I understand first hand the impact that low self-worth can have on your life.
I grew up in a chaotic home where I didn’t feel heard. I was bullied at school due to my size, and I sought validation from outside to feel worthy.
I played the 'Good Girl', dutifully doing the things I was expected to do, to feel loved and accepted by society.
For years I suppressed and numbed my emotions with food, which led to binge eating disorder and addictions to opiate painkillers, dieting and exercise.
I felt like I was screaming for help but no one was hearing me and I experienced medical gaslighting first hand...
My path to healing from binge eating & addictions.
In response, I sought my own understanding by working in mental health where I found great comfort in caring for others.
As I trained to be a mental health nurse in 2013, I saw more injustices...I realised I was helping people at a surface level, but not achieving the long lasting change that they needed.
It was at this time that my exercise and eating addictions peaked. I was teaching upwards of 20 classes a week (in addition to working full time in mental health), without nourishing my body with food.
Eventually, I burnt out my body in the fitness industry and then my mind working in mental health as a Mental Health Nurse. I was constantly striving with unrelenting standards that I had put on myself, mixed with a culture that rewards constant striving and dieting. I pushed for help with my binge eating, anxiety and exercise issues.
I discovered the power of evidence based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, including schema CBT, when combined with body based approaches such as yoga, meditation and breathwork.
I trained as a BABCP accredited CBT Therapist in 2021 after working in a variety of clinical settings as a Mental Health Nurse and have helped thousands of adults and children in NHS and higher education settings over the last 13 years.
clinically trained, spiritually inclined
Professional Development
Recent Continuing Professional Development Workshops and Courses
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CBT-E (Enhanced CBT for Eating Disorders) CREDO (Centre for Research on Eating Disorders Oxford) Training Certificate - 2023
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CBT- T Training - 2 day course through UEL provided via NHS - 2023
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Introduction to Somatic Experiencing - 2 day course - November 2023
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BABCP workshops on ACT for Insomnia, Menopause, CBT for Women Survivors of Sexual Assault
Upcoming training:
EMDR part 1 - July 2024
ARFID, PDA and PICA workshop
Education/Qualifications
2021-2022
Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy (BABCP accredited Level 2)
King's College London
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Longest running UK-based CBT course.
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Multidisciplinary teaching team from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) and South London & Maudsley (SLaM) NHS Foundation Trust clinical units.
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Covering all anxiety/depression presentations including social anxiety, OCD, panic, health anxiety, agoraphobia, phobias, trauma focused CBT for PTSD
2020-2021
Certificate in Person Centred Counselling Skills
Norwich Wellbeing Centre
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Skills of the person-centred approach as developed by the late Carl Rogers and his associates
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Exploration of the implications of person-centred theory and practice for spiritual understanding and development.
2013-2016
BSc Mental Health Nursing
Birmingham City University
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Developed clinical skills and experience needed to be a professional practitioner.
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Spent time on placement in different clinical mental health settings within the Birmingham and Solihull area, as well as academic study (placement areas: acute adult male/female psychiatric was, rehab psychiatric ward, older adults, forensic CAMHS, liaison psychiatry, community mental health) in a diverse, multicultural area.
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Accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and Registered Nurse status
2007-2008
PGCE Secondary Science (Biology)
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Spent a year on this course, but unfortunately had to withdraw
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After this, I spent 5 years teaching part time supply cover instructing in Norfolk, Suffolk and Birmingham
2003-2006
BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences
University of East Anglia
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Studied a range of biological modules including Cell Biology, Infection & Immunity, Human Nutrition, Human Physiology, Molecular Biology and Genetics, Biochemistry, Cancer Biology
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Other core sciences modules in mathematics, statistics and chemistry.
NHS, Healthcare & Higher Education Experience
Birmingham & Solihull: NHS Settings including
Acute Psychiatric Wards (male/female), Forensic CAMHS & Adult, CAMHS inpatient (8 years), Community MH and Crisis Team
Bank shifts on:
Eating Disorders Inpatient Ward
Forensic Womens Ward
Mother and Baby Unit
University Mental Health/Wellbeing Disability Services (4 years)
Lecturer in teaching Nursing Associates
Secondary schools in Norfolk, Suffolk and Birmingham (5 years)
Group fitness Instructor: Gyms/community/leisure centres across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire & Birmingham/West Midlands (10 years)
You will feel seen, heard, witnessed and empowered to make transformative changes in your life.
No matter what your past trauma and experience, I can help you to regain power over your life and find freedom within. I use a 'top down and bottom up' combination of Western evidence based clinical CBT and more Eastern based holistic somatic techniques including EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, Yoga and Breathwork.
Consider me your advocate and champion.
