Who I work with:

I work with those in the public sector or other sectors whose work exposes them to human suffering. I passionately believe that those who care for us and are charged with protecting us, are trying to make a difference and should be properly looked after. That said, I will work with anyone whose life has been affected by trauma.

POLICE:

The stresses of police work are unique, as not only are you having to deal with traumatic incidents, you are also having to manage the frequently hostile scrutiny of the public. This job puts you in a unique but difficult position, where this double pressure can significantly compromise resilience. Female police officers and officers from minority ethnic backgrounds can face additional strain and burden including misogyny, sex-based discrimination and racism. These experiences can really affect your ability to cope. You need to be looked after and your psychological concerns need to be taken seriously. Therapy can give you the tools to manage your reactions and help you to feel happier.

SENIOR LEADERS:

You have to be psychologically well. If you are in charge of others making critical decisions, and you are making them yourself, you deserve to be looked after. This means acknowledging to yourself when work gets too much, when your stress is impacting your workforce directly and when your life has become miserable. You deserve someone to talk to. Your life is worth that, and those whom you manage can only benefit if you are feeling cared for. One of the best things you can also do for your workforce is to model good self-care, but ultimately your quality of life is more important.

HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS

You may choose to bury everyday suffering as you ‘have chosen this job,’ but being around it whilst also making very difficult decisions can take its toll. Just because it’s ‘vocational’ doesn’t mean that you don’t have the right to say that you’ve been affected, or that your life has become difficult because of your work. You do have the right to seek help.

JOURNALISTS, HUMANITARIAN AID WORKERS AND RESEARCHERS:

Journalists, especially those sent to theatres of war, natural disasters, crime scenes or trials, and those that listen to eye witness testimony and emotional and harrowing first accounts of murder, rape, violence or child abuse may experience post-traumatic stress. Even if you chose this job, you have the right not to take this material back into your personal lives. You can get help so you can appreciate your work and begin to enjoy your life again.

Likewise, as NGO workers or first responders (search and rescue) you may well have seen suffering and poverty as well as the after effects of natural disasters, war, famine and other mass casualty events. This ceaseless exposure to suffering can have a grinding effect and the sense that the world is an awful place. Therapy can help you to shift the goalposts and give you a more balanced perspective. You will be given space to talk about any experiences which have stayed with you.

 As a researcher you could be immersed in extremely difficult materials. Over time this may have a profound effect on your mood and the sense of who you are. You need a trusted and confidential space where you can discuss the impact of your work.

YOU DON’T NEED TO BE ANY OF THE ABOVE TO GET HELP:

Lawyers, barristers, court personnel, victim support but also anyone in the general population who has experienced or seen something awful. I am also committed to helping women who have experienced sex based violence or domestic abuse and violence.