My Story
My first experience of professional therapy came during my time at university when I was feeling overwhelmed by a combination of academic and personal challenges. Having that space every week to be listened to and taken seriously without judgement helped me stop feeling like I was drowning. It also served to open a lot of doors in my mind, leading me down a path of accepting aspects of myself that I had previously not acknowledged and confronting issues from my past that up to that point I had simply buried. While that is a road I am still walking, the difference between the person I was then and who I am now is profound. This is why I offer these services myself, and why I advocate for people to seek out therapy; I have felt for myself how big an impact they can have.
My Journey
When I first went to university it was to study medicine; the drive to help people being mistaken for wanting to be a doctor. I ultimately did not make it through first year. When I looked back on what I enjoyed most, it was the mock consultations with actors, sitting down with people to talk through their problems; that was what made me realise I wanted this career. Six years of study later, sitting down with people to hear their stories remains one of my favourite experiences.
My Specialty
I am acutely aware of how both queerness and neurodiversity are misunderstood and misrepresented, both in the therapeutic field and more widely, and so I am passionate about creating a service that takes these issues and needs seriously, offering people the help they need in a way that works for them without fear of being judged or patronised.
My Approach
Some people view CBT as rigid and form-driven, but I believe the tools should serve the therapy, not dictate it. My approach is client-centered and flexible; I tailor each session to what the client needs at that moment. If I can see the client just needs to talk through what has happened that week then any other plans for the session are put to one side. Ultimately it is the client's session, and I work with them to make sure it best suits their needs.
Why Choose CBT
CBT is about empowering you to recognise what changes you feel are needed in your life and helping you find the strength to enact those changes. My job as a therapist is not to tell you what to do, but to help you decide what you feel is the best course of action. You as the client are in control; one of the first things you will be asked to do in a course of CBT is to decide on a goal, a quantifiable change to an aspect of your current life that we can use as a gauge for progress. We will also work together to agree on a task at the end of every session to complete during the following week, something to test your boundaries and demonstrate your ability to develop outside of the therapy room. You may have seen it said that CBT is about 'training you to be your own therapist', and this collaborative process that puts you in the driving seat is a big part of that picture.
CBT is for you if…
You are finding your anxiety is getting in the way of your day to day life, preventing you from taking action.
You are struggling to find motivation, have lost interests in things that used to bring you joy.