I support women with low self-esteem and anxiety…
to work through their self-worth issues, understand themselves better, and use therapeutic tools to feel more confident, empowered and content.
I’ve written on the topic of wellbeing for:
Where better self-esteem begins…
We live in a high pressure world, where many factors can cause our self-esteem to falter. A difficult childhood, a hurtful comment or a toxic relationship can all damage our self-worth. But low self-esteem can be replenished. And you can start to feel content, confident and empowered in yourself.
After completing our work together, my clients report a significant improvement in their self-esteem and self-confidence.
Whether you’re at home or in person, your healing starts in a place built entirely around you. With flexible sessions, a choice of times, and a gentle, person-centred approach, you’ll feel seen, supported and safe as you rebuild your confidence and self-worth.
You have options…
In person counselling £80
If you’re based in Saint Albans then I have beautiful counselling rooms right in the city centre. There’s plenty of parking nearby, and many good coffee shops for a post-counselling caffeine boost.
In person counselling is an intense therapeutic experience where 50 minutes is put aside just for you. Your thoughts, feelings and emotions are the only focus of our sessions, and my room provides the perfect comfortable, confidential and calming environment for this work.
Online counselling £70
If your schedule is packed, or you just prefer counselling in the comfort and familiarity of your own home, then online counselling might be right for you.
Where ever you are in the UK, if you’ve got a good internet connection and a comfortable, confidential space, then we can work together.
Whichever service you choose, I offer a non-judgemental and empathic approach, and a space where you can be entirely and safely yourself.
Interested?
It can feel like a big leap to commit to counselling, and understandably you might be feeling nervous and unsure right now. I promise you though, it’s not so scary. To help ease you in, I offer a free 20 minute discovery call. You’ll be able to tell me how you’re feeling, hear my voice, and ask me any questions you might have.
By the end of our call, you’ll be feeling a lot more confident about getting counselling, and you’ll be able to decide whether I’m the right counsellor for you.
To arrange this call, just email me with some suitable days and times and I’ll be in touch.
My Blog
I know it’s dull, but it’s necessary to start the book review of Joan Didion Notes to John with some background information. Otherwise the title is more likely to confuse… Hands up all those who identify as people pleasers? Those who are super easy to get along with, always good fun, perpetually on form and eager to avoid confrontation at… We’ve all been there, and experienced the dark and dirty thrill of the hate follow. Finding your frenemy’s account on Facebook or Insta, feeling a surge of adrenaline as you… Do you ever get that feeling that your life is on hold? As if you’ve been standing in the same place for years? And how do you manage your self-esteem… The Kitchen Shrink, by Dr Andrea Oskis, is a sumptuous and satisfying book. Oskis, a psychologist and award winning cook, takes her two favourite subjects and skillfully blends them to… Pop star Jessie J, has just been diagnosed with breast cancer. She’s informed her fans she’s going to ‘disappear’ for a while, to begin her recovery. To be human is… Orthorexia, the interest in healthful eating that ironically diverts into an unhealthy obsession, has gained greater attention in recent years. Possibly, in part, due to the Instagram influencers. All those… I’m giving my site a refresh soon, so I’ve begun the process of reading over old blogs and deciding what stays and what goes. And I was struck by how… Are you therapy curious? Undecided whether you want to commit to counselling, but intrigued enough to want to know more? Or do you intuitively know you need it, but the… The research around self-esteem is plentiful. Here’s what we know…self esteem is improved by regular exercise, and setting and achieving goals. Also, by using self-compassion, and forming strong, genuine connections… World Mental Health Awareness Week is coming (12th-18th May 2025). And we’ll all be wearing blue, and looking for Insta opportunities to show our support. Because mental health is undoubtedly,… Self care is lauded as the panacea to all ills. Set your boundaries, take a rest and do what brings you joy. It all sounds so sensible and easy. So… You’ve considered the cost of counselling, picked a properly qualified therapist and even manged to find a suitable day. But unless you can overcome the mental barriers stopping you from… Self-esteem and neurodiversity is a hot topic at the moment. After many years of barely being mentioned, it now dominates social media, demands column inches and frequently features on the… Forgiveness and self-esteem may seem to be only loosely linked. But dig deeper, or examine your own experiences, and you’ll know that holding a grudge brings up some hard feelings…. When you hear the word low self-esteem, what do you imagine? Perhaps, a woman, round shouldered, stooped, hiding behind her hair. Everything about her demeanour suggests she wants to disappear…. We’ve all heard the cliches it’s good to talk, or a problem shared is a problem halved. But how do you manage counselling when you find talking hard? And even… I was a little apprehensive as I opened Do Nourish, How to Eat for Resilience by Sarah Bayliss. Although I’ve long been interested in the intersect between optimum nutrition and… We all know the colder months can be physically hard. Long nights, dark days, permanently hunched shoulders and a house that won’t stay warm. But managing your mental health in… Over the past few decades we’ve done a lot of thinking. And most of us have changed our views on smacking children, smoking on top decks of buses and working… Thinking of starting counselling as a way to see in the new year? Excellent. Hopefully your experience will be as fulfilling as mine. Because for me, I went from a… Directional Living by Megan Hellerer (pictured) did not exist when I was in my twenties. But had it, I’m confident I could have saved myself a lot of grief throughout … Ever experienced life going along normally, nicely even, and then the next day, you’re spiraling into depression and low self-esteem? How did you get here, and is it possible to… Talking about the ‘benefits’ of low self-esteem sounds a little