About Me
Hi, I'm Hayley. I'm 43 years old, and neurodivergent. I was born a few miles south of London and moved to Brighton as a teenager, before moving to Bristol where I've lived since 2015. I originally trained as a dog groomer but really hit my stride in the world of paid employment by working as an administrator, until the global recession of 2008 when I decided to retrain as something else. That something else was counselling and psychotherapy.
My choice wasn't random. At around age 20 I started volunteering on teen help forums, supporting teenagers with issues around anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and family issues. When the 2008 recession hit, this voluntary work became my inspiration for what to retrain in.
During my training journey I began to realise I didn't have to stay in touch with my family, although the journey to going no-contact was long. I also finally found an explanation for why I rarely felt I fitted in anywhere: that I am neurodivergent. I have some autistic traits, but don't feel any need to seek a diagnosis. The most important 'treatment' for being neurodivergent, I feel, is to get to know oneself. If you know yourself, you can navigate the world better. Certainly that has been true for me.
I'm passionate about using my skills and passing on knowledge to help others, and this is why I chose to train as a counsellor. Colleagues and previous clients have described me as direct, open-minded, and creative in my approach to working with my clients. One even called me "weird", which I embrace completely!
If you're looking for more specific details on my professional journey, I started training in 2010 in person-centered counselling. After I learned the basics I was introduced to Transactional Analysis. From the first time I read about it I knew I'd found the right style of counselling for me, and decided to specialise in it. I attended The Link Centre to take the Diploma in Counselling course specialising in Transactional Analysis, and qualified in January 2022. Since then, I've taken the psychotherapy course year at The Berne Institute, and am working towards my psychotherapy qualification.
I hold a UKATA (United Kingdom Association for Transactional Analysis) Diploma in Transactional Analysis offering therapeutic counselling, and am on an Accredited Register that has been accredited by the Professional Standards Authority, with the relevant professional body being the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS).
Aside from being interested in supporting people in taking the childfree route, I also enjoy working with teenagers from age 17 and up, and people who have chosen to estrange themselves from their parents. Outside of therapy I love spending time in nature and reading and worldbuilding - that's developing fantasy and sci-fi worlds.
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