I left High School without any GCSE’s. I found school hard. I could learn something and be good at doing the work, then 10 minutes after the lesson, I would forget what I had learnt. 

I started my working life working with my father on his market stalls in Radcliffe and Salford. After we closed the stalls down. I had several temporary jobs doing data entry and working in warehouses.

I started a career working in call centres for debt collection companies and banks. I never really fitted in, and would constantly be told off for being opinionated and thinking out side of the box at solutions to resolve issues.

During 2015 I developed anxiety and depression. I hardly left my house for 11 months and almost lost my job. I pushed through and was dismissed in 2018.

In 2020 (yes I know, during the pandemic!), at 39 years old I started at the University of Bolton (now the University of Greater Manchester), retraining as a Psychotherapist.

I was diagnosed with Dyslexia and Dyspraxia, which explained why I found school so hard. I received specialist support and was given aides to help learn, research and write my assignments.

In 2026, I finally submitted my counselling portfolio and am now a fully qualified Psychotherapist and a registered member of the BACP.