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Meet The Management Team
Sharon Thomas
Clinical Services Director | CEO
Sharon is a co-founder of Care To Listen and Clinical Service Director, responsible for overseeing all clinical matters and providing first-hand support to the large team of counsellors. Sharon is a qualified EMDR therapist and Supervisor, holds a Higher National Diploma in Integrative Counselling & Psychotherapy, and is BACP Accredited
Vanessa Onyuku-Opukiri
Educational Programme Manager
As Educational Programme Manger, Vanessa is responsible for the development of Care To Listen School of Counselling. Vanessa has been with Care To Listen since 2013 and has progressed through the organisation to her current role. She is a very experienced and highly skilled BACP accredited counsellor who also works as one of our group supervisors. Vanessa graduated from Greenwich University with a MSc in Therapeutic counselling in 2015
Nicola Cooper
HR & Operations Manager
Nicola joined us in 2020 to provide invaluable Human Resources and Operations services having previously worked in Executive creative roles. She wanted to learn more about mental health and how it impacts us all. She manages Care To Listen’s recruitment processes and our busy placement programme. Nicola also manages the day to day running of the charity and operation services for our practice. Nicola is also a Qualified Counsellor having studying with our own CTL School of Training.
Kim Man
Clinical Manager
Kim Man is our Clinical Manager having joined Care To Listen when training as a counsellor, she also worked on our Admin team for many years so she has extensive knowledge of how we operate. With years of hands-on experience across the service, Kim has a great understanding of both client support and day-to-day operations. Kim now manages our team of counsellors, deals with safeguarding concerns and manages our MEC and CCC programme, helping to make sure the service runs smoothly and that clients receive the best possible support.
Meet The Trustees
As a registered charity, Care To Listen is supported and overseen by a Board of Trustees who provide strategic direction, governance and accountability. Our trustees play an important role in protecting the charity's values, ensuring we use our resources responsibly and keeping our work focused on our charitable purpose. They bring valuable experience, knowledge and independent oversight, helping us make informed decisions, plan for the future and ensure that we continue to deliver meaningful support to the communities we serve.
Our Board helps safeguard the charity's long-term future, ensuring that Care To Listen remains sustainable, well-managed and committed to making counselling and mental health support accessible to those who need it.
Our Board meets at least 4 times a year, but more often than not, they meet on a monthly basis. They also attend charitable events on our behalf, help establish new working relationships in the community and plan strategy meetings regularly.
Vanessa Blythe
As well as the Chair of Trustees for Care To Listen, Vanessa Blythe is the founder and director of Peace of Mind Services, a professional will writer and estate planning firm based in Croydon. As an Estate Planner Vanessa works with individuals and families to discuss and plan ahead for the expected and unexpected events in life, in order to put their house in order, providing protection for family, loved ones, and home.
Vanessa is a compassionate and dedicated professional with a strong background in communications and client services who provides clear, concise assistance to individuals and families at all stages of the life cycle. She also loves music, singing, reading and being with family and friends.
Lisa Moynihan
Lisa is an Accredited Counsellor and Psychotherapist who has been working in Private Practice since 2015. Before moving into therapeutic work, Lisa spent 20 years in Blue Chip organisations such as Diageo and NatWest, gaining extensive experience across Human Resources, Strategy and Change Management. Throughout her career, a consistent focus has been coaching and supporting people through periods of change, both organisationally and personally.
Lisa has been involved with Care To Listen since 2013, initially joining as a volunteer trainee counsellor. From 2015, she served on the management board, contributing to recruitment and operational matters, and in 2025 she became a member of the Board of Trustees.
Nicole Small
With over two decades of experience in youth justice, Nicole is a qualified probation officer and BACP‑registered counsellor who brings together frontline insight, compassionate practice, and strategic leadership. Her career spans youth justice, health regulation, and education, where she has built a reputation for driving quality, empowering teams, and delivering meaningful outcomes.
Nicole blends people‑centred support with a sharp eye for governance, assurance, and improvement. As a trustee for Care to listen charity, she provides strategic oversight and champions accessible, high‑quality therapeutic services. She also brings her energy to volunteering, contributing to community wellbeing initiatives (especially those involving dogs, which she firmly believes improve absolutely everything). Whether she’s leading operational change, strengthening regulatory standards, or helping organisations deliver their best work, Nicole combines professionalism with warmth, humour, and a passion for creating environments where people can thrive.
Danny Monfries
Danny has been operating a children’s home in Croydon for the past five years, supporting children with social, emotional, and behavioural difficulties. This work is grounded in a deep understanding of trauma-informed practice, safeguarding, and positive behaviour support, alongside close collaboration with local authorities and multi-agency partners to achieve the best outcomes for young people with complex needs. Danny’s professional background spans over two decades working in specialist education settings across inner and outer London, including senior leadership roles within well-regarded SEN schools. His experience includes managing multi-site provision, leading staff teams, and developing high-quality care and support frameworks that prioritise nurture, stability, and long-term development.
As a Trustee of Care to Listen, Danny is passionate about ensuring that accessible, ethical, and effective counselling services are available to those who need them most, and he is committed to supporting the charity’s mission through strong governance, strategic insight, and a values-led approach to care.