confusing, and even counter intuitive. It’s hard to believe, as you watch your life pass by, that there are advantages… Have you had a bleak year, beset with tough times, bereavement, separation? And now, as Santa packs his sleigh, you’re wondering how you’re going to survive Christmas after loss? If… Not Just Mum is the book you need if you’re planning to launch your own business. But still intending to parent a small person too. Because the author Claire Antill,… The twin topics of depression and low self-esteem, give most people the shudders. Depression is bad enough alone. But so often it wants to pair up with another funky feeling… Research has found you can improve your self-esteem by speaking out. Getting comfortable with voicing your opinion, can have a range of wellbeing benefits – from more authentic relationships to… You’ve dug deep and decided to start counselling. Wonderful. But as the day draws near, you realise you have no idea about what therapy actually entails. What happens at your… Haunted by bad memories, spooked by ghosts from the past, screaming in terror at the mistakes of your younger self? Then fear no more. I’ve got the best tips to… The Power of Closure by Gary McClain explores the very human craving for closure. The yearning for freedom and acceptance that only this elusive condition can bring. But then he… For the past 5 years, I’ve been specialising in women’s self-esteem. And as you might imagine, it’s really rewarding work. A surprising side effect though, is that as my wonderful… Singer, Paloma Faith, discusses self loss in her biography MILF, she writes, “I was a mother, carer, domestic goddess and completely self-sacrificing. I stopped reading, learning, being curious and felt… Self-esteem is a term that’s bandied around so often, in magazines and social media. But actually, really understanding self-esteem can be more complex. So, I’ve put together these self-esteem FAQs…. There are so many myths about therapy that I’m often surprised any clients make it on to my couch. Half-baked rumours about what to expect can be anxiety provoking, and… September has a reputation for being the break up month. With dating app, Wingman recording a 34% increase in new users during this month. Personally, I believe there’s never a… Summers ended, September’s here, so it’s off the sun lounger for me, and back to some serious reading. And I’ve kicked off the academic year with a bit of existential… I’ve just returned from a beautiful holiday, where I was mostly on the beach in my bikini. And while flaunting my curves, as the talented journalists at the Daily Mail… If you’re going to flourish after a hard time – whether that’s divorce, bereavement, or simply making it through a difficult patch – you’re going to have to get good… Visualise your typical yoga lover, and what comes to mind? Do you conjure a white woman, wearing Lulemon leggings, hair expensively highlighted – possibly married to a man in finance?… You’re probably already familiar with pretty privilege. A catchy term that describes the benefits of being considered conventionally attractive. How people will want to get to know you, grant you… The weather is warm(ish), my son’s sports day is today, and this morning the birds woke me at 5am. Yes, summer is finally here! And so, unsurprisingly, the conversation turns… As a way to pass the hours on a dull day, my son and I have seen many a mediocre children’s film. Ranging from the sweet, Lyle, Lyle Crocodile, to… Hands up who wants to improve their mental wellbeing? You’re in luck because, there are so many places to start. You could improve your sleep, see a counsellor or overhaul… How to Know a Person by David Brooks taps into the psychological theory, that the quality of our relationships has the biggest single impact on our life satisfaction. Forget money,… It’s been half term this week, so I headed off to Sweden for a few days with my family. And while researching royal palaces, child-friendly saunas and the best cinnamon… Mental health and I have been happily entwined for most of my adult life. From volunteering at Samaritans aged 21, to becoming a counsellor in my thirties. Because I truly… A recent study from York University has found that women who stop using social media, even for just one week, receive a significant self-esteem boost in return. It’s believed the… Just before I became pregnant with my son, I stumbled upon this sobering study and was gifted a glimpse of the future. According to the University of Tilburg’s decade long…
Book review: Joan Didion Notes to John
People pleasing is not kindness but survival
The dark and dirty thrill of the ‘hate follow’
Maintaining self-esteem when you feel stuck
Book review: The Kitchen Shrink by Dr Andrea Oskis
Self-esteem when you feel your body is failing you
Orthorexia, and its impact on women
Help! I can’t manage my moods
Therapy curious? Here’s everything you need to know
Self-esteem: Knowing exactly what works for you
World Mental Health Awareness Week 2025
The challenges to good self care (and how to overcome them)
The mental barriers stopping you from getting therapy
Self-esteem and neurodiversity
Forgiveness and self-esteem
3 surprising signs of low self-esteem
How to manage counselling when you find talking hard
Book Review: Do Nourish How to Eat for Resilience
Managing your mental health in the winter months
Rethinking divorce and separation
What you need to know if you’re thinking of starting counselling
Book review: Directional Living by Megan Hellerer
Help, I’m spiraling into depression
The benefits of low self-esteem
Surviving Christmas after loss or bereavment
Book Review: Not Just Mum by Claire Antill
Depression and low self esteem
Building self esteem by speaking out
What to expect from your first counselling session with me
Haunted by bad memories? Here’s how to move on
Book review: The power of Closure
5 things I’ve learnt in 5 years as a women’s self esteem specialist
Self loss and the path to rediscovery
Self-Esteem Faqs
Myths about therapy
Why counselling after a relationship break-up is a great idea
Book review: It’s on me by Dr Sara Kuburic
The lady vanishes – self-esteem and ageing
Getting good at self care, because you need to
Yoga, inclusivity and improved self esteem
Why your looks don’t matter as much as you think
Body confidence and self esteem
Inside Out 2: Therapy for adults
Meaningful connection and why it matters
Book review: How to Know a Person
Self-esteem and Separation
I Love mental health, but hate Mental Health Awareness Week
Social media and self-esteem. Why not take a break?
Self-esteem and motherhood
