Devon Counselling College Tutors
Jane Schindler-Ord FdA MNCPS (Accred)
Group Facilitator & Course Director
Hello, I am Jane, and I write and co-facilitate many of the courses at Devon Counselling College.
I call myself ‘the accidental psychotherapist!’ and I have been interested in how people ‘work’ and relate to each other for a long time, initially studying psychology and sociology. This led to my interest in counselling, and, having had some excellent therapy to help me with my mental health issues, I embarked on life-changing training in Gestalt counselling in 2005. Initially, I was only ever going to do the level 2 training, but curiosity got the better of me. Before I knew it, I had trained to level 6 (counselling supervision) and completed a foundation degree in counselling and psychotherapy.
Since qualifying, I have worked in private practice, in the NHS with women who experienced childhood sexual abuse and trauma, and I have counselled with various charities. I ran a counselling and mental health service for young people in Torbay for seven years. I have also helped run a local affordable counselling agency for over a decade.
I’ve enjoyed tutoring counselling courses and workshops since 2011, including writing and running several diplomas and other courses with James. I have written and taught a course in mental health awareness nationally across the UK.
I have gone on to study other areas of therapy that interest me: CBT, Transactional Analysis, family therapy, supervision, mindfulness and more recently, Eco Therapy and Shinrin Yoku (Forest Bathing). My professional, personal, and spiritual worlds are ever-evolving, and this helps me to be an approachable and well-informed tutor.
James Schindler-Ord BSc MNCPS (Accred)
Group Facilitator, Admin & IT
Hi, I’m James, and I co-facilitate DCC courses and do the college admin and, somewhat reluctantly, the IT.
My counselling journey started in 2005 as a quest to help and understand a friend’s depression. I have always had a curious mind about psychology and an interest in people-watching, so becoming a counsellor felt like a natural progression for me.
I trained in Gestalt therapy with John & Annie Watkins up to my level 4 diploma and then went on to complete a level 6 qualification in body process psychotherapy with John Watkins and Sue Chance. I have also trained in Clinical Supervision, working with couples, CBT, NLP, Shinrin Yoku (forest bathing), Hypnotherapy and Sound Therapy.
Julie Wyman BSc (Hons) MBACP (Accred)
Group Facilitator & Consultant to Devon Counselling College
I’m Julie – one of the founders of Devon Counselling College in 2006.
Counselling felt like a natural progression for me as I entered my forties. A previous career in HR and some major life events had left me with big questions about myself, my purpose and my place in the world – I have to add a note of caution here – as soon as I got somewhere near my answers, they were quickly replaced by further questions…that seems to be the nature of all personal development work!
My search for answers and inquisitive nature accompany me into my sixth decade; I have an insatiable thirst for knowledge and have never stopped studying since I left school at 16, armed with very few qualifications.
I have worked therapeutically in a variety of settings for many years now, and it is difficult to describe the eclectic nature of what I actually do these days: I love the generous and relational ethos of the Rogerian approach, and my heart lies in the deep reflective personal inquiry that is woven through my roles as therapist, supervisor and coach. Together with this I am an NLP and creative arts practitioner and often incorporate this into my support of other peoples’ inquiries into their big questions; encouraging them to take the time to identify personal strengths as well as areas for growth.
I am a strong advocate for innovative and creative approaches to learning, and when it comes to training and group facilitation, I maintain a strong belief that every person has the potential to learn and develop, and it is very special to be able to witness those discoveries for another person.
Helen Hoyte
DCC Associate and Tutor
Hello, my name is Helen,
I’m a qualified therapeutic counsellor, coach, and clinical supervisor, with a background in complementary therapies, energy work, and holistic wellbeing. I have been running my own business, since 2011, initially focused on holistic therapies and training, and over time evolving into a rich blend of counselling, coaching, and teaching.
I’ve been a practising life coach and then counsellor since 2018, supporting clients across a wide range of needs including ADHD, neurodiversity, anxiety, trauma, and personal growth. I am deeply committed to inclusive, neurodivergent-friendly approaches and bring a trauma-informed multimodal approach and perspective into all my work.
With over a decade of experience teaching complementary therapies and holistic health practices across the South West, I’m passionate about blending physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing into the learning environment. My teaching style is warm, engaging, and rooted in real-life practice, drawing on my extensive background in body-mind therapies, yoga philosophies, energy work, and self-regulation techniques.
I am curious, sociable, and enthusiastic, with a love for learning and a natural flair for creating safe, empowering spaces where students and clients alike can grow and thrive. Whether I’m teaching, counselling, supervising, or coaching, my goal is to inspire others to step into their own potential and live well.
