Person-centred therapy for anxiety, low self-worth & body image struggles — helping you feel more at home in yourself.
Hello
Hi, I’m Abbie, a BACP registered psychotherapist. I believe therapy should feel like someone sitting with you, not analysing you from across the room.
I’m naturally curious, warm, and calm. I value honesty and gentle humour, and I care deeply about creating a space where nothing has to be hidden or performed. When clients sit with me, I hope they feel accepted, understood, and safe to bring whatever is present, even if they don’t have the words for it yet.
Outside of sessions, I’m happiest with a coffee, a dog nearby, a book I can get lost in, and long walks that give me space to think. Travel, quiet mornings, and self-help books are my version of grounding, and I try to bring that same steady, relaxed energy into my work.
My Story
I struggled with feeling like I didn’t fit in for a long time. Growing up in a home affected by addiction meant I became responsible, observant, and accommodating very early on. I learned to take care of other people’s emotions, but I didn’t know how to express my own.
At school, I was bullied for my appearance and for simply being different. Those comments stayed with me far longer than the moments themselves — shaping how I saw my body, my value, and what I believed I had to change in order to be accepted.
As I got older, I coped with stress and uncomfortable emotions through emotional eating, perfectionism, and pushing myself to achieve. I believed that if I could look “good enough,” do “well enough,” or stay in control, I would finally feel at ease in my body and mind.
It worked — until it didn’t.
Eventually, I reached a point where trying to manage everything alone stopped being sustainable. Therapy wasn’t a quick fix, but it changed my life in a quiet, steady way. I learned that I am not my thoughts, and that the patterns that once helped me survive could also be understood, softened, and reshaped.
What I discovered and what I now hold onto is simple:
"You cannot hate yourself into becoming someone you love.
Compassion creates change, not punishment."
That realisation guides both my personal life and my work.
What I Believe
Therapy isn’t about forcing breakthroughs or digging everything up at once. It’s about slowing down, noticing what’s happening beneath the surface, and becoming curious about the beliefs that shape us.
I believe everyone deserves a space where they don’t have to perform, apologise, or have everything figured out. Real change is slow, steady, and built through understanding, not pressure or perfection.
Professional Experience
I’ve been a practising therapist for three years, working within a charity that supports both young people and adults. In that space, I learned the importance of building trust slowly, showing up consistently, and meeting people exactly where they are.
Supporting people through a wide range of emotional experiences has strengthened my commitment to therapy that is collaborative, respectful, and grounded in genuine connection. I value consistency, authenticity, and taking time because real change doesn’t happen when we push ourselves to heal faster than we’re ready for.
Education
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BSc (Hons) Psychology, BPS-accredited – dissertation on body perception
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MSc Counselling & Psychotherapy
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Registered member of the BACP
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Specialised training in Online Therapy
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Trauma-informed practice
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Neurodivergence-informed practice
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Body-Image Specialist training
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Level-3 Safeguarding
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DBS-checked
My Approach
I work with a trauma-informed, person-centred approach, grounded in curiosity and kindness.
In therapy, I’m not here to fix you or tell you what to do. I’m here to sit beside you as we gently explore what’s happening beneath the surface, notice patterns with compassion, and create space for new ways of relating to yourself.
In our sessions, you can expect that I will:
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Move at your pace, never pushing you to share more than feels safe
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Offer a calm, steady presence when things feel overwhelming
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Ask thoughtful, gentle questions to help you understand what’s happening inside
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Use psychoeducation when it offers clarity
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Use metaphors and imagery to help make complex feelings feel easier to hold
I believe insight is powerful, but safety is what makes change possible. I hope that therapy with me feels grounding, collaborative, and real, a space where you can bring your whole self at your own pace.