BUTTERFLY EFFECT

The butterfly has become a meaningful symbol , and a beautiful metaphor throughout many healing journeys , as it has for my own. It reminds us that transformation is not a single moment - its a process.

Just like a butterfly, we all begin in a cocoon . In that quiet , enclosed space , something important is happening, growth is taking place, even when it doesn’t look like it from the outside.

Healing works the same way. There are times when we feel open , free, and light - like we are flying. Then there are times when we retreat back into our cocoon. When we’re triggered, when we are processing, when we need rest, safety and reflection.

Going back into the cocoon doesn’t mean we’ve failed or gone backwards . It simply means we are still becoming.

Healing is not a straight line. It is a gentle unfolding. A journey of returning back to ourselves , again and again, as we grow into who we want to be.

ABOUT ME

Before becoming a counsellor, I spent 20 years as a hairdresser. What I loved most wasn’t just the creativity , it was the one-to-one connection. Sitting with someone , hearing their story, witnessing their life unfold over time. That early experience taught me the power of presence, listening and genuine human connection.

I later moved into healthcare, were our team supported people from different backgrounds including those struggling with addiction. This deepened my understanding of vulnerability , resilience , and the importance of compassionate , non- judgemental support.

My decision to train to become a counsellor came from lived experience. I experienced trauma that included heartbreak, betrayal, divorce, and both emotional and financial abuse. At the same time navigating single parenthood - holding the joy of raising my child alongside the grief of a life that hadn’t unfolded as I hoped. I understand what it feels like to love your child deeply , to give everything you have, while internally struggling to make sense of your own pain.

For a long time, I poured my energy into being the best parent I could be, but underneath I was still carrying unprocessed trauma , which showed up in patterns and choices that did not serve me. Eventually there came a turning point, a quiet powerful moment of ‘ no more’. I realised that the love and care I gave so freely to others needed to be extended to myself.

Training to be a counsellor was part of my own healing journey. Through therapy, I learned self-acceptance, understood my patterns, recovered from heartbreak, and rebuilt my sense of identity. As I began to value myself more deeply, my choices began to change. Healing brought growth- and with growth came new boundaries, new grief, and the understanding that not everyone is comfortable with the healed version of you.

I share parts of my journey because I believe lived experience matters. I know what it feels like to struggle. I know what it feels like to rebuild. I know healing is rarely linear.

The ‘ rainbow butterfly’ representing ADHD Awareness, Neurodiversity, Mental health and transformation.

MY PURPOSE

As I have moved through my own healing journey, I often held onto the image of the butterfly. There were times of darkness , of retreating back, of growing quietly and painfully in ways no one could see. With each stage came strength , insight , and a deeper understanding of myself.

I became a counsellor because I genuinely care about reducing suffering. If I can offer someone a safe, compassionate space to understand themselves more deeply, break patterns, and move towards a life that feels more aligned and peaceful - then I am doing work that truly matters to me.