Victoria Wren
DCC Associate and Tutor
Hello,
I’m Victoria, a qualified, accredited, integrative counsellor and counselling supervisor with 25+ years of experience in various settings as a therapeutic educator, teacher, mentor, SENDCo, senior leader, and trustee, with specialisms in nature-based education and SEND. You can learn more about my background and counselling work here: https://www.victoriawrencounselling.com/
I run a thriving early morning – evening – weekend counselling practice, and in my full-time weekday role I lead a schools teacher development programme for a charitable organisation (rmt.org) and I’m completing a PhD with University of Exeter exploring the effect of nature based practical craft education on children and young people. I love my education, counselling and supervision work, and I love working with people.
Devon Counselling College Assessors
Karina Marchant
DCC Associate and Assessor
Hello, my name is Karina and I am an assignment assessor for Devon Counselling College. I am also the founder of the Be You Wellbeing Hub in Paignton that offers a variety of wellbeing services for adults and children. My work includes therapy for adults and children, couple’s therapy, and clinical supervision. The hub is also now a placement provider for trainee counsellors.
I studied BSc Psychology at the Univeristy of the West of England, followed by a PGCE at the University of Plymouth. For a few years, I was a primary teacher before continuing my studies to become a therapist. I completed my level 4 with Dartmoor Centre for Counselling and Psychotherapy. Since qualifying, I have completed the following advanced diplomas at Devon Counselling College; Children and Young Person’s Counselling Diploma, Clinical Supervision Diploma, and Advanced Gestalt Diploma.
I am passionate about all things therapy and love being involved with Devon Counselling College.
Lisa Edevane-Thorne
DCC Associate and Assessor
Hello, I’m Lisa — an animal, history and arts lover, and a therapist, tutor and marker.
I’m grateful for my non-linear route into becoming a therapist. My professional background began in teacher training before moving through finance then employment law, giving me a broad grounding in education, communication, people and the wider social and working contexts that shape our lives.
I took maternity leave, which unexpectedly became two decades away from formal employment while I raised my children. My eldest son was born with a rare genetic condition, and life had to be shaped around his needs. Those years brought a different kind of learning. Through voluntary work, advocacy and community roles, I became a trustee, committee member and later Chair, as well as working as an advocate and support worker. I gained experience across SEN, Neurodiversity, early years and bereavement, and was fortunate to work with organisations including Barnardo’s, Local Heroes, Action for Children and Marie Curie, and more recently providing Vocational Rehabilitation Consultancy for Able Futures, and Initial Assessment administration, matching clients to therapists for Working Minds.
Returning to professional life in my fifties was daunting, but it gave me a renewed appreciation of experience, perspective and the courage to begin again.
As a tutor and marker, I want students to feel both supported and challenged. For me, counselling education is not about learning theories by rote. It is about curiosity and translation to real world experience. My hope is that students leave sessions and receive feedback thinking more consciously and with greater confidence in their own developing therapeutic voice.
I attain to bring the same curiosity and openness to my own professional development and to encourage it in others, and it is an honour to be part of the DCC community and to contribute to an environment that has provided me with so much personal and professional growth.
Samantha Martin
DCC Associate and Assessor
Hello, I’m Samantha. I’m an assignment assessor for the Level 4 Diploma at Devon Counselling College. I’m a qualified integrative counsellor, working with adults in my private practice in Newton Abbot and online.
At the moment, I divide my time between my private practice and my work as an adviser and trainer for a charity in Torbay. Both roles keep me connected to people, learning, and the uniqueness of each person’s story — allowing space for the curiosity which drew me to counselling in the first place.
Before becoming a counsellor, I spent 26 years in education as a teacher. Teaching taught me a great deal about listening, learning, the importance of adapting to individual needs and of forming effective working relationships. These ideas continue to influence how I work today. My interest in counselling goes back to 1998, when I first completed an Introduction to Counselling course. Then in 2018, it felt like the right time to return to that long-standing interest and train as a counsellor.
Learning has been a constant thread running through my life — it’s at the heart of how I see myself and what I can bring to my work. I’m now really enjoying being able to use my skills as a counsellor and my experience as a teacher in a role which supports the development and confidence of new counsellors in training.
Willow Bork
DCC Associate and Assessor
Hello, I’m Willow, and I am an assignment assessor for the Diploma Courses at Devon Counselling College. I have been assessing students’ work at various counselling colleges for over 5 years. As well as doing assessment work I am a children’s therapist, registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and specialising in therapeutic work with children and young people. In addition to one-to-one counselling sessions, I also offer guidance to parents, drawing on my background as a social worker and fostering social worker to provide 1-1 sessions and practical resources that promote healthy family dynamics and effective parenting techniques.
Honourable Mentions
Jenny Jackson
This page would not be complete without the inclusion of our friend Jenny Jackson, who taught Julie up to her Level 4 Diploma. Jenny, along with Julie, founded DCC in 2006 and left due to a move to Gloucester in 2012. Her passion for, and strong belief in the value of relationship has had a huge impact on the way we work.
