From as early as I can remember, I’ve always cared deeply for others and wanted to help people feel like they matter. Having a natural gift of sensing when people are feeling down or when something is troubling them, unspoken or not, it gives me a great sense of purpose to now offer a service that can and will help people feel good about themselves in a safe non-judgemental space.

I studied psychology at college but ultimately did not finish due to my own mental health struggles from events in my younger years and a feeling of never quite fitting in during my years in education. This was worsened by being bullied in my first full time job. Finding myself with dwindling confidence, self-esteem and a lack of belonging, I self soothed with out of control eating habits and after leaving my first full time job, found myself working full time as a Contract Administrator where I completed a Business and Administration NVQ Level 3.

Having had two children in my early 20's, I reduced my hours to work part time in my new Customer Relations role so I could be present in a way that I wanted as my children grew up. Following an abrupt company role change/ office relocation during the latter part of my second pregnancy, I then worked in customer service whilst battling severe post natal depression and anxiety without much needed support. Trying to juggle motherhood, work and life, feeling alone, pretending everything was fine and being the ‘strong’ person everyone thought me to be, I continued to struggle internally. This meant my own mental health further declined over the years as depression, anxiety and disordered eating took over, alongside many physical health challenges I faced.

In my search to get better over the years, I tried medication, CBT and counselling on a number of occasions, coaching, self help courses, books and I joined guided programmes. Some hindered, some harmed, some helped, but nothing quite worked. I felt a deep desire to seek out alternative yet effective therapies that would allow me to take back control, build resilience and feel much better in myself moving forward. I’d already spend so long ruminating painfully over the what and why of the past.

Photograph and Poetry by Tara -
Inner Sage Hypnotherapy

Stumbling across Clifton Practice Hypnotherapy Training - Leeds online was no mistake. I felt myself gravitating to the website and the Diploma for SFH time and time again throughout the year until the middle of one difficult night, in a dramatic moment of despair thinking ‘what is my life’ I filled out the form and applied for the Spring 2022 intake. Shortly after confirming my place, my mental health again declined sharply, this time into one of my darkest times yet…

My Solution Focused Hypnotherapy journey to qualification has been incredibly transformational in three main ways. Firstly, in my own personal journey to overcome and manage my mental health struggles with a newfound resilience. Secondly, to finding peace, confidence, and a sense of control. Thirdly, it’s enabled me to gain clarity on my life purpose and move forward with renewed conviction in supporting others to do the same.

Both being on the course and receiving ongoing reciprocal Solution Focused Hypnotherapy from one of my peers, has given me the courage to be brave and put myself out there, achieving personal wins along the way.

In Autumn 2022, after wanting to apply and not having the confidence for many years, I applied and successfully secured the parent vote for the role of primary school Parent Governor.

Now, I’m a fully qualified Solution Focused Clinical Hypnotherapist and Parent Governor holding the Nominated Safeguarding Governor position - something I wouldn’t have had the courage to do before.

Whilst continuing to tend to my mental health as many of us do, it’s incredibly rewarding to be able to use the tools learned to not only prosper in my life which positively impacts my children’s lives too, but equally as joyful, to have the privilege of supporting others do the same.

We all have mental health, and ill mental health does not discriminate. At some time or another, it’s likely we will be faced with challenges that test our ability to cope.

Thanks for reading a bit about my story.

Tara