Our Team - North East Counselling Services

The Anxious Minds Team

Our Fabulous Team

IN LOVING MEMORY OF SHAUN MCCOWIE – HEAD OF COUNSELLING WALLSEND

Shaun sadly passed away at the end of 2019. He provided counselling services to adults and children across the North East for over 16 years. Shaun was a volunteer who was passionate about improving mental health services across the North East. His dedication and determination will be carried on by the charity as we move on in our development. Shaun will be sadly missed by his colleagues and friends and hundreds of trainee counsellors he was a clinical supervisor and mentor.

Michelle

managment team

Michelle is a university lecturer and is educated to Phd level, she runs her own business consultancy services, and is part of the managment team...

Eddie

Chief Officer

Hi, I founded Anxious Minds in 2015 after leaving the Armed Forces after 22 years service on my war pension, due to a lack of early intervention and provisional support…...

Jan

Operations Manager

I qualified as a counsellor in 2007 and went on to become a Clinical Supervisor in 2010. In 2016 both myself and the late Shaun McCowie, joined Anxious Minds to…...

Margaret

Head of Counselling

Hi, my training was undertaken with Tyneside Metropolitan College where I studied to become a Person-Centred Counsellor and Clinical Supervisor....

Mark

Business Development

Mark joined us this year after a career of over 25 years in senior management in the recruitment, training & education fields. Most recently Mark worked for Europe’s largest university…...

Eric

Veteran Lead

I spent 22 years in the armed forces. I am an ex university lecturer and I worked for North Tyneside Council as veteran lead....

Russell

Head of Recovery Centre / Counsellor

Russell is a fully qualified counsellor and passionate about supporting people. He now runs the Drop In and Recovery Centre in Wallsend....

Fiona

Head of Counselling Blyth

Hi, after having a previous career in Education, I re-trained with Sunderland University and I have been a Counsellor since 2008. I have worked in a number of community settings…...

Kirsty

Admin & Support Worker

Kirsty holds a level 3 in counselling and a level 2 in drug and alcohol support she is passionate about supporting people with mental health, Kirsty also works in admin…...

Miranda

Counsellor

I previously worked in Education and retrained to be a counsellor. In 2019, I did a diploma at Gosforth with Newcastle City Learning which I completed last year. I volunteered…...

Glen

Veteran Families Support Team / Counsellor

Glen is a fully qualified counsellor and is passionate about supporting the veteran community. He now works on the veteran project and has a Level 5 in Counselling and is…...

Claire

Counsellor

Claire is a fully qualified counsellor and passionate about supporting women. She is part of the Team at Womens Centre in Blyth……...

Claire

Clinical Supervisor

Hi, my training was undertaken with Tyneside Metropolitan College where I studied to become a Person-Centred Counsellor and Clinical Supervisor…....

Alexa

Counsellor

Alexa is a fully qualified counsellor and passionate about supporting people. She is part of the Wallsend Team……...

Callum

Apprentice Admin

Hi, my names Callum and I’m currently studying business administration at Anxious Minds as part of my apprenticeship here, I’ve finished my A levels in sociology and health social work,…...

Leanne

Veteran Families Support Team

Leanne is a fully qualified counsellor and she has also done a level 3 in PTSD Counselling, she is passionate about supporting the veteran community after serving in both the…...

Minnie

Therapy dog

Minnie likes meeting and welcoming people to the centre, loves sitting on knees giving unconditional love; mini has worked as a Dog therapist for the last 4 years. She loves…...

The Anxious Minds Patrons

Our Patrons

Denise Welch

Denise Welch is an English actress and television personality. Her roles include Natalie Barnes in Coronation Street, Steph Haydock in Waterloo Road, and Trish Minniver in Hollyoaks. Denise also appears as a regular panellist on the ITV chat show, Loose Women and has been a Patron of Anxious Minds since 2018

Jamaal Lascelles

Jamaal Lascelles is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Premier League club Newcastle United, where he is captain, Jamaal has been a Patron of Anxious Minds since 2021

Ellen Dean

Ellen Dean is the owner of Laughing Lion Designs (organic clothing) and Cheeky Monkey Productions (film-making) and is an award-winning businesswoman, Ellen enjoys writing fiction and non-fiction and has been a radio presenter. Ellen has been a Patron of Anxious Minds since 2018

Our Staff & Volunteers

Supporting vulnerable people within our community takes a certain character, with not only the right qualifications but the passion and understanding what its like to struggle.