
Most people find the idea of coming to therapy or counselling quite daunting. Some are deterred by the thought of talking with a stranger, or they are fearful of being judged. Your relationship with any counsellor will be built on trust. All your communication will be in a safe and confidential environment, which is an essential part of counselling. Once the initial tentative stage is over, most people find that having someone to talk to who is a stranger is, in actual fact, very liberating.
Having the capacity to think and feel emotions with clarity and self-awareness is an essential part of being human; but it’s not something that we are all innately able to do, or even generally taught how to do. As your counsellor, I can give you my thoughts and point of view, but more importantly, I will help and guide you to find your own solutions, paving the way to your own recovery.
You could be at any stage of your life, there is no specific time or set of circumstances that could lead someone towards counselling or therapy. It’s often when we encounter a sense of overwhelming frustration, anxiety, a feeling of being trapped or unable to move forward that we find the courage to reach out for help.
Spoken Therapies

Counselling
Counselling is the process of assisting and guiding people. It is a “talking therapy”, to resolve personal, social, or psychological problems and difficulties.
Whilst a generic term, it perfectly sums up a broad spectrum of spoken therapies that help to manage stresses attributed to everyday despondency, anxiety, low self-esteem, lack of confidence, depression, relationship challenges, bereavement and loss. It can help you to regenerate your zest for life.
Counselling allows people to talk about their problems and feelings in a confidential and comfortable environment. With help and guidance, issues become clearer and so too, the steps that need to be taken to resolve them.

EMDR Therapy
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR, is a powerful psychotherapy technique used in the treatment of psychological trauma arising from a diverse range of traumatic life experiences. It is effectively used to treat PTSD and other mood/anxiety disorders such as Depression, Phobias and Panic Disorder.
EMDR is considered a breakthrough therapy because of its simplicity and the fact that it can bring quick and lasting relief for most types of emotional distress.
I will teach you techniques to handle any emotions or feelings you may experience during the session or afterwards. This is an important stage as it allows you to ‘unpack’ during sessions, but still go on with your daily life afterwards.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
We all learn our coping mechanisms at a very young age but not all the influences we are exposed to at that tender stage are good. Unlike some other therapies, CBT does not lead you back down the path to your past but rather keeps you in the present, positively breaking down problems into smaller portions that are easier to deal with and finding tangible and constructive ways to help you improve your state of mind on a day to day basis.
Our emotions often cast us off from our safe zones and no matter how present you might feel during talking treatments, you can still be left feeling adrift after each session. CBT gives you a powerful toolbox to carry with you and assist you everyday.
Touch Therapy

Cuddle Therapy
Touch triggers a cascade of healing chemical responses including a decrease in stress hormones and an increase in dopamine levels and serotonin (the happy hormone). Additionally, touch has been shown to increase the immune system’s cytotoxic capacity, thereby helping the body to maintain its defenses. Without human contact, we are more susceptible to anxiety, depression, hyperactivity, inattention, increased stress hormones and cortisol levels.
During my time as a Mental Health Therapist I have found myself in situations where I have felt my client would benefit from a hug. As an accredited Cuddle Therapist, I can remove the ethical constraints that would otherwise be in place, with extremely rewarding results.
Learn more about Cuddle Therapy here
I am a registered and insured therapist with Cuddle Professionals International, having completed their certified diploma course and observe CPI’s Ethical Touch Protocols. As a Cuddle Therapist I have personally been featured in a variety of national newspapers, magazines and online media. Enjoy some of the features below.
Cuddle Therapy is regularly featured in the media, from Good Housekeeping, The Sunday Times, Grazia, AskMen to GB News, ITV’s This Morning and Radio 4, amongst others . To find out more about Cuddle Therapy, visit CPI’s website here.
- The Connor Phillips show on BBC Radio Ulster, July 2024
- Vic Minett on BBC CWR, July 2022
- Career Peer: In Talks with a Professional Cuddler, November 2020
- Interview with Cassidy Bailey - "Cuddle up: how 'unconventional' Professional Cuddler helps people feel safe in their own skin", June 2024
- 'People pay me for cuddles' - as seen in Womans Own magazine, March 2024
- Meet the Professional Cuddler - as seen in the Independent, July 2023
- 'I'm a professional cuddler, clients travel miles' - as seen in the Birmingham Mail, July 2023
- Read about Cuddle Therapy in the Daily Express, December 2022
- Meet The Woman Who Hugs People as seen in the Wales Online, November 2019