About us

Trustees and committee members...

Tanya Orr - Chairperson

I am a qualified and accredited counsellor, supervisor and trainer who holds a particular interest in trauma, attachment and dissociation.

Following my curiosity of the impact that trauma has on the body, I decided to train in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy. I have since integrated this approach into my counselling model and have found this provides profound hope for those struggling with trauma.

I previously lived in Northern Ireland with my family, where I co-established an agency ‘Restore Counselling’ based in Belfast. Working primarily in the voluntary sector I gained experience in developing policy and training and went on to do research and training for a project funded by the Northern Ireland Department of Health.

I am now the Executive Director of ‘The Willows Counselling Service’ in Swindon and supervise a number counsellors who are working with Dissociation and DID. Alongside this I have previously served on a number of various Boards and currently enjoy being a Trustee of the ‘Swindon Counselling and Psychotherapy Network’ and chair of ‘tag’.

I describe myself as a fun loving introvert who loves purple! I very much enjoy reading, cinema, laughing with friends and family, picnics, coffee, wine, chocolate, trees and bluebells!! I play the guitar a little and I love to sing.

Paula Biles - Trustee - Editor of Interact

I am a UKCP accredited psychotherapist, supervisor and trainer and a certified advanced Sensorimotor and Internal Family System practitioner. I have extensive experience in working with those suffering from complex PTSD, attachment disorders, developmental trauma, ritual and organised abuse.

I have a particular interest in the latest developments in therapeutic approaches, supervision and training to help support and develop the provision for people recovering from interpersonal trauma. Within tag I am responsible for coordinating and developing training and the editor of the journal Interact.

Philippa Dryland - Trustee - Secretary

I feel very privileged to be on the Tag committee, and whilst appalling at administration, I have role of Secretary, which is a challenge for everyone else!

I have worked with early life trauma, abuse and dissociation since I qualified as a counsellor 11 years ago. I am an accredited member of the BACP and my current case load includes working with DID and journeying alongside survivors of organised abuse and SRA to bring recovery and healing.

I work with both historic and ongoing abuse which I believe presents some of the greatest ethical challenges and dilemmas we can face as therapists. Besides providing trauma therapy, I also enjoy the shared learning that comes from facilitating peer supervision workshops and training.

I am deeply committed to raising awareness of complex trauma, DID and SRA with the hope that others will feel more equipped to recognise and work in the field of extreme abuse.

I have lived in Cirencester for the last 14 years and enjoy the beauty of the Cotswolds. I love learning and the deeper spiritual journeying that comes with the challenges of personal growth. I enjoy everything more when the sun is shining and feel most relaxed when I can 'simply be' on a beach in the warmth!

Sue Berry - Trustee - Website and e-shot

I am a certified Sensorimotor Psychotherapist working in private practice in South Shropshire and Hereford. I have a great passion for the present moment and a particular interest in complex trauma. I am passionate about my work with tag facilitating, educating and normalising people's understanding of dissociation.

My original counsellor training began and then progressed for many years within the drug and alcohol sector, I then coordinated a counselling service within a prison, both of which I thoroughly enjoyed and gave me a solid introduction to working with severe and complex trauma. I now work in private practice as well as very much enjoying exploring and developing the facilitation of training's and peer supervision workshops.

I've been very fortunate to have been taught by some wonderful teachers in my life but I find my greatest learning happens when I mindfully turn my attention inside and focus on the internal work of how to love and accept all parts of my self. Doing this continues to both deeply challenge and delight but above all it expands my ability to experience and enjoy life, as well as expanding my capacity and desire to share and enable this in others.

I love walking, yoga, photography and painting and to add further challenge I have for a few years now been learning (very slowly!) to play the harp.

Terry Shevlin - Trustee

I am 57 years of age, Northern Irish, and married 32 years. I have two sons who are 28yrs and 25yrs. Wow, that makes me feel quite old just writing that!

Counselling and psychotherapy is my second career, following on from a role as a police officer having joined the RUC in the late 1970’s and taking early retirement from the PSNI in 2007. I was awarded the QPM (Queens’ Police Medal) in the 2008 New Years Honours list for distinguished service to policing in N.Ireland.

I am a Senior Accredited Counsellor and Supervisor of Groups and Individuals with BACP. I work exclusively now in private practice in Ballymena, N. Ireland.

My main modality and declared passion in therapy is for Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, and I gained my certification status in January 2017. I would describe Sensorimotor Psychotherapy as ‘coming home’, finding in its way of working a model that fits with my personality and meditative way of being.

My hobbies and interests are varied and range from reading 2-3 books at the same time, to ‘sunny day cycling’, the practice of health and well being Tai Chi, a bit of yoga, and of course good food and chexem/hipster coffee! I also dabble with making bread from scratch and writing a bit of poetry as the mood moves me.

Ruth Cureton - Trustee

I'm a mum and grandma with lived experience of complex dissociative disorders. My working life has included many years working in health, including 20 as an NHS GP.

In the last 15 years I have worked in the charitable and voluntary sector, including with Willows Counselling Service; Trauma and Abuse Group and First Person Plural.

I give training in both pastoral and secular contexts on supporting recovery from childhood neglect, trauma and abuse, from both a medical and personal perspective.

I enjoy gardening and wildlife and recently began volunteering at a local National Trust garden.

Kate Clarke - Committee member - Membership secretary

I look after tag membership, so I’m the person to contact if you’re thinking about joining us!

I am a counsellor at Willows Counselling Service in Swindon, where I work with adults. I am also a peripatetic counsellor with TIC+ (formerly Teens in Crisis) working with children from 9 to 21 years old in schools and colleges in Gloucestershire. I have an interest in working with trauma with people of all ages.

My husband and I have three children in their early 20’s. We moved from Kent to Wiltshire 15 years ago and still can’t believe how lucky we are living in the beautiful Wiltshire countryside!

I enjoy spending time with family, going to music concerts and reading when I get the time. I also make and collect miniatures for my large Georgian dolls house – a great time waster but very therapeutic!

Steve Litchfield - Committee member - I.T. Guru and Change Agent

I work as Strategic Development Manager at Willows Counselling Service in Swindon, where I trained as a voluntary counsellor on the first Certificate Level course … some years ago now! Working at Willows felt like ‘coming home’ after a career in IT. My role there draws on many skills I’ve accumulated from previous roles in charity, community and business settings and I seek to offer these to my work with tag as well.

I also work as a transformational life coach where I regularly use psycho-education, mindfulness and body-oriented methods, informed by trauma awareness, yoga practice and my personal journey. Over time I’ve come to realise that nothing in our story need be wasted, although how we think about our experiences may change significantly.

My interests include growing and eating plants and flowers, discussions with friends over wine, yoga, walking, foraging, art and creative cooking.