The START team are all committed to providing a quality service to all those we see from the office team through to the the highly qualified counsellors many of whom have years of experience in counselling victims and survivors of sexual abuse and sexual trauma. They have all undergone specialist training and continue to update their knowledge and practices, and some have specialist qualifications and are working towards higher counselling qualifications. Many of the team at START are survivors themselves and all our counsellors are registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and their qualifications can be viewed through the BACP website or by contacting START office if required
Steve manages START services. Steve joined START in 2015 having worked for many years in Child Protection and working with Vulnerable Adults.
As a survivor himself he is aware of the issues and the importance of promoting and providing good quality counselling as part of the healing process.
Emma joined START in April 2023 and is our Clinical Lead.
She has been counsellor and supervisor for many years both in private practice and in organisations including Hampshire Police, University of Southampton and Victim Support.
Joanne joined START in January 2025. Joanne’s role is Head of Therapy.
Joanne is an accredited integrative psychotherapist and supervisor with her own private practice.
Rhi joined START November 2021, she works in Admin at START.
She’s working here while she studies counselling and likes to write fiction in her spare time.
Andy has been with START since 2014 providing specialist counselling for many adult survivors.
Andy is one of our valued male counsellors. Andy previously worked as a counsellor at the local University dealing with student related welfare issues and has a Diploma of Higher Education with Merit in Counselling (2012).
Jim is one of the START assessors and supervisors as well as an adult counsellor and volunteers two days a week at START.
Jim has a Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (2016) and previously worked as a teacher and also ran a walking adventure holidays.
Marion joined START in August 2020. She is a qualified humanistic integrative counsellor.
She has worked with Portsmouth Abuse and Rape Counselling Service and has worked extensively with young people.
Nicky joined START in March 2021, she qualified as a humanistic counsellor in 2014.
She has since provided counselling to young people and adults in a variety of settings.
Nicola joined START in March 2021.
She has a Foundation Degree in Humanistic Counselling based on Transactional Analysis, as well as a Certificate in Trauma. She has worked in bereavement and addiction.
Janilce joined START in April 2022, she is a qualified counsellor with experience in supporting individuals with a range of personal or interpersonal problems.
She has a foundation degree in Humanistic Counselling, which focused on working within the Transactional Analysis approach. She actively attends further training to ensure that she continues to improve her counselling skills.
Wajda rejoined START in April 2022, having previously worked with us as our main service administrator. She is now a qualified counsellor trained in Humanistic Counselling based on Transactional Analysis.
Wajda is a registered member of BACP (MBACP) and works full-time in her private practice based in West London working remotely and face to face. She is a multilingual counsellor and can offer sessions in English, Urdu, or Hindi.
Bev joined START in May 2019 and will be working on our new STEPS support programme, she has been working as a rape crisis counsellor for the last three years.
Bev is has a qualified person centred counsellor and has recently attained a 1st Class Honours Degree in Humanistic and Integrative Counselling.
Sharon joined START in April 2021.
She qualified in Humanistic Integrative Counselling in 2000 and has worked ever since in the area of rape & sexual abuse, initially working for South London RASAC and then more recently for BRASACC.
Harriet joined start in November 2022 and works with both adults and teenagers.
She is a member of the BACP and has a Foundation Degree in Humanistic Counselling, based around Transactional Analysis as well as Diploma in Counselling Adolescents.
Caroline joined START in April 2023. She is a BACP registered counsellor with a Foundation Degree in Humanistic Counselling based on Transactional Analysis.
Donna joined START in May 2023 and is an experienced and trained trauma counsellor with many years of working in the area of sexual abuse and sexual trauma.
Donna has a BA 1st class Honours Degree in Humanistic & Integrative Counselling (2021) and also provides online therapeutic support.
Ruth joined START in March 2024, having previously worked for RASAC. She has an MA in Counselling, and BACP accreditation, and over 20 years counselling experience.
Ruth has a private counselling and Supervision practice and she has also worked as a counsellor in both Higher and Further education and with Carers.
Julia joined START in April 2024. She has a Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling and she is a Senior Accredited Coach.
Julia has a private counselling and coaching practice and she also works as a Counsellor for a Winchester charity.
Kate is one of STARTS newest specialist trauma counsellors and will be working with online clients.
Kate will also be running our online support groups for the pre-counselling programmes via a monthly drop in group for queries and help and via a closed online group over a number of weeks for those who would prefer to work through the pre-counselling programme with others.
Call our Advice & Support Line on 01962 868 688
Anonymous SMS Text helpline service: 07786 207492
Available 24 hours
(any messages left are checked Mondays-Fridays between 9am-4pm)
Testimonials
"I am now in control of my thoughts and my life. I have gained self-confidence in so many ways and I am no longer haunted by the past."
"I have been given the tools to cope with everyday life. Without counselling I would have continued to deny my situation and feelings which was having extreme detrimental effect on myself, family and friends… RASAC has saved me from self destruction without the support I would have crumbled – a true life saver."
"My RASAC counselling has completely changed my life… I am a better mother, a more involved member of the community and I am able to keep myself safe."
"I was counselled for almost a year. I had a wonderful counsellor who helped me through a very difficult and unpleasant time in my life. It has been a process of healing by revisiting past places which at one time felt unimaginable. The journey has been raw and unnerving but slowly I came to see how I was repairing my damaged self. I finally accepted ownership of what had happened to me and was able to let go of my guilt and shame. My counsellor understood my outlook on life and created a connection with me that was very special. I eventually looked forward to my session as a weekly debrief rather than a purge. I am as happy and confident as I have ever been and I tell people about what I have learnt to help turn their negativity into positivity. Fear can be a very powerful emotion and prevent us from moving on in our lives but once it is confronted the clouds separate and you can focus on that hint of sunshine."
"Thank-you for the support, for the first time since talking about the sexual abuse to someone it is really helping me."
"Thank you so much for all your time and support while I was working through all of the stuff that happened - I really couldn't have done it without your help and input." Male client - June 2021
"The support, understanding and guidance that I've received from START has been life-changing. The whole process has been crucial for me to understand some of the trauma I'd experienced during my childhood. Who I've become as a consequence, who I am today, and how I process some of my thoughts, feelings and emotions." - April 2023
"I cannot thank Sarah at START enough for the counselling I received. I was a bit sceptical of the EMDR therapy I was offered at first but it really has helped me a great deal and I'm grateful for having the opportunity to go through it." - April 2023
"I'd like to thank everyone involved at START. You're doing a phenomenal job. I can't stress how important this journey has been for me. It's been a life altering experience." - April 2023
"Thank you for the Lotus week end, my life is taking a turn for the better and my new journey begins now." - July 2023
