Meet the Team

I believe that everyone has the capacity to grow, change and reach their potential. Throughout my work as a psychotherapist, counsellor, supervisor and trainer, I have seen how powerful it can be when people feel genuinely heard, respected and supported.

I qualified as a Core Process Psychotherapist in 2005. My training was profoundly valuable, but the course fees were £20,000. I knew that for many people, a cost like that could place professional therapeutic training out of reach. I founded Lotus Training Co because I wanted to offer professional, high-quality counselling education that was more accessible and affordable, without losing the depth, care and personal development that make training meaningful.

My work has been shaped by a wide range of therapeutic approaches, including person-centred counselling, Core Process Psychotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), family and systemic practice, emotionally focused couples therapy (EFT), and pre- and perinatal psychology. I am also trained in EMDR for adults and children, and in professional supervision through CSTD.

Over the years I have worked with individuals, couples and families, including people affected by eating disorders, childhood abuse, serious illness and other complex life experiences. I have also worked as a counsellor at the University of Plymouth and provided both longer-term and shorter-term therapy. This experience continually reminds me that no two people — and no two therapeutic relationships — are the same.

I have developed and delivered diploma-level counselling courses, alongside mindfulness and meditation training. As a qualified mindfulness teacher, I value reflective practice, self-awareness and the courage to remain curious. At Lotus Training Co, I want students to experience a learning environment that combines professional rigour with kindness, inclusion and a genuine respect for individuality.

My hope is that Lotus Training Co continues to help thoughtful, committed people develop the knowledge, confidence and presence to support others. Whether you are taking your first steps into counselling or developing your practice further, I hope you will feel welcomed and encouraged here.

Amanda is a BACP registered psychotherapist in private practice in Plymouth. Her therapeutic approach draws together person-centred practice, Buddhism, attachment theory, Internal Family Systems, DBT skills and trauma neuroscience psychoeducation.

Before becoming a therapist, Amanda spent many years in the NHS. She trained and worked as a children’s nurse and practised on the front line in intensive care and the emergency department, before moving into NHS management. The combination of bedside acute care and strategic operational leadership continues to shape how she approaches education: with an understanding of the pressure’s students and staff experience.

Amanda’s specialist interest is in violence and sexual exploitation, understood holistically as something that harms girls and boys, women and men. Her work spans the sex industry and commercial sexual exploitation, childhood sexual abuse, intrafamilial abuse, and child-to-child sexual abuse, and she is committed to supporting those who have experienced all spectrum of sexual violence.

She has given evidence in parliament and contributed to panel events, and writes on exploitation, language and cultural conditioning for a range of publications.

She delivers training and workshops to NHS, statutory, and third-sector audiences on sexual exploitation, missed opportunities and the language professional’s use. Her main interest lies in the space between policy and practice in what practitioners actually notice, ask and record, and in building confidence outside the status quo.

Amanda is soulfully sustained by nature, art, and time spent sea swimming and in the gym. Practices she sees as part of the same body, body soul and mind within her work, rather than separate from it.

Hazel is a registered mental health nurse,Non-medical prescriber in addictions and therapist. With over 30 years of experience within the field of addiction she now works exclusively delivering Dialectical behaviour therapy within the NHS to people with suicidal thoughts and urges and behavioural and emotional dysregulation including non-suicidal self-injury.

Hazel is accredited member of the sfDBT (Society for Dialectical Behaviour Therapy) alongside qualifications in coaching/ mentorship/ leadership amongst other therapy/ counselling qualifications including Group analytical therapy.

Due to her years in the field of addiction Motivational interviewing and motivating change, Transactional analysis and Compassion focussed therapeutic approaches are part of her toolkit.

Hazel loves teaching and education and this interest led her to teach IBA(Brief interventions for alcohol use) for 7 years, Drug and alcohol awareness as well as educating about complexity and dual diagnosis. Hazel achieved a queen’s nurse award for a specific interest in being bereaved by substance use and has been a champion for end-of-life care in addictions. This extends now to consider bereavements from suicide.

Jon Rowe is a BACP Accredited Counsellor and Psychotherapist, Clinical Supervisor, and founder of Relational Psychotherapy. Since 2016, he has worked with clients across private practice and Employee Assistance Programmes, supporting people with trauma, anxiety, bereavement, relationship difficulties, confidence, and emotional wellbeing.

Jon is trained in EMDR, CBT, Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), mindfulness-based approaches, and Single-Session Therapy, enabling him to tailor his work to the unique needs of each client. He has a particular interest in trauma recovery, nervous system regulation, and complex grief.

At the heart of Jon’s work is the belief that meaningful change happens through genuine human connection. His relational, compassionate and down-to-earth approach creates a safe space where clients, supervisees and trainees feel understood, challenged and supported to grow.

As a guest tutor, Jon enjoys bringing together current research, practical therapeutic skills and real-life clinical experience in an engaging, accessible and thought-provoking way.

“Jon truly believes that while therapeutic models are important, it is the quality of the relationship that allows people to feel seen, understood and ultimately create lasting change.”