About Puerto Therapy
I hold a Foundation Degree in Counselling from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. Since June 2024, I have been volunteering with MIND, supporting individuals in their mental health journeys.
I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and work in accordance with their Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions.
My interest in therapy began in the early 2000s, following my own experience of counselling. Inspired by the impact it had on me, I began my formal studies in 2008, taking a few breaks along the way before completing my qualification.
Hi and welcome to Puerto Therapy
My background is varied and has given me a wealth of life experience that I bring into my counselling practice.
I was born and raised in the Black Country, moved to North Wales in 1996, and finally settled in Llanelli seven years ago — now proud to call it home.
I have worked in accounts, managed a coffee shop, raised a family, been a home carer, and volunteered with the ambulance service before realising my long-held dream of qualifying as a counsellor.
These experiences have shaped my understanding of the different challenges people face in life and deepened my ability to offer empathy, support, and a non-judgemental space to clients. I am passionate about counselling, whether that means supporting you to reach your full potential, helping you to heal after trauma, or simply being there to listen.
Therapy can bring tears at times, but there is often laughter too. I offer a down-to-earth, compassionate approach, where we work together to explore what feels right for you and to find the best way forward.
Therapeutic Services
In-person Counselling
Online Therapy
For those who prefer or need the convenience of online therapy, I also offer secure virtual sessions. All I ask is that you are in a private, confidential space where you won’t be overheard.
I offer a free 20 minute video call to see if we are a good fit for each other
Standard fee - £45
(A limited number of concessions are available)
Sessions take place in my fully accessible therapy room in Carmarthen, located within walking distance of the bus station and with parking available nearby.
Our relationship
I’m a warm, friendly counsellor with heaps of life experience. I offer therapy without all the long words or the cardigans — just real conversations, empathy, and support that makes sense. You’ll find a safe, confidential and down-to-earth space where we can explore whatever is causing you unhappiness or distress. I listen without judgement and always treat you with respect. Together we’ll notice what’s working, explore new possibilities, and develop practical ways forward — because you are the expert on your own life.
How can I help?..
We all go through difficult times — relationship difficulties, bereavement, stress and anxiety, anger, and other challenges. Sometimes what we need most is to feel seen and heard. In my warm and friendly sessions I’ll listen without judgement and hold a space where you can be truly heard. I see you. I hear you.
My practice is open and welcoming to people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and relationship styles. I am committed to providing a safe, supportive, and inclusive space where you can bring your whole self without fear of judgement. Whoever you are, and wherever you are in your journey, you will be met with respect, acceptance, and understanding.
Qualifications and CPD
Trans & Gender Diverse People
Pregnancy & Infant Loss Practitioner Training
Rainbow Baby Specialist
Infertility Specialist
Complicated Grief
Neuropsychology
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness
Grief & Bereavement Counselling
Child Psychology
FdA Counselling
Dip. HE (Open)
Cert. Men.Health Studies (Open)
Cert. H&SC (Open)
CPD
I have an Enhanced DBS and am fully insured
PRIVACY POLICY
Your privacy is very important to me and you can be confident that your personal information will be kept safe and secure and will only be used for the purpose it was given to me. I adhere to current data protection legislation, including the General Data Protection Regulation (EU/2016/679) (the GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003. This privacy notice tells you what I will do with your personal information from initial point of contact through to after your therapy has ended, including:
• Why I am able to process your information and what purpose I am processing it for
• Whether you have to provide it to me
• How long I store it for
• Whether there are other recipients of your personal information
• Whether I intend to transfer it to another country
• Your data protection rights.
I am happy to chat through any questions you might have about my data protection policy and you can contact me via email at puertotherapy@gmail.com. ‘Data controller’ is the term used to describe the person/ organisation that collects and stores and has responsibility people’s personal data. In this instance, the data controller is me. I am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office ZB99805. My phone number is: 07368 310241. My email address is: puertotherapy@gmail.com.
My lawful basis for holding and using your personal information
The GDPR states that I must have a lawful basis for processing your personal data. There are different lawful bases depending on the stage at which I am processing your data. I have explained these below:
If you have had therapy with me and it has now ended, I will use legitimate interest as my lawful basis for holding and using your personal information.
If you are currently having therapy or if you are in contact with me to consider therapy, I will process your personal data where it is necessary for the performance of our contract.
The GDPR also makes sure that I look after any sensitive personal information that you may disclose to me appropriately. This type of information is called ‘special category personal information’. The lawful basis for me processing any special categories of personal information is that it is for provision of health treatment (in this case counselling) and necessary for a contract with a health professional (in this case, a contract between me and you).
When you contact me with an enquiry about my counselling services I will collect information to help me satisfy your enquiry. This will include your name, address, contact details, emergency contact, medication and treatments, and GP details. Alternatively, your GP or other health professional may send me your details when making a referral. If you decide not to proceed I will ensure all your personal data is deleted within one month. If you would like me to delete this information sooner, just let me know.
While you are accessing counselling, rest assured that everything you discuss with me is confidential. That confidentiality will only be broken if there is concern about your safety or the safety of someone else, if you are involved in money laundering or acts of terrorism. I will always try to speak to you about this first, unless there are safeguarding issues that prevent this.
I will keep a record of your personal details to help the counselling services run smoothly. These details are kept securely electronically using the secure and encrypted Kiku system and are not shared with any third party. For security reasons I do not retain text messages for more than six months. If there is relevant information contained in a text message I will store it in Kiku. Likewise, any email correspondence will be deleted after six months if it is not important. If necessary I will store it on kiku.
After counselling has ended your records will be kept for seven years from the end of our contact with each other and are then securely destroyed. If you want me to delete your information sooner than this, please tell me.
Your rights
I try to be as open as I can be in terms of giving people access to their personal information. You have a right to ask me to delete your personal information, to limit how I use your personal information, or to stop processing your personal information. You also have a right to ask for a copy of any information that I hold about you and to object to the use of your personal data in some circumstances. You can read more about your rights at ico.org.uk/your-data-matters. If I do hold information about you I will:
• give you a description of it and where it came from;
• tell you why I am holding its, tell you how long I will store your data and how I made this decision;
• tell you who it could be disclosed to;
• let you have a copy of the information in an intelligible form.
You can also ask me at any time to correct any mistakes there may be in the personal information I hold about you. To make a request for any personal information I may hold about you, please put the request in writing addressing it to puertotherapy@gmail.com. If you have any complaint about how I handle your personal data please do not hesitate to get in touch with me by writing or emailing to the contact details given above. I would welcome any suggestions for improving my data protection procedures. If you want to make a formal complaint about the way I have processed your personal information you can contact the ICO which is the statutory body that oversees data protection law in the UK. For more information go to ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint.
Data security
I take the security of the data I hold about you very seriously and as such I take every effort to make sure it is kept secure. I use encrypted devices, and store securely in a password protected file within the Kiku system (please see their Privacy Policy for more information at https://www.wearekiku.com/privacy-notices).