I am a Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMN) with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), pin:15A0189E. I am also an independent nurse prescriber speciallised in psychiatric medications and have trained at masters level in family interventions.
My academic interest in health and wellness started when I went to Durham Universtity and got my first degree in combined social sciences, majoring in history, politics and philosophy, I took a natural interest in the history and philosophy of medicine. I soon realised after getting my first job as a civil servant in human resources that a classic desk job was not for me and whilst temping as a receptionist in an assylum seekers health centre, I discovered my empathetic and caring nature. I completed a post graduate diploma in youth and community work which for me was all about helping young people to reach their potential. I disappeared to Mexico for a bit working in various projects and diving head first into their culture and language.
When I returned to the uk the Tories had well and truly taken power and the first thing to go in our social care system was youth services so I transfered my skills to caring for the physically and learning disabled and worked for a while in a residential school for children with severe autism before deciding to train as a nurse.
I love nursing and the experiences and opportunities it has given me to continue learning and growing. I’ve mainly worked in drug and alcohol services and early intervention in psychosis, developing and managing services always with holistic values at their core. I epitomise the journey of the ‘wounded healer’ as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and domestic violence. My healing journey has overlapped and intertwined with my career, by understanding and helping others I have also learnt to heal myself. I’m not a monk by any means, not fully enlightened because life is still happening, but I am in a strong place to help others on their healing journeys and feel honoured to be able to do so.
You could be anyone who wants some support to understand what is happening for you or a loved one, to navigate the way forward in a world that is overflowing with people who claim to have all the answers.