Cynthia Williams. BA (Hons) MBACP Counselling Psychotherapist, based in Addlestone Surrey, near Weybridge and Woking.

My journey began over a decade ago, when I experienced Loss. It wasn’t the loss of a loved one, although it felt just as painful at the time. I suffered with Alopecia Areata and from that point, my life changed forever. For years I tried to overcome it by hiding my pain in hairpieces and wigs. The day that I decided to face my fears and seek help, was the day that I embarked on the journey that led me to today.

Therapy allowed me to face those fears, to stop hiding behind a mask. You may say, what fears? They were: Self-doubt, Low self-esteem, Unworthiness. Hidden behind a mask that gave me the confidence to continue with my life undetected. It allowed me the space to be listened to with an empathic understanding and without judgement. This was a new experience for me. I remember how tentatively my therapist unravelled the layers to my issues, with compassion. Sensing my inner doubts and allowing me to heal from within, so that I could have compassion for myself. Over time, I found myself beginning to speak to people face to face, rather than looking away. Therapy gave me back my confidence and self-worth; allowed me to be able to look beyond the hair loss and to believe in myself again.

From that point to today, I knew that I wanted to be able to give back to someone else, what I received. To quote Carl Rogers,

“When the other person is hurting, confused, troubled, anxious, alienated, terrified; or when he or she is doubtful of self-worth, uncertain as to identity, then understanding is called for. In such situations, deep understanding is, I believe, the most precious gift one can give another”. Carl R Rogers