What was helpful about the therapy for you?

Really helpful to have someone neutral and understanding to talk through the issues with, to guide me through the exposures and to be a calm voice of reason.

Can you describe how you were feeling at the beginning of therapy and any differences that you feel at the end of therapy? *

Before I started therapy I was in a very dark place. My OCD prevented me from doing so many normal things in my life and I spent every waking minute anxious and unhappy. Now I feel like a huge weight has lifted and I have reclaimed my life! Although some level of anxiety remains i feel it is a manageable level and I have the tools to cope.

Was there anything that was less helpful / that could be changed?

No

What would you say to someone who is currently struggling and thinking of starting therapy sessions?

Definitely do it. You have so much to gain and nothing to lose. I put it off for a long time as I didn't really believe it would help, but when I reached crisis point I knew it was time to try anything and everything so I started both medication and therapy and I feel they really worked well together and helped me out of a really really bad place.

Any other comments...

Just wanted to thank Sophie for being such a kind and friendly face to talk to during a really difficult and distressing time. You were so easy to talk to and have made a big difference to my life and that of my family!

What was helpful about the therapy for you?

It has really helped me prepare for my birth and learn strategies that I can use when I feel triggered by my anxiety. I have been able to apply the techniques used in CBT and exposure therapy in my own independent practice. It has helped me to prepare for labour and feel more confident in my own abilities.

Can you describe how you were feeling at the beginning of therapy and any differences you feel at the end?

I was extremely anxious about birth and being in medical environments. I didn't think it would be possible to overcome my feelings surrounding my hospital and medical anxieties. However, over just 6 sessions I feel like i really made progress and I do not feel as nervous about birth as i used to. I have tools I can use when I feel anxious and I have been able to apply the techniques Sophie taught me into daily practice. I have a routine every day now and I am continuing my exposure therapy independently.

Was there anything that was less helpful / that could be changed?

N/A

What would you say to someone who is currently struggling and thinking of starting therapy sessions?

Take the plunge. Having the courage to admit what you are struggling with and share your worries is really cathartic. Sophie really helps you to understand how to think differently about your anxieties and that time and consistent practice can help you to overcome them or learn how to manage them. I left it late in my pregnancy to deal with my problem and wish I had done it sooner because it has massively helped me. Best decision I made!

Any other comments...

Sophie is really easy to talk to, I never felt worried before a session as I always wanted to learn more and continue to make progress. Sophie made me feel really comfortable and challenged me to face my fears. I know that I can control the way I think now and I am really looking forward to giving birth and meeting my baby!

What was helpful about the therapy for you?

Talking through my feelings in a safe space with a therapist I connected with.

Being given practice ways to cope in situations I found previously overwhelming.

Being given small things to work towards each week to allow myself to feel I was moving forward.

Can you describe how you were feeling at the beginning of therapy and any differences that you feel at the end of therapy?

I felt hopeless in the beginning.

I feel more in control and proud of how far I have come.

What would you say to someone who is currently struggling and thinking of starting therapy sessions?

Do it, and do it when you first question if you need it.

Any other comments...

Best thing I could have done for myself

What was helpful about the therapy for you?

Sophie provided support and space to reflect and reframe key events from my pregnancy that were continuing to weigh on me 18 months later and preventing me from thinking positively about having a second child.

Can you describe how you were feeling at the beginning of therapy and any differences that you feel at the end of therapy?

I felt tense and tired, anxious, carrying lots of unprocessed emotions. I feel much more positive. Sophie has helped me reframe events so they are no longer overwhelming. Revisiting painful moments, now that I have the headspace to reevaluate and with Sophie empathetic guidance and thoughtful insights, has helped me make peace with what happened and feel hopeful again about the possibility of a future pregnancy.

Was there anything that was less helpful / that could be changed?

No

What would you say to someone who is currently struggling and thinking of starting therapy sessions?

Do it!

Any other comments...

Thanks again, so much Sophie! Every new mum needs a Sophie in there corner and I’m going to replay lots of your insights at any wobbly moments to come.

