I didn't always plan to become a therapist. For years, I worked in sales, presenting this outwardly confident version of myself whilst struggling inwardly with my own mental health. I got quite good at masking it, actually. But that experience taught me something valuable: how isolating it feels when you're carrying something heavy and trying to appear fine on the surface. The real catalyst came during lockdown through a tragic loss of a family friend, which made me realise that there's a serious lack of support for men's mental health. That loss stayed with me, and eventually, it pushed me towards training as a counsellor. 

Through my own lived experience, I understand how difficult it is to admit you need help. That journey gave me real insight into what it's like to sit in the client's chair, feeling vulnerable and unsure. Now, as a therapist, I see it as an absolute privilege when someone trusts me enough to open up about what they're going through.