I am a BABCP accredited Cognitive Behavioural Therapist (CBT) in Birmingham (UK) specialising in supporting Burnt Out professionals, Overthinkers, People Pleasers and Socially Awkward individuals. Anxiety can leave you feeling on edge, worried, overwhelmed, exhausted, and second-guessing everything you do. Maybe your mind’s constantly racing—worrying about things that haven't happened yet, worried about being judged in the presentation or work meeting. Perhaps you notice you say 'yes' to everything when you really want to say 'no'. You work too much without a break and all you think about is the same thing over and over again.  The goal isn’t to ‘fix’ you—you’re not broken. It’s to help you feel more in control.

In addition to being a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist, I am a qualified Fitness Instructor, Hypopressives coach and mom to 2 children living in Birmingham (UK). 

How your body and mind came about...

Your body and mind came about combining my love of both being a therapist and keeping fit. I believe you cannot have good mental health without physical health and vice versa and both without a doubt WILL impact the other. I believe its important to connect to our bodies and not just our mind and that sometimes, it can be too painful to connect to our mind so I'm a big advocate of listening to the body and understanding ourselves through that first. When experiencing high levels of anxiety, it can be helpful to work with the body initially through things such as breathwork, exercise, mindfulness to allow for the 'overthinking brain' to catch up rather than to think 'think our way through' difficulties as the brain will simply do its job and prepare for the threat  (keeping us anxious). 

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Why Therapy?

I have always had an interest in the why us humans behave the way we do. At age 10, I had the unfortunate experience of watching a loved one experience a severe enduring mental illness and get sectioned under the Mental Health Act. I've seen first hand what 'pushing through' and 'just getting on with things' can do especially when life hasn't always been kind to you; it can potentially lead to a mental health 'breakdown'. Thats why I am so passionate about helping others with how they feel. To help you feel validated, seen, to not tell you that its because you haven't done enough yoga or journaling thats why you cant cope (those things are great by the way but it isn't the reason). We will get to the heart of it all! Why are you an overthinker, why are you burnt out, why do you struggle socially. Whilst Cognitive Behavioural Therapy does not work on past issues, it will certainly drawer links from these early experiences to help us understand... why! Support and connection can change lives!

I have spent 15 years working in mental health with experience in substance misuse, working with older adults and on the wards in a psychiatric hospital. For 9 of those years I worked in a talking therapies service offering CBT to people experiencing depression, PTSD, Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Phobias, Health Anxiety, Panic and Social Anxiety. I currently hold a senior role supporting NHS staff with managing their wellbeing. 

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Your Body and Mind specialises in working with Social Anxiety, Generalised Anxiety Disorder (or worry) work related stress and burn out. Other anxiety difficulties I work with are OCD and phobias.

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Why do I work with those difficulties specifically?

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​I have not only a keen interest in anxiety difficulties but have lived experience of having times when my own anxiety has been bad so I understand and empathise with what it does to you..it feels awful doesn't it! At some stage of my life, I have experienced all of those difficulties. I have experienced burnout and work with it every week in my NHS job. I have struggled with social anxiety in my younger years. I would always call myself somewhat of a worrier and I can tell you, you can learn to cope and worry less, you can learn to be more authentic and give less of a damn about what people think about you, you can do the things you want to do despite the anxiety. 

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During my work with you, I will use not only my own knowledge gained through the training I have undergone, but the experience from the countless people I have worked with as well as my own experience. I always tailor my approach to meet your individual wants and needs whether that be a more structured session, less structure, using your expertise (as yes, you are also an expert too) as its never a 'one size fits all' approach to working with anxiety. My approach is kind and compassionate but also, I will hold you to account when needed and be your biggest cheerleader. ​

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Why Hypopressives?

I make use of my specialist interest (and passion) of the pelvic floor using Hypopressives to help you reconnect to your body again, combined with body strengthening which has helped me immensely in my own personal journey. I have always loved learning about the human body so being able to find a tool that can be applied to an issue that I have had and help others in a similar position fills me with joy. I also find that the breath work element is really useful for anxiety and enabled me to learn to breath better not just for fitness but for my wellbeing.

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Qualifications:

PGDip in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

PGCert in Low Intensity Psychological Interventions

BA (Hons) Social Care and Social Policy 

BABCP Membership number:00001009481 

ICO Registration  (Data protection register) reference  ZB777035

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Exercise qualification:

Level 2 Exercise to Music

Level 3 Anatomy and Physiology

Level 3 Pre and Postnatal Fitness

Level 1 Hypopressives (Trained with Hypopressives Scotland)

Burrell Education Pelvic Flow and Freedom

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