Anxiety is one of the most common mental health difficulties and is something I have worked with often in the therapy room. It can show up as constant worry, racing thoughts, ruminating, panic attacks, physical symptoms such as a tight chest, nausea, light headedness, difficulty sleeping or a feeling of being hypervigilant and constantly on edge.

While anxiety is a natural response to stress, it can become overwhelming and unpleasant when it overbears and interferes with your daily life. You might start to avoid doing things like leaving the house or meeting up with friends because of how you are feeling, this may cause temporary relief but will not ease your anxiety in the long run.

Many people struggle silently, believing they should be able to ‘cope better’ but anxiety is not a personal failure or anything to be ashamed about.

There will be a reason, either in your awareness or not as to why you are experiencing anxiety symptoms. Through counselling with me I can help you understand what is driving your anxiety , develop practical tools to manage anxious thoughts and learn techniques to manage panic and stress.

Whether you are dealing with generalised anxiety, social anxiety, panic attacks or stress-related anxiety, therapy can help you feel more balanced, a reduction in your symptoms and able to enjoy life again.

Grief due to loss, is no doubt something that all of us will experience at some point in our lives. How the process goes for us can be helped by having people around us in the way of friends, family, support groups or professional support. Grieving looks different for everyone and expressing your grief is individual too. Talking may be too difficult some days but other days that may be all you need to do. Writing a letter, journalling or looking back at photos and keepsakes are all ways which can help ease the intense emotions felt when grieving.

Being a carer can bring a mix of emotions, fulfilment, pride, joy, stress, resentment, exhaustion, the list goes on. All of your feelings are valid. You may be caring for the person who would normally be your ‘go to’ for sharing such emotions but find this is not currently an option or appropriate. I can provide you with your much deserved space to offload. I have experience of supporting carers through my work at a wonderful local community hospice.

Low self-esteem and a lack of confidence are very common issues that can affect how you see yourself, your relationships and your ability to enjoy life. Having low self-esteem and confidence can show up as self-doubt, people-pleasing, a fear of failure and feeling ‘not good enough’ even when others see your strengths. Low self-esteem often develops through past experiences, relationships or ongoing stress. Overtime it can impact your mental health, contributing to anxiety and depression.

In therapy we can discover the roots of your low self-esteem and start to build new, healthier ways of thinking about yourself and adopting self compassion.

Having a baby is one of those big life events that you can never be fully prepared for. You may take to motherhood with ease, have a straight forward birth and have a good support network, or the opposite on some or all accounts. Either way, often the drastic change in lifestyle can leave you feeling a shadow of your former self. You may have had a traumatic birth, developed a mental health illness or had a pre-existing one rear it’s head again. The lack of sleep and demands of a new baby leave little space and time for you to take stock and consider yourself and your wellbeing. If you can resonate with some of this, I could be there for you, to support you, whilst you are supporting someone else.

To sit with you when you may be feeling isolated, anxious or low in mood. When you want to start doing something for you and your wellbeing. I hope my lived experience and training will allow me to help you on your peri-natal journey.