About me

My career-life journey has always encompassed health, voluntary service and education. My background as a nurse led me to the medical humanitarian aid agency Medécins Sans Frontières back in the 1990’s.  My work at MSF involved supporting medical volunteers involved in humanitarian projects overseas often in traumatic and insecure environments.  As a result I went on to study for an MSc in Psychotherapy with a special interest in trauma and have over 20 years experience in this work. Along this path I have also worked with an Employee Assistance Company offering support for people with work struggles and stress issues.  This also included experience as part of a trauma response team responding to violent or critical traumatic incidents in workplaces.

Much of my psychotherapy work has involved empowering people to take charge of their anxiety and stress and learn how to calm down.  In other words, to regulate their nervous system. These skills are particularly important when supporting people to process traumatic experience safely. 

However, these same skills are important for us all to learn.  Life can be very challenging and being able to meet those challenges calmly, helps us maintain our well-being while we respond to challenges and not become overwhelmed. 

In 2018 I decided to develop The well Institute to teach people the skills and resources to empower them to take charge of their stress and anxiety rather than being hijacked by it.  A year of putting all the foundations in place for this new work was severely interrupted in September 2019 when a major health challenge meant I had to put my own resources to full use.  I spent the following 9 months leaning into what I know and have taught for many years in order to help myself!  Now I have returned to The Well Institute more passionate than ever about the value of what we are offering having lived the benefits of it.

Putting my professional experience to the test

I was unexpectedly diagnosed with cancer in September 2019 which initially left me reeling.  My video describes some of this experience in terms of the impact on my nervous system and why I believed keeping myself calm was vitally important for my health and well-being.  It was important physically, mentally and spiritually.  As I faced my existential crisis, I used my resources to allow myself go to the cliff edge without being overwhelmed.  I was able to help myself come to terms with what was happening to me and what I couldn’t control.  That acceptance allowed me to find the courage to change what I could and to not get too hijacked by the fear and terror of the unknowns.  I learned to truly live in the moment and to be present as much as possible.  This experience opened up so much joy in my life it was quite intensely wonderful at times.  I never believed that it was possible to meet joy in the middle of such a profound life challenge, but it is.  I have learned the value and power of maintaining a balanced nervous system in the face of a stressful and anxiety provoking experience and how that brought me so much joy!  From a lived experience, I know that nervous system regulation works and has allowed me to live my life fully and joyfully and not just my illness.

Thankfully I have made a good recovery and am back at work more committed and passionate than ever.  I want to share what I have learned over a long career and through personal experience with groups of people who are ready to learn how to help themselves to calm down.  More than ever, we are living with so much uncertainty and anxiety that we need to ‘up-skill’ ourselves to promote and support our wellness in a sustainable way.