My Journey to Becoming a CBT and EMDR Therapist

17 and curious

At seventeen, I learned about Phineas Gage, a railway worker who experienced a severe brain injury and yet somehow survived, going on to live with remarkably few lasting difficulties. His story sparked my fascination with how our minds shape our relationships, emotions, and sense of self.

From studying the brain to understanding people

My curiosity led me to study Psychology with Cognitive Neuroscience (BSc) at the University of Leicester, volunteering at a night student support service and working in the students’ union. Conversing with students experiencing loneliness, a loss of self, perfectionism, anxiety and low mood — often during those late‑night moments with people who just needed someone to listen — taught me that emotional wellbeing is as important as the science of the brain.

After moving to the South West, I completed my MSc in Applied Neuropsychology at the University of Bristol while supporting adults with complex needs. I loved learning about the brain, but I realised something essential: I was most drawn to the human experience — the stories, the emotions, the resilience.

Where my therapeutic identity took shape

Working in neurorehabilitation and mental health inpatient hospitals shaped my understanding of what it means to support someone. I met people in moments of fear, overwhelm, and uncertainty — and what mattered most wasn’t the diagnosis, but the connection.

What I learned is that most people aren't looking for someone to analyse them. They're looking for someone who understands, guides, and helps them find a way forward.

Being alongside people during difficult times didn't make me "interested in suffering." It made me passionate about helping people find steadiness, hope, and tools that genuinely make life feel more manageable.

Why CBT felt like the right path

When I began using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) interventions as an assistant psychologist and clinical research assistant, I saw how empowering it could be. Seeing people regain confidence, clarity, and control made me want to specialise. Becoming an accredited CBT therapist felt like a natural step.

CBT isn't about telling people what to think, or suggesting their thoughts are "wrong". It's about understanding patterns that may once have served a purpose, making sense of experiences, and building strategies that support wellbeing and align with personal values.

I didn't stop there

Since accreditation, I've continued to develop my knowledge and skills because I believe that good therapists never stop learning. Ongoing training allows me to offer therapy that feels personal, thoughtful, effective, and compassionate.

Additional specialist training includes:

• Advanced Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)

• Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)

With a longstanding fascination with neuroscience and psychology, CFT and EMDR allow me to draw upon an understanding of how the brain responds to experiences, emotions, and relationships. These approaches allow me to tailor therapy to each person’s needs, especially when working with shame, trauma, or long‑standing emotional difficulties.

Why me?

Whether you're struggling with anxiety, depression, stress, low self-esteem, trauma, or simply feeling stuck, therapy can provide a space to understand what's happening and move forward with confidence.

My aim is to help you develop the skills, confidence, and understanding needed to support your wellbeing long after therapy has ended. I don't believe in keeping people in therapy longer than necessary. Instead, I believe in helping you develop the tools to become your own therapist.

Today, I work with adults experiencing anxiety disorders, panic, health anxiety, social anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, stress, trauma, and major life transitions. Using evidence-based approaches including CBT, EMDR, and Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), I help people better understand themselves, build resilience, and create lasting change.

My hope is that therapy becomes a space where you feel understood, supported, and empowered to make meaningful changes in your life.