About

Beyond the Therapy Space

A bit about me...

Outside of my role as a therapist, family is at the heart of my life. I'm a daughter, sister, mum, aunt, wife, daughter-in-law, and a lucky cat mum.

Beyond my different roles music matters a lot to me, and I enjoy a good live concert or gig from time to time. I've also always felt better for some fresh air, so I spend as much time outdoors as I can, and sometimes I've been known to grow vegetables.

I'm unashamidly also a lifelong Moomins fan, and in the past, many moomins before I became a therapist, I've been known to lose hours and days to sewing.

That time, often involved a lot of unpicking of endless seams, particularly in the early days of attempting to master my craft. Thank goodness there were lots of good music discoveries along the way in this whole process too.

A chapter that shaped me

Some of the most important lessons in my life didn't come from a textbook or a lecture theatre. They came from times when the plans I had worked hard for fell away. I have on occasionally felt like I had lost everything, and each time I had to find a different way forward. In total, it took me 20 years to become a therapist, and the road was rarely smooth or straight.

When Plans Change

After my undergraduate studies and experiences in support work, I spent two years working towards a trainee therapist role. When the offer finally came, it felt like the start of everything I had hoped for. Then my husband's career took our family abroad for eight years, and I had to let that goal go before I had even begun.

When we arrived in the USA, the reality of the move sank in. I couldn't work, study or drive, had not prepared myself and I was far from family, friends and everything familiar.

My confidence quickly dropped, and I went through a period of low mood. I know from experience how disorienting it can be when the life you pictured no longer matches the one you're living.

Finding my feet, one step at a time

Things didn't change overnight. Volunteering at a local school gave me connection and a sense of purpose again. There were many key people who supported me along the way, even if they didn't realise how much I needed them at the time, and I feel eternal gratitude to each of them for welcoming me wholeheartedly as they did, because I wasn't always fully confident at that time.

Things began to change when my husband bought me a sewing machine. I taught myself to sew from scratch, I quickly began designing bags and purses, and slowly built a small hobby business. Like our family's attempts at gardening, it took plenty of trial and error, and plenty of patience before anything began to grow and change.

This chapter taught me that change often happens in small steps, that setbacks are part of the process rather than a sign of failure, and that what matters most is to keep going, even when the path looks different from the one we expected, or want. Looking back, I now see that time as a catalyst for growth and change that I never thought possible. By the time we left the states, saying goodbye was bittersweet.

I'll never forget what I discovered once I started paying attention to my thoughts and behaviours again and began to notice what was taking shape around me.

How this shapes the way I work

Your story isn't mine, and I won't assume it is. This experience provided me with a deep respect for how hard change can be, and for the courage it takes to start again. It is part of why I value patience, curiosity and collaboration in my work.

In our sessions, I combine my professional training with that understanding. We go at a pace that feels right for you, we explore what is happening without judgement, and we work together on the small, meaningful steps that matter to you.

When you feel ready

If you're in a chapter of your own that feels uncertain, heavy or hard to make sense of, you don't have to work it out alone. You're welcome to get in touch or book a Foundation Session when the time feels right. You also don't need to have the right words ready. We can start wherever you are.

You are welcome to see some of my sewing creations, and even behind the seams, during the time I was living abroad, and I included some pictures of our family's gardening adventures through the links below.