In my work as a counsellor, I often think of therapy less as something you “do to fix yourself” and more as a dedicated space to think—carefully, honestly, and without the usual pressure to have everything sorted. It’s a regular conversation, at your pace, where we can begin to notice patterns, feelings, and experiences that may otherwise get pushed aside in the busyness of life.

People come to me for many reasons. Sometimes it’s anxiety, low mood, or a relationship that feels stuck or painful. Sometimes it’s a sense of being overwhelmed, or of not quite recognising themselves in the life they are living. And sometimes it’s more subtle than that—a feeling that something needs attention, even if it’s not yet fully formed into words.

The way I work is not about giving advice or quick answers. Instead, I offer a steady, thoughtful space where we can explore what’s going on together. Over time, therapy can help you understand yourself with more clarity, make sense of repeating patterns, and begin to find more choice in how you respond to life.

But I also know that not everyone has a straightforward experience of therapy. Many people come to me after trying it before and feeling disappointed, misunderstood, or unsure what it was actually for. That matters. A difficult or unhelpful experience doesn’t mean therapy won’t work—it often means the fit wasn’t right, or that the timing wasn’t right, or that something important wasn’t able to be spoken about.

When someone tells me about a previous experience that didn’t work, I don’t see it as a problem to get past. I see it as part of the story we begin with. It helps us pay attention to what needs to be different this time, and how we can build something more useful and more honest together.

Therapy with me is not a fixed formula. It’s a relationship built over time, shaped by what you bring, and by what we can think about together along the way.