About Jade and her therapeutic journey

If you had asked me years ago whether I would become a counsellor, I don’t think I would have imagined this would be my path. Looking back now, however, I can see that every experience, both the joyful and the difficult, has quietly shaped the therapist I have become.

For much of my life, I have been fascinated by people. I’ve always wanted to understand why we think the way we do, why we respond differently to life’s challenges, and how our experiences shape who we become. That curiosity has never been about finding quick answers or fixing people; it has been about genuinely understanding them.

Like many of the people I work with today, my own journey has not always been straightforward. Life has taught me that emotional pain often exists beneath the surface, hidden behind smiles, achievements or simply getting through each day. Those experiences have given me an appreciation for how isolating life can sometimes feel and how powerful it is when someone offers you a space where you don’t have to pretend everything is okay.

One of the greatest influences on both my personal life and my professional practice has been neurodivergence. As someone with lived experience of autism and a learning disability, I understand what it feels like to experience the world differently. I know what it is like when everyday situations require more energy than people realise, and how exhausting it can be to feel misunderstood or expected to fit into systems that were never designed with you in mind.

Rather than seeing neurodivergence as something that needs fixing, I have come to see it as a different way of experiencing the world. That perspective shapes every aspect of my work. I strive to create a therapeutic space where clients never feel they have to mask who they are, explain themselves repeatedly or worry that they are “too much” or “not enough.” Whether someone is autistic, has ADHD, is exploring a diagnosis, or simply feels different, I want therapy to feel like somewhere they can finally exhale.

Motherhood has also transformed me in ways I never expected.

Being a mum has taught me resilience, patience and unconditional love in ways no textbook ever could. Parenting a young person with additional needs has brought incredible joy, but it has also introduced challenges that many families quietly carry every day. There have been appointments, assessments, educational meetings, difficult decisions, moments of uncertainty and times when advocating became a full-time role alongside simply being a parent.

Through those experiences, I have gained a deep understanding of the emotional pressures that parents and carers often face. I know what it feels like to constantly think ahead, to fight for the support your child deserves and to worry about what the future might hold. I also know how important it is for parents to have somewhere safe to talk about their own feelings without judgement or guilt.

These experiences have strengthened my belief that caring for yourself is not selfish. It is absolutely essential. We cannot continually pour from an empty cup, and therapy can provide the space to reconnect with ourselves as well as those we care about.

Professionally, my career has taken me through working and managing therapeutic services. education and training, allowing me to support children, young people, adults, couples and families from many different walks of life. Working within these settings has reinforced one important truth: every person’s story matters.

Qualifications and professional registrations are important, and I continue to develop my knowledge through ongoing training, supervision and specialist study. However, I have hold this view deeply: the most effective therapy happens when professional knowledge is combined with genuine human connection.

Clients don’t need someone who has all the answers.

They need someone who will sit alongside them without judgement, remain curious about their experiences and believe in their capacity for change, even when they struggle to believe in themselves.

That belief became the foundation of Therapy With Jade.

When I established my private practice, I wanted it to feel different. I wanted people to know that therapy didn’t have to feel cold, clinical or intimidating. It could feel welcoming, collaborative and compassionate. Whether someone is seeking support for anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship difficulties, grief, neurodivergence, low self-esteem or simply feeling lost, they deserve to be met with kindness and respect.

Everything I do is guided by a simple philosophy.

People are not broken.

Many are carrying experiences, expectations or emotional burdens that no one should have to carry alone.

Therapy isn’t about changing who you are. It’s about understanding yourself more deeply, recognising your strengths, healing from what has hurt you and finding the confidence to move towards the life that feels right for you.

Every person who walks through my virtual therapy room door brings a lifetime of experiences. Some arrive feeling frightened, overwhelmed or unsure whether therapy can help. Others arrive carrying years of shame, self-doubt or emotional exhaustion.

It is always a privilege to be trusted with those stories.

Watching someone begin to believe in themselves again, communicate more openly, rebuild relationships, recover from trauma or simply discover moments of peace reminds me every day why I chose this profession.

My own journey continues too.

I remain committed to learning, growing and reflecting, both personally and professionally. Every client teaches me something about resilience, courage and the remarkable capacity people have to heal when they feel safe enough to be themselves.

If there is one thing I hope every person takes away from working with me, it is this:

You do not have to face life’s challenges alone.

Whatever has brought you here, you will be met with warmth, compassion, honesty and acceptance. Together, we can explore your story at your pace, celebrate your strengths and help you move towards a future that feels more hopeful, more connected and more authentically yours.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story.

I look forward to hearing yours.