More Than a Therapist: Who I Am

It’s been a little while since I last wrote a blog, and this one feels a bit different. As I approach four years of running this business, it felt like the right time to reintroduce myself.

When I first opened my practice nearly four years ago, I thought I understood what it meant to “be a therapist.” I had the training, the qualifications, the ethics, the theory. What I couldn’t fully know then was how much this work would shape me, not only professionally, but personally too.

So whether you’re new here, or we’ve worked together before, I’d love to reintroduce myself. Not just as a therapist, but as a human being who sits opposite other humans every day.

I truly believe therapy isn’t about fixing you. It’s about understanding you. It’s about creating a space where you don’t have to perform, impress, minimise, or hold it all together. A space where you can laugh, cry, swear, shout, everything in between and most of all, just be you.

Over the past four years, I’ve sat with grief that felt unbearable, anxiety that felt relentless, anger that felt frightening, and shame that felt suffocating. I’ve witnessed courage in its quietest forms, people showing up when everything in them wanted to cancel. This work has deepened my respect for just how hard it can be to be human.

Beyond the training and experience, what I bring into the room is steadiness. Curiosity. Compassion. And a belief that change doesn’t happen through pressure, it happens through safety.

Reintroducing Me

Here are a few little fun things about me that some of you may already know:

• I love monkeys.

• My favourite name to be called is Auntie.

• My friends and family are my everything.

• I’m an only child.

• I’ve dreamed of working in mental health since I was a teenager.

• We bought our forever home last year.

• I have a fear of fish.

• I love travelling and going on holiday.

What the People I Love Say About Me

I find it surprisingly difficult to write about myself, so I asked some of my close family and friends to share a few things instead.

They said:

“You have 15 tattoos”

“You love arts, crafts, baking and creative projects “

My partners dad once called me ‘user friendly’😂

“You always try to see the positive in things”

“You are someone who always puts others first/is thoughtful”

“You are directionally challenged” - Apple Maps is essential

“One thing about you is that you have a big heart. You genuinely care about people and always show up for the ones you love. Another fact is that when you set your mind to something, you go for it. You’re determined, hardworking and braver than you probably realise. You have a natural way of making people feel comfortable and welcome which is such a special quality.”

“You also have gorgeous porcelain skin, love a roast dinner and understand meal deals. Abi reminds us there is always Hope 🤍”

“Having Courage to grow -

Abi always has had the courage to grow and getting up when someone tried to push you down, took strength. You choose to stay kind when others weren’t. You refused to believe the lies thrown at you. You were the one who was bullied and still showed up, that’s real strength. A bully is a coward, courage comes from not letting that define you. They didn’t break you. You built yourself from their cowardice.”

“Abi loves a concert and brings the vibes and energy. She has become a great big sister, always around for advice and became my hospital buddy during chemotherapy. She is super organised and also has lovely nails that are always immaculate” (thanks to my nail lady)

Seeing Ourselves Through Kinder Eyes

There’s a real difference between what I would write about myself and what others wrote about me.

We are often far harsher on ourselves than anyone else would ever be. We downplay our resilience. We minimise our growth. We overlook our kindness.

One of the quiet hopes I hold for every person who walks into my therapy room is that, over time, they might begin to see themselves through softer eyes. Kinder eyes.

Eyes that recognise the courage it takes simply to be here.

So yes, I am a therapist. But I am also a human, someone who loves monkeys and concerts, who’s scared of fish, who values family deeply, and who has had to grow through hard things too.

When we sit together, it’s about recognising that humanity.

That’s where the real work begins 🤍