Mental Health Sessional Trainers

Hello, I’m Jackie Wrout. I’ve worked with YMCA for about 11 years, starting off as a student counsellor for their Young People’s wellbeing service in Wisbech. I now run my own private practice as a counsellor and supervisor. I also work with an eating disorder charity and have run mentoring schemes and a range of therapeutic groups for other mental health organisations.

As YMCA Trinity’s mental health services grew, I began running workshops for them and have now been an associate trainer for nearly ten years. Much of my work for them is training and supporting school staff and pupils and I’m really proud that YMCA Trinity is so responsive to the wellbeing needs of the community it serves.

Hello, I’m Karin Horowitz and I’ve been working with YMCA Trinity Group since Autumn 2021.

While I have known about YMCA’s positive history of supporting children and young people for many years, I was pleased to meet YMCA colleagues at a recent webinar I was facilitating. This has led to the opportunity to work together more closely and contribute to YMCA’s goals of supporting the mental health of children, young people and the staff who work with them.

My work with school leaders and staff over the past 15 years, and for another decade before that in a wide range of industries and governments including the NHS, focus on their well-being. I provide coaching, non-clinical supervision, team development, and facilitation of key skills and learning for adults. I also provide Life Skills coaching and training to undergraduates and secondary school students. I support clergy in similar ways, running action learning sessions as well as coaching.

Overall my goal is to support people doing challenging and deeply valuable work in our society, in finding a healthy balance in their work and life, so that they too can be fulfilled and thrive.

Hello, I’m Monica McLeod and I have been working with YMCA Trinity Group since October 2021.

I applied to work with YMCA Trinity Group because it is important to me that I work with an organisation that operates with integrity and whose ethos and core values align with my own.

I have been fortunate to have worked in careers where I have cared deeply about what I do; they have been a vocation. I care very deeply about the mental health and well-being of young people, having worked with children and young people for over 30 years, mainly in the teaching profession within those experiencing Social Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) issues.

I am now a Person–Centred Therapist. I believe that it is the development of trusting, positive relationships, as well as the acceptance of people for who they are that, enables healing to take place and from there can follow change, leading ultimately to personal fulfilment.

Hello! My name is Michèle Baxter and I am a Sessional Trainer with YMCA Trinity Group. I have been in the position since May 2020.

I very much enjoy working with YMCA – I feel that their work is so very valuable in reaching schools and colleges in order to address the often-overlooked subject of mental health.

I have worked in schools since 2005 – initially as a TA and then as a qualified teacher and SENDCO. It’s work that I find fascinating and I love helping children and families who might otherwise be struggling. I enjoy passing on that knowledge and support through my training sessions and it means a lot to be a part of that. I am also currently undertaking my Master’s in SEND and Inclusion with the University of Birmingham.

Hello, I’m Lisa Phillips and I have been working with YMCA Trinity Group since 2018. Prior to this, I had the pleasure of working for YMCA in Sydney, Australia.

I am one of the Senior Trainers and have a background in Counselling, Coaching and Training.

I really enjoy working with YMCA, as I get to meet so many amazing people both at HQ and also when out and about running training sessions.

Training is my passion so it is great to be able to facilitate the great content that YMCA offers in its wide range of workshops and training courses.

Hello, my name is Vicky Keating and I have worked for YMCA Trinity Group since October 2021 as a Mental Health Trainer.

Working for a charity that supports young people is a real passion of mine. The Mental Health Services team are full of enthusiastic people where everyone is pulling together for a common aim.

I am an accredited counsellor, with experience of working with young people which benefits my role as a mental health trainer.

Hello, my name is Denise and I moved to Suffolk in July 2021. Since September 2021 I have been working as a Counsellor and Trainer for YMCA Trinity Group in primary and secondary settings. Before this, I lived and worked in Surrey often working alongside YMCA on several projects so I am very aware of the incredible support they can offer to young people. Working to improve the mental health of young people has never been more important and as a counsellor with over 20 years of experience, I truly believe that with appropriate and skilful support children and young people can move forward from the many life challenges they face.

I have been involved with children and young people all my career, initially as a secondary school teacher rising to leadership and as a member of a Children’s Safeguarding Board. I consider it a privilege to be able to continue to work alongside children and young people in my role as a Counsellor for YMCA Trinity Group.

My name is Roxanne Hunte and I have been working for YMCA since November 2022 as Sessional Trainer.

I have several years of experience in supporting young people and delivering training on how to support people with their mental health, and I am passionate about safeguarding children and young people from harm.

Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working with children, young people, parents/carers and professionals, and I have learned a great deal about, managing mental health issues, advocating on the behalf of others, and writing and delivering training courses.

I love doing the work I do, and continue to build on my skills, knowledge and experience to benefit my role as a sessional trainer with the YMCA.

I’m Christopher Allan, I have worked with the YMCA Trinity Group since January 2024.

My passion lies in working for a charitable organisation that champions the well-being of young people. At the heart of the Mental Health Services team, I find myself surrounded by enthusiastic individuals united in a common purpose.

Throughout my career, I have concentrated on improving the mental health of young people. From Youth Offending Services to Early Help in Children’s Services, as well as employment in colleges and universities, I bring diverse experience in this area. Additionally, I am qualified in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Solution Focus intervention