Choosing a therapist is a very personal decision. Qualifications matter, but so does finding someone you feel comfortable enough to be yourself with.

My path into psychotherapy wasn't a straightforward one.

I first studied psychology, completing a BSc (Hons), an MSc in Research Methods and Statistics and later a PhD in Experimental Psychology. My career took me through universities, the NHS, the Scottish Government and the private sector, where I spent years working in research and analytic roles. It is important to note that my background in psychology is in research rather than clinical psychology. You can read more about the different psychology training routes here.

Although I loved research, there came a point in my own life when intellectual understanding was no longer enough. During a particularly difficult period, personal therapy became an important part of finding my way forward.

Experiencing therapy from the client's chair changed my understanding of people and myself. I became interested not only in how we explain human experience, but how it is lived, shared and ultimately transformed within relationship.

That curiosity eventually led me to retrain as a psychotherapist. Looking back, it now feels less like changing careers and more like finding the work I was meant to do.

Alongside my professional training, I've spent many years in my own personal therapy. It has taught me that meaningful change rarely comes from advice or insight alone. More often, it begins when we feel deeply understood by another person.

That experience continues to shape both who I am and how I meet the people who come to see me.

Before studying to become a psychotherapist, I worked in a wide variety of roles, including university research, healthcare, government and the voluntary sector. Those experiences introduced me to people from many different walks of life and showed me that emotional pain doesn't discriminate. It affects people regardless of intelligence, success or background.

Today, alongside my private practice, I continue to undertake regular clinical supervision, remain engaged in my own personal therapy, and pursue ongoing professional development. I'm currently completing the final stage of my UKCP-accredited training in Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy.

I've always been someone who enjoys learning, and that hasn't changed. I read widely around attachment, shame, trauma and how our earliest relationships shape our sense of self. My master's dissertation explores shame and how healing can emerge through relationship - an area that continues to influence both my thinking and my clinical work.

I enjoy good coffee, reading, documentaries and continuing to learn Spanish (slowly!). Growing up, dance was a big part of my life. I performed regularly, completed examinations and loved being on stage. Music was equally important to me. I played the flute in ensembles and as a soloist, and was fortunate to win a number of competitions along the way. I could often be found lost in the pages of The Lord of the Rings or books by Ursula Le Guin or C. S. Lewis (there wasn't much YouTube back then!). These days, I enjoy a quieter rhythm of life, spending time with my husband, being in the countryside and appreciating the simple things. I like to think the curiosity, kindness and humour I value in everyday life naturally find their way into my work as a therapist.