Therapy for the woman who looks like she’s coping — but knows something is holding her back
EMDR and trauma-informed therapy for high-functioning professionals experiencing anxiety, self-doubt, perfectionism and emotional overwhelm.
You might be successful, capable and the person everyone relies on.
You get things done. You show up. You keep going.
But underneath the surface, you may be exhausted from overthinking, constantly second-guessing yourself, putting enormous pressure on yourself or feeling like you should be coping better.
Perhaps you can’t quite explain why certain situations affect you so strongly.
Perhaps you know you’re capable of more, but something seems to keep getting in the way.
And perhaps you’ve wondered:
“Why am I like this when, on paper, my life is fine?”
You don’t have to wait until things become unbearable before you seek support.
Based in Glenavy, Northern Ireland | Online therapy available
You don’t have to have experienced one big traumatic event
When we hear the word trauma, we often think of something dramatic or obviously life-changing.
But sometimes the experiences that shape us are much less obvious.
Repeated criticism.
Bullying.
Feeling different or excluded.
Emotional neglect.
Difficult relationships.
Being expected to be “the good girl”.
Having to grow up quickly.
Feeling that you were never quite good enough.
Repeated experiences of rejection, humiliation or failure.
Living with chronic stress or always feeling responsible for everyone else.
None of these experiences necessarily look like “trauma” from the outside.
But experiences can still influence the way we see ourselves, relate to other people and respond to situations years later.
I often describe these experiences as “small t” trauma — not because they are insignificant, but because they can be less immediately recognisable as traumatic.
You may find yourself thinking:
“I know logically that I’m good enough, but I don’t feel it.”
“I can’t stop overthinking what people think of me.”
“I panic when I make a mistake.”
“I always feel like I need to prove myself.”
“I know I should set boundaries, but I feel guilty when I do.”
“I keep putting myself under impossible pressure.”
This is where therapy can help
I don’t believe therapy should simply teach you to cope with a life that is already exhausting you.
Together, we can explore what’s happening now, understand the experiences and patterns that may have contributed to it, and identify what needs to change.
Depending on your individual needs, therapy may involve EMDR alongside other evidence-informed therapeutic approaches.
The aim isn’t to change who you are.
It’s to help you feel more able to be yourself without old experiences, beliefs and protective patterns continuing to run the show.
EMDR therapy
Sometimes understanding isn’t enough.
You may already know why you feel anxious.
You may understand that your perfectionism comes from childhood.
You may know that your people-pleasing isn’t serving you.
You may have talked about the same experiences repeatedly.
And yet the emotional response can still be there.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is a structured psychological therapy that can help people process distressing experiences and the beliefs, emotions and responses associated with them.
It isn’t about simply talking through everything that has ever happened to you.
EMDR can be used with a range of difficulties, including trauma-related symptoms, anxiety and distress associated with past experiences.
As an EMDR therapist, I take a careful, individualised approach. We don’t rush into processing before you’re ready. Establishing safety, stability and an appropriate therapeutic foundation is an important part of the work.
What therapy with me looks like
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach.
Your first sessions are about understanding you — what has brought you to therapy, what’s happening now, what you’ve experienced and what you’d like to be different.
From there, we’ll develop an approach that is appropriate for your needs.
Depending on your circumstances, this may include:
EMDR
For processing distressing experiences and associated beliefs, emotions and responses.
Trauma-informed therapy
Understanding how past experiences can influence the way we feel, think and respond in the present.
Psychoeducation
Understanding anxiety, stress responses, emotions and patterns can help you make sense of what is happening.
Therapeutic and practical strategies
Developing healthier ways of responding to thoughts, emotions, relationships and everyday challenges.
The goal isn’t to give you another set of rules to follow.
It’s to help you understand yourself with more compassion and create meaningful, sustainable change.
You can be successful and still struggle
You don’t need to wait for a crisis.
You don’t need to justify why you’re struggling.
And you don’t need to prove that things are “bad enough”.
If something doesn’t feel right, that’s enough reason to explore it.
Therapy can be a space to stop performing, stop holding everything together for everyone else, and finally understand what you need.
Based in Northern Ireland and Online world wide.
Cherry Tree Therapy & Coaching is based in Glenavy, Northern Ireland, within easy reach of Lisburn, Belfast, Antrim and surrounding areas.
I offer therapy in person and online, allowing you to access support from wherever you are.
