I live in South Manchester with my partner.  I can often be found pottering in the garden, curled up with a good book, creating weird art, going to local gigs or exercising in my low-fi garage gym (lovingly named the muscle lodge).

I’m a self-confessed nerd, my personal motto is “learning is fun!” I love to read about different approaches to psychotherapy and am particularly fascinated by neuroscience and mindfulness.

In my teens and twenties I experienced challenging circumstances and had some mental health struggles.  These experiences are what led me to working in the caring field and to train as a psychotherapist.  I strive to be the supportive person I would have wanted when I was going through hard times.

Having experienced therapy services both as a client and as a professional, I understand that starting therapy can feel a bit intimidating and you may not know where to start.   That’s why the first few sessions are about getting to know each other a little better and taking the time to really understand the focus of the therapy.  I also realise that at times therapy can feel heavy or overwhelming.  So we will work together as a team to ensure that the pace feels right; feeling safe and cared for is the most important part of our relationship.  But there will also be times when we may decide to push our comfort zone a little, it’s in these moments I often find people make the most progress.

I believe that every person is far more than a diagnosis or label. My approach centers on seeing and understanding each client as a unique individual with their own story.  I work in an integrative and flexible way, tailoring my approach to meet the needs of each client. My own life experience has deeply informed my practice, giving me a compassionate perspective that goes beyond books smarts; I bring a lot of my own 'street smarts' too.  I'm the sort of therapist that you can have a laugh with and can swear and be real around.  Clients tell me that they like that I'm creative, a bit clumsy and how I love to use weird metaphors or draw out diargrams and doodle together. 

My long-term goal is to share my knowledge and skills more widely to ensure that people have access to support through free and low-cost resources.  Consider following me on social media where I share information and tips about mental health and general well-being.

To learn more about my therapy approach please read my blogs about CBT, CFT and EMDR (coming soon).