There are aspects of my journey here that I am sure may be relatable in one aspect or another.

I lived abroad during the seventies as a young child in Gibraltar and then Germany. Enjoying skiing holidays in Austria and staying on a small country farm in the Black Forest. We moved back to England in the early eighties, where I lived with my grandparents for a short while. There, I loved sitting with my grandma shelling fresh peas from the garden, making lavender bags from the bushes and helping my grandad dig a pond and fill it with fish. We would make toast on the fire and go for walks down the lane picking raspberries and damsons. Idyllic.

However, being used to moving a lot I learnt to not settle anywhere, drop roots or make lasting friendships. Then when I became a young teenager, I went through a very traumatic period of life which lasted for several years. I always saw myself as being strong, able to adapt and being mentally bullet proof. I would cram everything bad into a box in my head, shut the lid on tight and not think about it, deal with it, or acknowledge it.

Years later however when totally overflowing, the lid came off that box and the cracks started to show, impacting on my everday life. I had been living with the aftermath of trauma, not recognising that this was now impacting on my life in a psychological and physical way. Auto-immune and stress related illnesses manifested as a result from living with long term hidden anxiety and depression. I had never had any confidence or self-esteem but now it was magnified tenfold. I found myself making bad choices and putting myself in situations that were wrong for me and never understanding why. It also affected me professionally and I found myself even struggling to answer the phone. When I got home every day I would shut the door and literally hide from people and the world.

Over the years, I searched all avenues of support and help from Medical to Holistic to Therapy, becoming more and more disillusioned, frustrated and with nothing ever seeming to be right or helping.

Then by chance, I became aware of Solution Focused Clinical Hypnotherapy when someone very close to me started seeing a practicioner and I saw their life completely change. It was incredible to witness the ongoing transformation so closely, day by day.

Inspired, I went and trained at the same renowned clinic as their hypnotherapist, The Clifton Practice, Bristol. Founded by David Newton, The Clifton Practice is accredited by NCFE and is listed on the NCH list of accredited training bodies. In relation to submitted portfolios, Clifton Practice sets the “gold standard.” My association with The Clifton Practice is something I am very proud of.

Becoming a Hypnotherapist is one of the best things I have ever done. Not only do I now have the skills and knowledge to help others, I am no longer weighed down or constrained by the troubles of my past. I am now free to enjoy life and appreciate the moment. I love nature and the outdoors, touring round the country and abroad on the motorbike and I am aspiring to one day be the proud owner of a canal boat!

Back in the eighties and nineties especially, it was very difficult to talk about mental health and even more so for men. I had male friends with PTSD and depression and tragically a couple took their own lives. Thankfully, that bravado and stigma has changed in recent years, and even organisations have seen the huge benefits in including mental health in their day to day running operations. I hope to encourage all people to reach out for help and stop suffering in silence, we can change things.

I am focused on helping you understand why we suffer in the way we do and what we can do about it. Creating long lasting change, in a relaxing, confidential, safe and friendly environment.

Let’s work together and get the REAL YOU back. We will see a difference.