My story

I've been fascinated by how people think, behave and make choices since my late teens. I completed my degree in Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford and then completed my clinical psychology doctorate (D Clin Psy) at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London.

I grew up in West Yorkshire and hadn't ever expected to apply to Oxbridge, but I loved my A levels, worked hard and was getting good results. I met a student from Somerville College and thought she seemed a bit like me (Northern and quite lively!), so I decided to give it a try. A teacher told me that I wasn't a typical applicant, but this just spurred me on - I've always loved a challenge. This was perhaps my first experience of overcoming self-doubt.

I'm passionate about helping women become more psychologically powerful and overcome internal barriers to success - whether that’s self-doubt, fear of failure, or unresolved experiences that hold them back. Using evidence-based approaches, I can help women understand themselves better and develop the strategies they need to move forward with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

My experience

During my time in the NHS, I held a range of leadership positions, including setting up and leading an outpatient Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Service and working as a Consultant Clinical Psychologist. In 2023, I held a role as an Associate Non-Exectuive Director in the NHS.

My leadership roles, working in a variety of teams, and sitting on a board, have deepened my understanding of the challenges women face in senior roles and high-pressure environments.

I left the NHS in October 2022 and am the founder and director North Star Psychology Ltd, a thriving psychology practice based at Eastthorpe Hall, offering evidence-based therapies, supervision, consultancy, coaching and training.

It is a great privilege to have been able to help hundreds of people change the way they feel and think about themselves, their past and the future.

My approach

Whether I am offering coaching or therapy, I like to help my clients identify their values and goals and then use these to guide our work together. As a clinical psychologist, I like to understand how a person's internal experiences take them away from leading the kind of life they'd love to live.

My work with clients often involves understanding how their current difficulties connect with their past experiences, whether these are recent or historical. Developing this shared understanding highlights areas where we can intervene and we can then discuss the best approach, whether we are going to focus purely on the present and future, or include the past.

I am excited to bring my expertise in using EMDR therapy to my coaching sessions, as I have seen it have a huge impact on many clients who have been through distressing, life-changing negative experiences. EMDR coaching uses the same strategies, but requires fewer sessions. It has the power to speed up the process of change by processing, rather than just talking about, internal barriers to success. I'd be happy to talk about how it could help you and offer a free consultation. You can learn more about EMDR here.

I want to help women like you stop being held back by unwanted thoughts, feelings or experiences.

Why I've founded Born to be Bold

I know firsthand how powerful the right psychological tools can be. Over the past few years, I faced moments where self-doubt almost held me back.

I don't come from a family of entrepreneurs and wondered if I had what it takes to run a business. When I was thinking about leaving my NHS career, I worried about whether I would have enough work to pay my bills and how I would create the kind of financial stability I was leaving behind. I knew very little about developing a business and would sometimes lay awake at night, wondering how it would all pan out.

Fortunately, I was able to use the same psychological strategies that I share with my clients, to navigate these, and many other, challenges and achieve my goals. That’s why I’m passionate about sharing these ideas, insights and tools with other women—to help you unlock your psychological power and live more boldly.

Many female founders and would-be female founders have brilliant ideas that can solve many of society's problems. Unlocking your psychological power can help change the world!

If you'd like to have a chat about working with me, you can email me on hello@borntobebold.co.uk or fill in the contact form.