Speaker, Psychotherapist & Spoken-Word Poet
Psychology brought to life through relatable talks, storytelling and spoken word.
I speak about people-pleasing, confidence, self-expression, emotional safety and the experiences, relationships and environments that shape how we show up.
Drawing on more than 15 years’ clinical experience alongside lived experience and original spoken word, I create talks that help audiences recognise themselves, understand their patterns differently and leave feeling differently and with ideas they can actually use.
I didn't always find it easy to speak up.
I used to be the person sitting in a group hoping nobody would ask me a question. I avoided speaking in meetings, over-prepared and rehearsed what I wanted to say and sometimes stayed silent even when I knew exactly what I wanted to contribute.
For years, I thought that simply meant I wasn't confident.
My own experiences — alongside studying psychology and more than 15 years working therapeutically with other people — made me increasingly curious about something more complicated: what makes it easier to access our voice and be ourselves in some places, relationships and situations than others?
That question now runs through much of my speaking work.
Psychology that feels human
I’m a BABCP-accredited psychotherapist with more than 15 years’ experience in mental health and psychological therapy, with training including CBT, EMDR, Schema Therapy and trauma-informed approaches.
But audiences don't come to a talk to sit through a therapy lecture.
I translate psychological ideas into everyday experiences people immediately recognise: rewriting the same email five times, saying yes when you're already overwhelmed, sitting in a meeting with something to say and talking yourself out of saying it, or knowing exactly where your boundary is until somebody is standing in front of you.
My talks combine psychological depth with relatable examples, storytelling, reflection and, where it fits, original spoken word.
MY SIGNATURE TALK
From Too Much to Enough:
Rewriting the rules you were taught to live by
A reflective psychology talk blending psychological insight, relatable storytelling, spoken word and guided reflection.
Many of us grow up absorbing rules about who we're supposed to be: be kind, but don't be difficult. Work hard, but don't draw too much attention to yourself. Have boundaries, but don't upset anyone. Be yourself — as long as that version of you is comfortable for everyone else.
From Too Much to Enough explores how those spoken and unspoken rules can shape people-pleasing, self-doubt, overthinking, boundaries and self-expression.
Rather than simply asking people to “be more confident” or “stop caring what people think”, I explore what taught these patterns to make sense, what may still be reinforcing them now, and how we can begin creating more space for choice.
What your audience will walk away with:
a clearer understanding of how learned rules and experiences can shape people-pleasing and self-doubt;
a way of noticing the difference between automatic adaptation and conscious choice;
practical questions for understanding what might be driving a response;
the power of the pause as a way of creating space before an automatic yes, apology or self-edit;
a more nuanced understanding of how relationships and environments can make self-expression easier or harder.
Available as a 45–60 minute festival/talk format or an extended reflective workshop/retreat session.
Talks for festivals, retreats & women's events
My public-facing talks explore the psychology behind the experiences many women recognise but struggle to put into words — including people-pleasing, self-doubt, overthinking, belonging, identity and the feeling of being both “too much” and never quite enough. I have delivered talks and workshops both online and in-person including Happy Place Festival and to open the Women’s Festival in Glossop
Some Examples:
From Too Much to Enough
Rewriting the rules you were taught to live by
Why Do I Know Better But Still Do It?
Why insight doesn't always translate into change
People-Pleasing: More Than Being Nice
Understanding what can sit underneath the automatic yes
Talks & workshops for organisations
I also work with organisations to explore the everyday behaviours often described as problems with “confidence”, communication, boundaries or resilience — and what may actually be happening underneath them.
My organisational work considers both the experiences people bring into work and the conditions workplaces create now.
Example topics:
Beyond “Be More Confident”
What really shapes whether people speak up, set boundaries and trust themselves at work
Visibility Confidence
Psychological Safety in Practice
The everyday interactions and hidden factors influencing whether people ask for help, challenge ideas, admit uncertainty or stay quiet
Why Knowing Better Doesn't Always Mean Doing Differently
Understanding overthinking, perfectionism, boundaries and people-pleasing at work
What Stops People Speaking Up?
Exploring voice, confidence, power and workplace context
How to Actually Set Boundaries
Looking for a speaker?
I speak at festivals, retreats, conferences, women's events and within organisations, and can deliver keynote-style talks, reflective sessions and interactive workshops.
If you're planning an event and think my work could fit your audience, I'd be happy to hear more about what you're looking for.
Words From The Audience
SPEAKING ENQUIRY