What was helpful about the therapy for you?

Everything. Quite literally. I appreciated having new ideas and ways of thinking about things introduced to me. CBT specifically helped me to understand that having certain thoughts and feelings is part of life, it's more about how I choose to manage them. Therapy with you specifically, Sophie, gave me the tools and support I needed to thrive in a very intense new season of motherhood.

Some bits that I hold dearly:

- Your intention to be curious vs. judgmental

- Every time I shared something deeply personal, you received the information with genuine care

- Helping me understand it's important to show the same kindness to myself that I so desperately want to show others

- Helping me see that perfectionism hinders my ability to enjoy motherhood

- Flagging that in law issues are quite common and redirecting me to try and figure out what the specific root issue/ trigger was so that I could recognize and eventually move on and avoid spending energy in a non productive way

- During a session I was sobbing, my baby was rejecting her nap and also sobbing, and it all felt like a total disaster. You were super gentle with me and let me work through it and patiently stayed with me in what felt like a very messy session

- You personally are not too far removed from the early season of motherhood so I could tell that at some level, you understood where I was coming from

- I can absolutely trust you

Can you describe how you were feeling at the beginning of therapy and any differences that you feel at the end of therapy?

I was having trouble getting on with my day to day because I was caught up in my own anxiety spiral, usually trying to make a decision about something that hadn't yet happened. I constantly worried specifically about my baby's health. Through self compassion and CBT techniques, I'm experiencing a season that feels much more manageable.

Was there anything that was less helpful / that could be changed?

Not sure how to change this but recognizing that often I was directly asking for your advice. I've worked with therapists in the past who freely gave me advice. You are so very talented at gently introducing concepts and ideas. Just recommending that you continue being patient with me and/or clients who are new to a therapist that isn't there to try and place judgment or tell them what to do.

Any other comments...

You care deeply and are very good at what you do - that comes through in the excellent way at which you apply yourself to sessions. (As a mother, I can only imagine how exhausted you may be and appreciate that you give me a lot of your energy in a session).

You're incredible. Lmk how I can support you and your business now or in the future.

On a personal note - I'm confident you are raising a little gal who will change the world! You're an amazing mum and helping the rest of us be wonderful mothers to our littles too! x

What was helpful about the therapy for you? 

It was very helpful to have a consistent point of contact who because we had worked together for a year understood the background and context to my pregnancy, birth and new motherhood 'journey.' It was very helpful to have a space to talk freely and explore the whole range of emotions I was feeling, including the uncomfortable ones, that was so obviously without judgement or expectation. The fact Sophie just took me as I was at the start of each session meant I could quickly drop my guard and speak honestly. I found the way that Sophie gently introduced concepts or frameworks that described how I was feeling very useful. She didn't force them into the conversation and if they didn't work for me we left them there. The way she wove this topics into our conversations was very helpful and informative.

Can you describe how you were feeling at the beginning of therapy and any differences that you feel at the end of therapy? 

At the start of therapy I was feeling scared, isolated and uncertain about the future. At the end of therapy I feel more confident, more resilient and better equipped to handle the future uncertainty that having a baby causes.

Was there anything that was less helpful / that could be changed? 

No!

What would you say to someone who is currently struggling and thinking of starting therapy sessions? 

Just try having a conversation first. You don't need to commit to a really long batch of sessions but reaching out and seeing whether a therapist is someone you could work with is a safe and easy place to start.

Any other comments...

I'm so grateful to Sophie for all her help and support over the last year. My pregnancy, birth and early motherhood all brought unexpected challenges that I would have found near impossible to navigate without our sessions each week. Sophie is extremely skilled at building meaningful, empathetic and powerful relationships and she helped me feel much more empowered to manage whatever is thrown at me. It is clear that Sophie also has a deep, informed and clear understanding of the pressures that society places on pregnant women and mothers and how that can manifest in negative and unwelcome emotions. She subtly tailors each session to be of most use to you in the moment you meet - resulting in powerful and perspective-changing conversations. Thank you.