My background initially is in Nursing.  I knew that I really wanted to work in a caring profession, supporting people through their most difficult times. However, the pressures of the NHS became apparent, and I felt I could no longer offer patients enough one-to-one time; I felt I really wanted to spend more time with each unique person.

I went through some personal life changes along the way, experiencing pregnancy losses, followed by birth trauma when becoming a Mum and postnatal depression. All of which affected me profoundly and helped me to take the plunge into realising a long-held dream of becoming a counsellor. I felt so passionate about other women not having to go through difficult experiences alone, and to improving the experiences of women; so this then informed and motivated my counselling training.  I understand the feelings of grief, exhaustion, loneliness, anxiety and overwhelm that women can experience in Motherhood, as I have felt them myself and come through them.  I also now have the professional tools and training to help women to deal with these feelings.  Since working as a therapist I have supported many Mums to challenge their inner critics, prioritise their needs more, have difficult conversations with partners and find themselves again after losing their identity to Motherhood.  I'd love to help you too.

Alongside my role as a Counsellor, I have trained in Perinatal Mental Health Peer Support and this helped me in my Volunteer role for the charity PANDAS, where I volunteered to support parents through pregnancy and parenthood, via supportive email.

I believe passionately about advocating for women and Mums and was a Volunteer with the Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership as a parent rep, where we listened to women’s experiences in order to help develop and improve maternity services in Leeds. 

Alongside this, I’m currently a Counsellor in Women’s Charity Services at a Women’s Centre, where I support women in many varied and wide-ranging areas, such as relationship difficulties, domestic abuse, sexual abuse, loss and grief, anxiety and depression, anger and rage; difficulties in motherhood; hormonal issues such as PMDD; sexuality issues; and neurodiversity challenges.

I undertake my private practice as part of Arbour Counselling and Psychotherapy, a small collective of therapists, in our therapy room in Chapel Allerton, Leeds.

I have been a Samaritans telephone listener volunteer, so I can help with any more difficult feelings of distress or despair without any judgement.  

Get in touch via email or text to book a free introductory call. I look forward to hearing from you.