A Journey from Athlete to Therapist

Balancing wellbeing with success

Everything you need to know

Take a minute to explore my drop down menus for further information on my therapy practice and scroll down to see my personal story.

  • £100 per hour

  • Sessions are 60 minutes:

    • Face-to-face - The Royal Exchange, Manchester

    • Online via Zoom

    • I am a fully registered therapist with the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) No. 00949627

    • I am a fully accredited mindfulness teacher, accredited by the Breathworks Organisation.

    • I am insured by Holistic Insurance

    • I have a recent DBS

    • BSc in Exercise and health Sciences, at the University of Salford - 3 Years

    • Counselling Skills Diploma at the Manchester City College - 1 year

    • Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy at the University of Salford - 2 years

    • Mindfulness teacher training and advanced teacher training with the Breathworks Organisation - 2 years

    • Masters degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy at the University of Salford - 1 year

    Total = 9 years

    • I worked at Equilibrium health care, an in-patient Psychiatric Hospital as a Occupational Health Assistant for two years helping people suffering from complex mental health difficulties such as psychosis, schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder and severe autism.

    • I worked for an NHS commissioned service for a little over 3 years at both Step 2 (mild to moderate mental health difficulties) and Step 3 (moderate to severe mental health difficulties) delivering online cognitive behavioural therapy, mindfulness courses, and counselling to people suffering from:

      Anxiety, depression, trauma, PTSD, chronic pain and illness, relationship difficulties, terminal diagnoses, health anxiety, OCD, stress, bereavement, low self-esteem, phobias, sexuality, anger , poor sleep, body image difficulties.

    • For 5 years I have been delivering individual and group therapy at the charity Rueben’s Retreat to fathers whose children have died. This was initially heavily concessioned but for 3 years has been pro bono.

    • I have also been practicing privately as a therapist to people in the UK and across Europe for 6 years. The last 5 full time.

    • Academically I have worked on a clinical trial at the University of Manchester for culturally adapted family therapy for people from ethnic backgrounds who have been given a formal complex mental health diagnosis such as schizophrenia or bi-polar disorder. In addition,  I have conducted my own research at the university of Salford on fathers experiences of child loss and what its like to attend a fathers only counsellor led, support group.

  • In 2019, I won the Big Life Creative award. This is given out yearly across the northwest to a pool of about 600 staff working within NHS commissioned services within the Big Life Group.

    The award was for recognition of work I undertook establishing the first mindfulness courses for mental health and long term health conditions within the Eastern Cheshire.

  • If you have a formal diagnosis or suspect you may be suffering from the following issues, unfortunately, I am not the right therapist for you at this time. I would recommend you contact your GP for more support:

    • Bi-polar disorder

    • Psychosis

    • Personality Disorder

    • Gender Dysphoria

    • Present plans to end you own life

“A gateway to deeper fulfillment and mastery”

In my youth I travelled the world as an elite athlete in the sport of Olympic weightlifting. I won many British titles, competitions in Europe, and even a silver medal at the commonwealth youth games in Australia 2004, for England.

In 2009, while traveling in Australia, I was involved in a devastating car accident. A distracted driver collided head-on with my vehicle, leaving me with a fractured spine and severe injuries that led to six surgeries. This was the moment my identity, once tied to athletic success, began to unravel. Chronic pain became something I’d have to forever work with.

Soon after the accident, I tried to push the trauma behind me. A year later, I was backpacking through Central America, pretending everything was fine. I told myself, “I’m over it,”. I was too busy exploring Mayan temples, diving in Mexican caves, and sipping beers on Caribbean beaches at sunset. But one day, in the Honduras, I collapsed. My heart raced, my vision blurred, and I was convinced I was having a stroke.

What followed was my first severe panic attack, a harrowing experience that marked the start of a battle with anxiety and PTSD. When I returned home, I was a stranger to myself. I avoided seeking help, ashamed of how fragile I felt. But soon, depersonalization set in—a condition where life feels detached and surreal so much so that when I held my newborn nephew, I felt about as connected to them as I would a wooden spoon.

Eventually, I sought therapy. My first therapist, Caroline, helped me understand how my childhood and past traumas had compounded over the years, with the car accident being the tip of the iceberg. Through a mix of counselling, mindfulness, cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), and trauma work, I began to heal and work towards becoming the person I was capable of.

This journey led me back to what mattered—helping others. I started traveling again, working, and immersing myself in different cultures while devouring books on psychology, philosophy, self-help and attending meditation retreats. This exploration guided me toward becoming a therapist.

Whilst undergoing substantial training to become a registered counsellor, psychotherapist, and accredited mindfulness teacher, I began my career in elderly care, learning to sit with suffering and support those in their final stages of life. From there, I worked in private psychiatric wards, in psychological research and later with the NHS, delivering therapy and developing mindfulness courses. My work in the NHS saw me win the Big Life Group’s ‘Creative’ awarded, an award given out once a year to a pool of about 650 staff. I eventually left the NHS to focus on long-term, relational therapy, which aligned with my values of deep care and creativity.

Now, as a professional mindfulness teacher and therapist, my passion is helping others navigate their own suffering and healing.

In addition to my private practice, I am also involved with Reubens Retreat, a charity supporting families who have experienced child loss. I facilitate ‘Dad’s Club,’ a support group for fathers who have experienced child loss. The experiences I’ve had with these fathers inspired my current master’s research, where I’m exploring the unique challenges fathers face in expressing grief and receiving support.

Why I Share My Story


Traditionally, therapists have avoided self-disclosure, but I believe transparency is key to building trust. I share my journey to show you that I’ve been there—that I’m human, just like you. This isn’t about showcasing hardship; it’s about offering an informed choice of who you’ll be working with. Whether you find my story inspiring, relatable, or even a little long-winded, I hope it serves you in making the right decision for your therapy journey.

—

Change starts now.