We all experience fear in life, in fact, it’s a given. It’s meant to happen to keep us safe and alert us to danger. Sometimes our systems go haywire and this leads to anxiety. This can be due to past trauma or difficult life experiences. Other times we don’t really know why we feel anxious we just do. Our minds work overtime, telling us all the awful things that could happen, or all the terrible things we’ve said and done. This can make us feel terrible and it is exhausting. Fear and anxiety can also come with distressing bodily experiences, such as panic attacks, pounding heart, excessive sweating, shaking and more. I will help you ease your emotional and physical symptoms. I will get to know you and your unique story, and with this in mind, we will work together to calm your mind and body. You will leave feeling more confident, you’ll be able to think clearly and you’ll be secure in the knowledge that you are capable to look after yourself in what may previously have felt like some of your worst or most anxiety provoking situations.
Life is tough, sometimes the things we experience in life, knock us for six. Sometimes we can’t pin it to a particular experience, we just don’t feel good in ourselves, we feel tired of life and the whole thing can seem pointless. This is OK. I actually think this is quite normal when we live on this earth for potentially such a long time, it’s ok to feel fed up of life and not want to continue. I just DON’T want you to act on the thoughts and feelings. That is why it’s so important to seek help. Whether with me or Samaritans or anyone else you feel comfortable talking to. If you can let me know how you’re feeling and the thoughts you’re having we can face them together. Having volunteered at the Samaritans for a number of years I deeply care about people not feeling alone when they are feeling suicidal. I would be honoured if you choose me to sit beside you in these difficult feelings. I truly believe together we can find a way to help you face life and get through this.
I have worked with many Neurodivergent clients and I am humbled to be given an insight into the unique way they experience the world. Often when we start out clients are struggling with how their neurodivergence impacts them in the world and don’t yet see their neurodivergence positively. From anxiety and sleep problems, to struggles with holding down a job and maintaining friendships and relationships. If you are neurodivergent I will help you workout how best to look after yourself in a world that is geared towards a neurotypical normalcy. I will help you find self-acceptance and a way to live freely as yourself, fully embracing your uniqueness and the wonders you bring to the world.
As a mum to a 10 year old autistic son who also has dyspraxia. I know the highs and lows of parenting a Neurodivergent child. I absolutely love his invitation to join him in seeing the world in a different way and lose my inhibitions to enjoy things in unusual ways, as he does. I also know the heartbreak of missed milestones and other parents' comparisons against their children. I know the hidden tears in the bathroom when you hear about the birthday parties of school friends that your child hasn't been invited to and the knife in the heart of the birthday party you organise that no one RSVPs to! I see you. Whatever your experience of parenting, whether similar to mine or different. I'm here for you. When you're ready to reach out for support, I'm here to listen, as a therapist and as a fellow parent who "gets it."
Couples often come to see me because they're struggling to communicate. They find it hard to remember they're on the same team and end up arguing and falling out rather than being able to work through things that arise in the usual course of a relationship. Finances can raise issues, as can parenting. Enjoying a healthy sex life can be hard when life gets in the way, or you have differing sex drives or desires. Sometimes, it can be hard to get on the same page when it seems you have different priorities. I can help you explore anything that you find challenging in relationships, I can help you stay calm, present and focused on what you want to achieve. So that whenever something crops up in your relationship, you both feel like you can handle it and pull together rather than fall apart. If you're feeling like you're at breaking point, sometimes the work is about acknowledging that it might be time to call it a day and to work towards a healthy separation, where you can look back at your time together as a unique chapter of your life.
Death is an inevitable part of life, but when someone you love passes away, nothing can prepare you for the grief you will experience. The grieving process is unique for each person and takes time. Grief can make people act strangely around us, like they're scared of upsetting us or like we might break. This can sometimes lead to bereaved people withdrawing, at a time when they need the most support. As they don't know how people are going to respond. As death and grief aren't often spoken about in society, it can leave people worrying about how to respond and the bereaved person feeling isolated and lost. Please don't feel you have to be alone, if family and friends are also struggling and you feel like you don't want to burden them, I can offer a safe space for you to feel cared for and welcomed in your grief so you can acknowledge your loss in ways that feel right for you.
I enjoy working with the LGBTQIA+ community, and I am GSRD affirming. I understand that sexuality can be fluid, and relationships can take any form. I am passionate about helping people explore what suits them and what feels authentic for their life. I understand sexuality can be complex and fluid. I was raised Catholic and now identify as agnostic. Growing up, there was never any discussion of sexuality or anything other than the heteronormative and monogamous relationships. So when I found myself attracted to women, I felt there was nowhere to turn. Having had my own therapy as a safe space to explore, I came out as a later life lesbian and dissolved my marriage. I now identify as Queer. Having felt lost and restricted by societal norms for many years, I am passionate about helping people explore their sexuality and gender and allowing them to explore what feels authentic and true for them so they can fully express themselves as they wish and live their life, confidently, happily and healthily.