From Surviving to Self-Discovery: My Journey Into Therapy

For years, I thought being strong meant carrying everything alone.

I learned how to survive , to hold it together, to keep moving, to make sure no one saw the cracks. But the truth is, surviving isn’t the same as living. Somewhere along the way, I forgot what it meant to feel safe, connected, and enough.

Working in the field of addiction and mental health, I met countless people who were doing exactly what I had done , getting through each day the only way they knew how. Some used substances, others used humour, work, or people-pleasing. We all had our ways of coping, of avoiding the parts of ourselves that felt too painful to face.

That’s what first drew me to therapy. I wanted to understand what was happening beneath the surface, in me, in others, in the patterns that kept repeating no matter how much willpower or effort we threw at them.

The Turning Point

Like many who end up in this profession, my journey into therapy didn’t start with textbooks, it started with my own pain. I reached a point where I realised that rescuing others wasn’t the same as healing myself.

Through my own therapy, I learned that the voice in my head , the one that told me I wasn’t good enough, that I should be doing more, that everyone else had it figured out, wasn’t the truth. It was an old story, built from shame, fear, and survival.

Slowly, I began to meet myself with compassion rather than criticism. And that changed everything.

My Approach

Today, as an integrative counsellor and addictions therapist, I bring that same blend of curiosity, compassion, and real-world experience into my work.

I believe therapy should feel human, not clinical or distant. It’s not about being “fixed,” because you’re not broken. It’s about exploring who you are beneath the layers of survival, the patterns, beliefs, and defences that once kept you safe but now hold you back.

My approach draws on person-centred therapy (to create a safe and trusting relationship), CBT (to challenge unhelpful thoughts and behaviours), and Gestalt techniques (to bring awareness to what’s happening in the present moment).

But at the heart of it all is connection, helping you reconnect with yourself, your values, and your voice.

From Shame to Self-Esteem

One of the most common threads I see in therapy, especially in recovery, is shame. It’s that deep sense of “I’m not enough” that hides behind perfectionism, people-pleasing, or addiction.

When we carry shame, we learn to wear masks, to show the world a version of ourselves we think will be accepted. Therapy gives us a space to take those masks off, gently, and discover who we really are underneath.

That’s where self-esteem begins, not in achieving more, but in accepting more of yourself.

What You’ll Find Here

This blog is a space to explore the journey from surviving to self-discovery.

I’ll be sharing reflections, tools, and insights on topics like:

• Building healthy boundaries

• Understanding the inner critic

• The role of shame in recovery

• Self-esteem and authenticity

• Healing the child within

Whether you’re in recovery, curious about therapy, or just trying to make sense of yourself, you’re welcome here.

You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to start where you are.

A Final Word

If there’s one thing I’ve learned through this work, it’s that healing isn’t about becoming someone new, it’s about remembering who you were before the world told you who to be.

You deserve a life that feels like yours.

Welcome to Jr Atkins Therapy — I’m glad you’re here.