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I have had a deep desire and passion to try and understand mental health as best I could throughout my life. It all started after having a major breakdown. I fell into a deep depression at 21 and I have been on a journey ever since to understand myself better and t why I thought and felt the way I did. I have spent the last 30 years on a journey to understand my own mental health.
30 years ago, mental health was not really discussed or understood certainly not by anyone I knew at the time, hence why I was told things such as ‘pull your socks up’ ‘what have you got to be depressed about’ which as you can imagine only exacerbated my symptoms and lengthened my time in ‘the black hole’ as I call it. My doctor though, at the time, was amazing and knew the ‘stigma’ attached to someone suffering from depression. He signed me off work, but to ensure I was not judged by my boss or colleagues he didn’t write on my sick certificate that I was off for depression, and used another aliment more
acceptable for others to understand. I too, kept it from my friends and colleagues, to ensure less ridicule. I went to many therapists who all helped along the way. I always felt different to everyone else. I had constant voices in my head, and I tried desperately to understand what on earth was going on inside my head. Life continued to move forward as it does, but constantly living as if there was something wrong with me.
Fast forwarding to 2012 I attempted to take my life. Whilst in hospital I decided to deepen my journey to truly understand what was really going on for me. While in therapy following coming out of hospital, my therapist new of my need to understand more about the psychology behind the decades of having depression. She suggested I went on a level 2
counselling course, which I did and I progressed onto level 3, level 4 and qualified as an Integrative Humanistic Counsellor in 2016. I learnt so much more about myself, and was able to start having ‘tools’ in my emotional ‘tool box’ to help my journey, however my thirst to learn more continued. I wanted to learn more about Trauma and how it affects a persons mind and body. I came across wonderful teachers and courses such as Bessel van der Kolk, Babette Rothschild and Gabor Mate (which I wish I knew about 30 years ago) to name a few whom speak in great depth, about how trauma affects your body and mind. I also discovered Louise Hay. I devoured all their books, and courses. Each one speaking to me helping me understand, that I wasn’t going mad, and that there wasn’t in fact something ‘wrong with me’ as I thought and others told me. I finally realised and understood that it isn’t as simple to 'just pull your socks up' when a person has suffered long term developmental trauma. Finally, things started to make more sense as I understood how the brain works in trauma. I could finally make real connections throughout my life.
Making sense out of the chaos in my head lead to having some kindness, softness and acceptance of myself. Dare I say at time's some peace.
Still though I continued my journey for even greater knowledge of trauma.
I qualified as a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional studying with The Grove in London in 2021. Their course providing the very knowledge and confirmation of what I had been studying this past 10 years of how trauma affects the mind and body. Within the course at The Grove, we were introduced to EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) which even on zoom had an enormous emotional reaction for me and is an extremely powerful tool. I am so grateful to now have that as part of my emotional 'tool box’
I have spent the past 30 years gathering tools for my emotional ‘tool box’ to help myself, my children, and my husband, and will continue to gather as much more as i can moving forward. I turned the knowledge and experience I had gained into having the privilege in helping hundreds of people and their families over the past 8 years, within a charity I built which started in 2014, which specialised in Sexual Abuse, and in particular supporting parents when their child discloses CSA.(Child Sexual Abuse). Listening and holding their extremely painful experiences, along with passing on any experience and ‘tools’ I could pass to them that I had learnt was a truly humbling experience for me. I supported many parents going through the horrendous family court and criminal court process. Providing them with emotional and practical support. All of which resulted to be extremely healing for the individual and family. For 2 years I counselled and volunteered at a local Rape Crisis Centre, supporting many people through their very dark emotions. And equally I have learnt an awful lot from everyone whom I have supported over the past 8 years.
I strongly believe in a holistic approach for mental wellness. The waves and emotions we feel throughout the day can range drastically, which is why I feel passionately about having and building an emotional and practical ‘tool box’ to help manage the array of emotions we have at any given time.
I continue still on my passion and thirst to learn more from great teachers on my ongoing journey to understand the mind, body and spirit. I would love to hear from you if you would like any support, guidance or simply a listening, supportive ear, with any challenges you are facing with your own mental health or wellbeing. Or for anyone who you may be supporting with their own mental health. I will use my array of experience and
offer any 'tools' that maybe of benefit to you.
Take care,
Mandy
Qualifications:
CPCAB Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills
Redlands Counselling & Training Limited
September 2013
CPCAB Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies
Redlands Counselling & Training Limited
April 2014
MBACP
(Member of British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy)
BACP - UK
July 2014 ongoing
CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
Redlands Counselling & Training Limited
July 2016
Post Qualifying Diploma in Counselling Children and Adolescent's
Iron Mill College
May 2017
Qualified Independent Sexual Violence Advisor
The Survivors Trust
Jan 2020
Level 1 & 2 EFT Emotional Freedom Technique
The Energy Training Centre
Jun 2021
Certificate in Trauma Therapy at Post Graduate Level
Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP)
The Grove London
July 2021
MCCTP
(Member of Certified Clinical Trauma Professional)
Evergreen Certifications - USA
July 2021 ongoing
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