Before I began therapy with Shalom, I was at a point where my life felt misaligned, but I didn’t have the confidence to name it. I was working in a job that left me unhappy and underpaid, and I struggled to feel comfortable or confident in conversations. I often second-guessed myself, took on responsibility for things that weren’t entirely mine, and emotionally defaulted to people-pleasing as a way to keep the peace.

At the same time, my personal relationship felt unbalanced. I wasn’t being treated as an equal partner, and instead felt more like a roommate. Together, these experiences left me feeling small, unsure of my needs, and unsure about how to advocate for myself without guilt.

Working with Shalom helped bring structure to what had previously felt overwhelming and tangled. His approach was supportive and steady, and what stood out most to me was that he didn’t expect me to have all the answers. By often taking the lead in sessions, he relieved the pressure I felt to “figure myself out” alone, which made the process feel safer and more manageable. The CBT exercises he introduced were particularly impactful, giving me ways to process my thoughts and emotions rather than getting stuck in them.

I now have practical tools to manage conversations more effectively and approach them with greater confidence and awareness. I’ve developed more self-compassion and a clearer understanding of my emotional patterns. While I’m still actively practising what I’ve learned, and still working on prioritising my own needs, I feel much better equipped to continue that work than I did before therapy.