My STORY

What matters to you most?

A simple question can stir a range of mixed emotions- awaken curiosity and possibility, tense the body, stir anxiety, excitement or something in between. Perhaps you’ve never had the space to ask yourself this question—or maybe you were never given permission to. I understand this deeply. For many years, I believed that if I did what my family expected of me—built a successful career, secured a well-paid job, and constantly pushed myself to achieve more—I would be happy….

However, the harder I pushed the further

I drifted from myself and what truly mattered:

connection, authenticity, and meaningful relationships.

My story may sound more familiar than you’d expect….

From a very young age, I learned that showing my true feelings—or my authenticity wasn’t safe. To cope, I withdrew from relationships and threw myself into accomplishments, finding safety in achievement rather than in people. I became an over-achiever, constantly pushing to prove that I was enough. This endless striving lead to heart problems, adrenaline addiction, failed relationships and ultimately burnout. This forced me to confront the painful truth that achievements, material pursuits could never satisfy my heart’s deepest longing – to reconnect with myself and feel safe in relationships.

The behaviors that once protected me became

the very barriers to the life I wanted.

Do you recognize some of these patterns?

Many people I work with appear successful on the outside but struggle deeply within. What looked“picture perfect” on the outside felt vastly different and often unbearable on the inside. I struggled with:

  • Harsh self-critism
  • Chronic Stress and Burnout
  • Depression
  • Emotionally numbness and disconnection
  • Anxiety and difficulty relaxing
  • Hypervigilance and ADHD
  • Dissociation
  • Putting others’ need above mine
  • Difficulties managing rage/anger
  • Pursuit of high intensity, addictive experiences
  • Unstable, intense and abusive romantic and work relationships
  • Distorted body image
  • Worthlessness
  • Psychosomatic symptoms such as panic attacks, heart palpitation and skin issues

My body riddled with heart problems and panic attacks

brought me to a place where I could no longer pretend everything was fine…..

I needed help…

My healing journey began…

The path forward was a path within..

This led me on a decade-long journey exploring my history. I met incredible people and tried every possible path I could find. I experienced and studied coaching, counselling and psychotherapy, shamanism, reiki, yoga and meditation and explored Chinese medicine, acupuncture and reflexology. While these approaches helped me feel better— the shifts didn’t stick and old patterns kept pulling me back.

Yet I was only scratching the surface

True transformation began when I discovered parts work, body-based trauma therapy and safe relational healing. Somatic Experiencing helped release the trauma my body had been holding and parts work (IFS, TIST, Psychosynthesis) addressed my dissociation. For the first time in my life I realized there was nothing wrong with me, my environment failed me.

I started unlearning old patterns, relating to my ADHD with compassion, recover from narcissistic abuse, complex PTSD, process a near-death experience and miscarriage. Today I am not only feeling better, I am happy with who I am and feel liberated I did not believe was possible.

This process continues with my commitment to personal and professional growth with personal and group therapy and supervision. I am learning to trust my gut, embrace uncertainty and welcome aspects of me I dissociated from, denied or resisted.

Today I am able to embrace my imperfections,

live in the present moment –

be spontaneous and

my life is fueled by love and purpose,

not survival and when I stumble I know it is temporary and I have the resources to support myself.

MEMBERSHIPS

Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy

Association of Somatic Experiencing Practitioners in Ireland