She graduated with a BSc in Psychology. Her doctoral thesis was in learning and she remains interested in the learning process per se, including the process of change while in the therapeutic relationship.While following an academic career, mainly at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), she trained as a counselling psychologist via the British Psychology Society’s independent route. She was awarded a professorship at LJMU in 2000. She has chaired the Division of Counselling of Psychology Committee and the Counselling Psychology Qualification Board. She also has experience working in NHS Adult Mental Health. Currently she works as an independent practitioner and is committed to the discipline of psychology as both academic and practitioner.