Even as a shy teenager, I knew I wanted to work with people and that is why I chose to study Psychology at University.

Upon graduating, my first job was as a residential social worker in a community home for teenage boys. It was a real baptism of fire into the grim reality for children in care in Bradford at the time. I went on to work in various residential contexts with young people; those who had offended, those with mental health and emotional problems and those who were facing homelessness.

I began studying counselling to develop the skills I needed to be of more assistance to those I was working with. I undertook my own counselling and learnt a lot about myself along the way.

I worked as a project worker in a street drugs project where I counselled clients who had suffered childhood abuse and neglect. I also worked with adults with severe and enduring mental health problems and in a project for children and young people who have been abused as children.