“Just because no one else can heal or do your inner work for you doesn’t mean you can, should, or need to do it alone.” — Lisa Olivera

Welcome

You’re going through a significant change in your life. Things suddenly look different and you’re questioning everything. You feel like you’ve been hit by a freight train and aren’t sure you even have the energy to get up and figure out what’s next.

It might be that you lost someone you loved — a family member, a relationship, or a job — and the pain and sadness feel like too much to bear. You wonder if these feelings will ever go away. Nothing is the same, and the future you had hoped for no longer exists.

It might be that you’ve learned you are neurodivergent. Perhaps you suspected for a while, or maybe the news came out of the blue. Either way, the world looks very different now. You might have just been diagnosed and left with no support, or you are stuck on the agonisingly long waiting list wondering if you’ll ever get there. The information came with a relief because things have just clicked and made sense, but at the same time you mourn all the lost time and wonder what’s next.

You might have just found out that you’re going to be a parent. Excitement might be mixed with anxiety. You’re worried about work, birth, who you are supposed to be as a parent. How will you not screw this up? How are you going to manage?

Or perhaps you have become a parent and are finding the new world overwhelming. Sleepless nights contributing to exhaustion, you’re not sure whether what you’re doing is right or wrong. You are in pain, feel lonely and under so much pressure to have everything under control.

If any of this feels familiar, you don’t have to go through it alone. Counselling can be a space where you ca pause, breathe, and share what’s on your mind without judgement. Together, we can make sense of what you’re experiencing, explore what feels too heavy to carry by yourself, and begin to find a way forward that feels right for you.

I want to find out more.

What I Can Help You With

How are you today?

But really, how are you feeling? What is happening in your life and what's brought you here today?

Whether you know exactly what it is that is causing you difficulty, or you just feel off but can't really put a finger on it, you are very welcome in this space.

I can support you with a variery of feelings and experiences, with particular focus on:

Making sense of your life and your world following a loss or bereavement
Identity, masking, late diagnosis, and all things relating to being neurodivergent
Life complexities relating to fertility, pregnancy, birth and parenting.

Bereavement or loss

It might feel like your heart is being ripped out of your chest over and over again. Or you might feel a heaviness inside your whole body, making you unable to move. The feelings of sadness, despair and longing are so strong that you cannot bear them a minute longer. Or you feel relief, mixed in with other emotions, making is confusing and sometimes bringing waves of shame.

You might feel completely numb and disconnected, as if you’re surrounded by a thick fog… You might be unable to stop crying; or perhaps unable to start. You go to sleep exhausted, and the moment you wake up, you get the feeling of dread and loss hitting you like a sledgehammer.

The loss might have been very sudden, or you have seen it coming for a while. But you want things back to how they were, you want the person to come back to your life and things to feel safe, familiar and happy again. Everyone around you seems to have moved on, but you feel stuck and lonely. You feel like you cannot talk about your loss because others won't understand; or they will give you a well-meaning advice that just makes you feel so alone.

In counselling, we can explore your loss or grief together.

🟡We will look at how the grief works, and you can understand what to expect.

🟡You will be able to make sense of your feelings and emotions; yes, even the anger and the relief, they are okay too.

🟡You can share the story of your loss and find ways to continue moving forward in life, feeling stronger and more hopeful again.

🟡You will be able to process your loss at your pace and on your terms; without pressure to “feel better” or “get over it” and without expectations.

ADHD, Autism, AuDHD

(This content is being updated)

Pregnancy, birth and parenting

(This content is being updated)

I want to book a Free 20 minutes call.

What You Can Expect

Starting therapy can be nerve wracking, whether this is the first time you're trying it, or whether you've experienced it before.

Here is what you can expect from therapy sessions with me:

I welcome you just as you are.

You are unique. Whatever you choose to talk about, that's okay. Would you prefer to doodle or sing? That's all okay. Do you want listen to your favourite song to help you start? Great! Let's do it. Do you just want to sit in silence for a bit? That's okay too, its your choice how we work together.

Don't stress about swear words.

You are welcome to express yourself with the words that work best for you. I'm not bothered by swear words so if they help you to describe how you feel or share your experiences, go for it.

All feelings are okay.

You might not be sure whether certain feelings or emotions will be accepted, if they are said out loud. You might have experience of feeling judged or being punished for feeling certain way. In counselling sessions with me you can express all emotions and feelings you experience; yes, all of them. Equally, if feelings and emotions aren't something you are used to expressing or identifying, we can explore it together. You are not expected to be fully versed with every emotion, but I invite you to join me in the exploration.

To cry or not to cry?

It is one of those wonderings - Am I expected to cry? How much crying is acceptable? Am I allowed to not cry? My answer to this is: you do what feels right for you. I've experienced sessions with loads of tears and ones that were completely tearless. And if you want to cry but feel uncomfortable, ashamed, embarrassed, we can explore it too.

Honesty with compassion, not judgement.

One of the things I believe are important in therapy is being honest and real. Because if I'm not real, how can I expect you to trust me to be yourself? I am not an expert and will never pretend to be because this doesn't serve your healing. I can assure you, though, that I will be walking by your side in whatever direction you choose to go. And while I do not advise on what you "should" do, we can explore the meaning of your experiences and, supported, you can find your best way forward.

Adapting to your needs.

These sessions are yours and as such I aim to adapt to what you might need to feel safe and comfortable. Do you want to use fidget toys? Or perhaps you need your lighting adjusted? Do you prefer to have a recap of the last session at the start of the next one? Are there any items that bring you comfort that you would like to have with you? Or any stimming behaviours you find comforting? Let me know and let's talk about it.