What has counselling ever done for me?

My Counselling Journey

So what has counselling ever done for me?  I am often asked what's the point of counselling - that's what friends and family are for!  But ask yourself do you really feel able to tell them anything?  What if it changed their perception of you? What if you say something that causes harm to you or them?  I was one of these people who thought they could talk about anything to anyone - not always the first to notice if it was uncomfortable for them either!  And then I kind of fell into counselling ...

My personal journey took a significant turn when I experienced postnatal depression. Navigating the NHS system during this challenging time was disillusioning, leading me to seek medication while feeling increasingly isolated. Growing up with a belief in the 'pull yourself together' and 'must try harder' mentality, coupled with a self-diagnosed clumsiness and forgetfulness, had already impacted my self-esteem. Yet, I’ve always possessed a relentless drive to help others improve.

Pursuing a Psychology degree later in life deepened my knowledge but left a yearning for a more profound connection with people. The challenges my daughter faced during her GCSEs, compounded by navigating the mental health services, highlighted a critical gap in support for young people, their families and those with neurodivergent traits. This inspired me to embark on a counselling career.

My own experiences with depression fuelled my desire to support others. Unexpectedly, the counselling journey became a profound personal exploration. I discovered a deep-rooted self-criticism and low self-worth. Through therapy and supervision, I uncovered an ADHD diagnosis, which provided a missing piece to my self-understanding and changed my world.

This journey has transformed me. It’s not about changing my life dramatically, but about reframing my perspective. For the first time, I view myself with compassion rather than criticism. A perspective I could never have achieved without the support of counselling, no matter how hard I tried.  For me counselling is like going to the opticians, but for your mind!  Without my new prescription I wouldn't have been able to focus clearly - no matter how hard I tried on my own!

This self-compassion is the cornerstone of my approach to the  psychotherapy I offer. I provide unwavering support and understanding to those who seek help, drawing on both my professional knowledge and personal experiences.