC (hons), GMBPsS, DHP

Jane is dedicated to empowering children and adults alike, helping them overcome the challenges that hinder their personal growth. With focus on creating a safe and supportive environment, Jane enables children to open up and work through issues during their crucial developmental years.

Her compassionate approach helps young people build self-esteem and move forward with confidence.

For adults, Jane is passionate about breaking through negative thoughts, beliefs, habits and feelings, guiding them towards greater happiness and fulfilling life.

BA (Hons), PGCE, Grad. Dip, MHFA L3, Counselling L2, Cert. Hypnotherapy. AAPHP.

BSc, MSc, PGCE, DHP, LAPHP 

Yasmin is a secondary school teacher with over 15 years experience teaching Food Technology, Product Design and Art. She also has experience working with primary school aged children. Yasmin has trained as a youth mental health first aider. 

She has trained as a therapist and believes it is important that every young person has someone they can talk to and build a toolkit of strategies to support their wellbeing. 

BA (Hons), PG Dip HRM, DHP

With over 20 years in Human Resource Management, Clare has supported a wide range of people through training and development, coaching and well-being support.

Starting a family and supporting her two daughters, Clare developed a keen interest in the development of children, working in both pre-school and Primary School in classroom support roles as well as providing one to one interventions for SEN.

As a trained Clinical Hypnotherapist and NLP Practitioner,  Clare is a strong and passionate advocate of BRIYM’s philosophy in providing tools and techniques to enable young people to build resilience and confidence in everyday life. Clare brings a calm, caring and empathetic approach, adapting to the needs of every individual and providing techniques for both children and adults to work through their problems and create positive change.

BA (Hons) Cert Ed , DHP

Kate began working with young people through outdoor activities, facilitating both individual and team personal growth. Since then she has worked in a wide range of educational settings. For the last 4 years she has been the pastoral lead of year 7 supporting students with the transition to secondary school.

Kate trained as a therapist to develop skills so that she can guide young people to feel confident and happy through their school career and beyond.